the question as catapult

8/3/2019 The Question as Catapult

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the question as catapult

Curiosity expressed as aquestion is a fuel source, a mirror, a key, a

bridge across a chasm. Developing your skillsas a Questioneer can add spectacular depthand bring surprising progress to your creative

endeavours (and to everyday life).

A Questioneer is like a questing pioneer whose

mode of transportation is the question mark. Agood question meaning a question arising

from the askers genuine wonder and askedwith openness to possible answers acts as acatapult. In other words, its a pretty

spectacular mode of transportation towardwherever you want to go.

Every question includes valuable informationabout the person doing the asking. By taking

on the role of asker, you learn about yourselfeven before you find an answer. So form a
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question and dare to ask it. Allow a state ofnot yet having an answer.

When faced with a desire, a challenge, or a

stuck spot, try formulating the most truequestion you can think of about the situation.Take a time out from trying to find answers

and give all your attention to crafting anaccurate and honest question.

A true question, one thats got life and spark init, is like a horn blast from the ramparts or a

shout from the crows nest: Red Alert!Movement in the underbrush! All hands

on deck!Its a signal that draws attention tohelp needed. When you have a good question,answers will automatically home in on the

bright beacon of your asking.

using questions to find out about others

Decades ago, a friend of mine told me his

advice for enjoying parties: Ask what youwant to know. Thats profound. Dont askwhat you think someone should be asking in

this situation. Dont ask a question if you dontcare about the answer. Ask what you want to

know.You can also ask inanimate object and

imaginary people what you want to know. Askyour main character why shes still so two-

dimensional. Maybe her answer will be that


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you dont seem to want to know that shesmore like you than youre letting her be so far,

and that makes her sad and flat. Or maybe

shell tell you shes not really the maincharacter. Who knows? Thats why you ask.

When were focused on what we already

know,we tend to ask questions to teach rather

than to learn.Larry Zucker

Pay attention to questions other people ask.What do they tell you about themselves? What

can you learn from them about the art of thequestion? Does their question seem to comefrom a genuine place? Does the question

romance you into wonder? Does it prime youranswer pump and make you blurt out an

answer? Or do you lapse into quietcontemplation? What was it about the questionthat made you react the way you did?

When youre gathering raw material for awriting project, exploring your fascinations,

seeking juice and sustenance start with aquestion.

If remaining curious is the only thing you do tohelp yourself find the path that takes you

where you want to go, youre guaranteed tomake useful discoveries.


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If you court the life of a Questioneer, youll beairborne before you know it. So hang on.

questioneer practice

1. Make a list of the first questions thatpop into your mind. Dont edit, just list.

They can be in any format or verb tense,asked with any degree of silliness orseriousness. See the questions that arise

as direct messages from your psyche and

let them be whatever they are. Try tocatch the questions that scurry past beforeyour analytical brain gets hold of them andsnuffs them out.

2. These instant questions offer a littleview of yourself in this moment. Look atyour list as though someone else wrote it.

What does it tell you about that person?3. As quickly and instinctually as you can,

answer the questions you listed in the firststep.

variations

There are lots of possible variations on this

practice. For instance Write the list of questions as though youresomeone or something else. For example, listthe first questions that will pop up from the

magazine editors psyche when he finishes


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reading your essay. Or list the questions themaple tree in the yard had at sunrise.

Another variation is to ask others to

participate. You could practice beingQuestioneers around the dinner table togetherduring dessert, or with your writers group, or

with your kids. Make your lists on your ownand then pass them around and see what you

learn about each other. You could answer yourown questions or everyone could write their

own answers to everyone elses questions.(Ahem)

What might it tell you about me that thesewere the first six questions that arose when I

decided to write this article?:

1. What were your parents doing thirty

minutes after you were conceived?2. How are dust bunnies created?3. Whats your favourite writing utensil?

4. Do fleas consider dogs public transit?5. Who will remember you 200 years from

now?6. What if circles were outlawed?

These were my first-thought answers:

1. (Brain freeze.)

2. By dust- and hair-filled tsunamisformed by local air current disturbances.


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3. Uniball Vision Micro or a Space Pen4. I dont think they have that much

conceptual computing space.

5. My nephews great-great-great-greatgrandchildren, if any.

6. Eyeballs would be square. Wed all begoats.

the question as catapult

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