{"id":29666,"date":"2025-07-11T03:00:24","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T10:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=29666"},"modified":"2025-07-09T04:11:42","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T11:11:42","slug":"habits-of-mind-curiosity-by-bailey-lang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2025\/07\/11\/habits-of-mind-curiosity-by-bailey-lang\/","title":{"rendered":"Habits of Mind: Curiosity by Bailey Lang"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Habits-of-Mind-Curiosity-by-Bailey-Lang.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-29667 size-full\" title=\"Habits of Mind: Curiosity by Bailey Lang\" src=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Habits-of-Mind-Curiosity-by-Bailey-Lang.png\" alt=\"Habits of Mind: Curiosity by Bailey Lang\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Habits-of-Mind-Curiosity-by-Bailey-Lang.png 300w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Habits-of-Mind-Curiosity-by-Bailey-Lang-80x80.png 80w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Let&#8217;s welcome back <a href=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?s=Bailey+Lang\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bailey Lang<\/a> as she shares with us \u201cHabits of Mind: Curiosity.\u201d Enjoy!<\/p>\n<p>***<\/p>\n<p><strong>Habits of mind are patterns<\/strong> of thinking that determine the shape and success of our writing practice.<\/p>\n<p>The last post <a href=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2025\/06\/17\/habits-of-mind-overview-by-bailey-lang\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Habits of Mind Overview by Bailey Lang \u00b7 Writer&#8217;s Fun Zone<\/a>, identified eight habits of mind that matter for writers, and today, we are talking about <b>curiosity<\/b>.<\/p>\n<h2>What is Curiosity?<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/wpacouncil.org\/aws\/CWPA\/pt\/sd\/news_article\/242845\/_PARENT\/layout_details\/false\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">framework<\/a> for this series of articles defines curiosity as \u201cThe desire to know more about the world,\u201d which is a good starting point!<\/p>\n<p><strong>The desire to know more<\/strong> about the world is behind every small child\u2019s eternal question: Why?<\/p>\n<p>Curiosity drives us to lift a rotten log, pause in the hallway to try and overhear what\u2019s going on in that budget meeting, or read a book about the history of salt.<\/p>\n<p>It feels almost silly to point out that curiosity is an essential habit of mind for writers &#8212; like, duh, of course it is! &#8212; but stay with me.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Right now<\/strong>, it can feel like we have all the tools we need to satisfy our curiosity (\u201cLet me Google this actor, I know him from something else.\u201d)<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve gotten used to asking a question, whipping out our phones, and getting an immediate hit of information, which is increasingly likely to be an AI-generated summary.<\/p>\n<p>As writers, we can do better at cultivating curiosity in a way that serves our writing.<\/p>\n<h2>How do Writers Cultivate Curiosity?<\/h2>\n<p>In her fantastic book, <i>Wrede on Writing<\/i>, Patricia C. Wrede, <a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/85297\/9781626812222\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wrede on Writing<\/a>, talks about three types of research writers conduct:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Accidental &#8212; \u201cPaying attention to whatever is going on around you because everything is material.\u201d<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">General &#8212; \u201cGoing looking for things you don\u2019t know that you need to know.\u201d<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Specific &#8212; \u201cWhat you do in order to find out the things you know you need to know.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These modes of research lend themselves neatly to practical ways of fostering curiosity as a habit of mind.<\/p>\n<p><b>Accidental research<\/b> requires cultivating curiosity as part of your daily life.<\/p>\n<p>Anything you encounter could become important for the next story you want to tell.<\/p>\n<p>Getting curious about everything around you &#8212; what things look like, sound like, smell like; why people act the way they do &#8212; sets you up to be a better observer, deeper thinker, and more interesting storyteller.<\/p>\n<p><b>General research<\/b> helps you take your new habit of mind to a more advanced level, encouraging you to explore topics that relate to your writing or that simply strike your fancy.<\/p>\n<p>As someone with curiosity as a core habit of mind, you\u2019ll find interesting ideas lurking in unexpected places.<\/p>\n<p>Reading nonfiction, listening to history podcasts, and watching documentaries will spark interesting story ideas.<\/p>\n<p><b>Specific research<\/b> involves a deeper dive into a topic, probably related to the book you\u2019re writing &#8212; whether fiction or nonfiction.<\/p>\n<p>Conducting specific research helps you cultivate curiosity by encouraging you to find useful information, evaluate your sources, and think about how you\u2019ll use important details in your writing.<\/p>\n<p>As Wrede puts it, \u201cIf I have a character who speaks thieves cant, I reach for my copy of <i>The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue<\/i>. If my characters are mixing up a potion, I look through my various herbals in search of ingredients\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Specific research is also how you avoid making silly mistakes, like having a character cross the Golden Gate Bridge in a story set in the 1920s (the Golden Gate Bridge wasn\u2019t open to the public until 1937.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Curiosity as a habit<\/strong> of mind can become part of your everyday approach to the world and support focused, active inquiry into particular subjects.<\/p>\n<p>The first step to strengthening your curiosity is recognizing its importance and looking for opportunities to indulge in it.<\/p>\n<h2>Curiosity-Generating Activities for Writers<\/h2>\n<p>Engaging curiosity can be as simple as asking, \u201cWhy?\u201d more often.<\/p>\n<p><strong>However, I\u2019ve got a few<\/strong> other activities to recommend that lend themselves especially well to curiosity and writing.<\/p>\n<p>The more of these activities you do &#8212; and the more often you do them &#8212; the more you\u2019ll strengthen curiosity as one of your core habits of mind.<\/p>\n<h2>Make a General Curiosity List<\/h2>\n<p>Spend five minutes writing out a list of all the things you\u2019re already curious about, whether or not they\u2019re related to any of your current writing projects.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">What topics appear on the list?<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">How can you start following your curiosity about some of those topics?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Visit the Library<\/h2>\n<p>Go to your local library &#8212; in person, if possible! &#8212; and wander the nonfiction stacks.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Look at book titles and descriptions<\/strong> until something jumps out at you. If you\u2019re feeling especially brave, grab a book at random!<\/p>\n<p>Check that book out, read it, and write down things that struck you as you read.<\/p>\n<p>This list could include interesting new facts, story ideas, character ideas, and additional questions for future research.<\/p>\n<h2>Track Your Accidental Curiosity<\/h2>\n<p>Wrede notes that accidental research is part of how we, as writers, move through the world.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sometimes, we get so caught up<\/strong> in the day-to-day that we stop paying attention.<\/p>\n<p>Tracking your accidental curiosity is a great way to get back in the groove.<\/p>\n<p>Over the next week, keep a record of all the things you notice that make you curious.<\/p>\n<p>You can write these down in an app or physical notebook &#8212; but make an effort to document things.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Did you Google something? Put your question on the list.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Did you hear a bird outside your window and wonder what it was? On the list it goes.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Did you find yourself wondering why your boss worded an email like <i>that<\/i>? Make a note.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Did you catch yourself thinking about all the what-ifs that might have led you (or someone else\u2019s) down a different path? You guessed it: put it on the list.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>At the end of the week<\/strong>, take stock of all the things you were curious about.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">What questions did you ask?<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">What did you notice?<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">What did you want to know more about?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This information will sharpen your sense of curiosity &#8212; and may even lead you to your next great story idea.<\/p>\n<h3>Reading Recommendations<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/85297\/9781626812222\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wrede on Writing<\/a> (Affiliate link)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/85297\/9781476730776\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life<\/a> (Affiliate link)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/85297\/9780593656389\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life\u2019s Purpose<\/a> (Affiliate link)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>***<\/p>\n<h2>About the Author<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Bailey-Lang.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-29591\" title=\"Bailey Lang\" src=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Bailey-Lang-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Bailey Lang\" width=\"226\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Bailey-Lang-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Bailey-Lang-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Bailey-Lang-640x426.jpg 640w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Bailey-Lang.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px\" \/><\/a>Dr. Bailey Lang is a book coach, writer, and editor. At <a href=\"https:\/\/usethewritingdesk.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Writing Desk<\/a>, she helps authors build sustainable, enjoyable writing practices that take their books from draft to done. Bailey has a PhD in rhetoric and writing studies and loves geeking out about writing.<\/p>\n<p>You can sign up for Bailey\u2019s free newsletter, <a href=\"https:\/\/usethewritingdesk.kit.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Word to the Wise<\/a>, for more writing advice and regular author interviews.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/usethewritingdesk.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/usethewritingdesk.kit.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore how curiosity as a habit of mind helps writers generate ideas, deepen research, and develop a richer writing practice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":29667,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[6539,6431,6550,3435,6540,4808,6544,6548,2349,6543,6552,6554,75,6546,6541,5715,6538,4076,188,3413,6430,46,1913,6547,6536,6555,6542,6553,6556,6549,6551,6537,11,6410,6545],"class_list":["post-29666","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-writing-tips","tag-accidental-research","tag-bailey-lang","tag-books-that-spark-curiosity","tag-creative-inspiration","tag-cultivate","tag-curiosity","tag-curiosity-driven-storytelling","tag-deep-thinker","tag-desire","tag-developing-writers-habits","tag-engage","tag-eternal-question","tag-fiction","tag-framework","tag-general-research","tag-generative-ai","tag-habits-of-mind","tag-idea-generation","tag-library","tag-list","tag-mental-habits","tag-mindset","tag-non-fiction","tag-observer","tag-patricia-wrede","tag-senses","tag-specific-research","tag-strengthen","tag-subjects","tag-sustainable-writing-practice","tag-topics","tag-wrede-on-writing","tag-writing","tag-writing-activities","tag-writing-practice-tips"],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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