Some of my most potent writing comes from my dreams and other experiences related to the subconscious. Is this true for your writing?
So, how do we tap our subconscious for creativity—innovative ideas, fresh metaphors, new ways to put words together on the page, an adventure for the writer and the reader? Here are 7 strategies that work for me, my private clients and participants in Get Your Writing Done.
Tap Your Subconscious for Inspiration and Potent Writing
- Journal: You may have heard me mention this one before (wink, wink). Journaling helps us access what’s going on below the surface. If you’re writing fiction, perhaps ask questions of one of your characters and answer as them. If you’re writing nonfiction, journal about what might make the writing more playful or adventurous or whatever qualities you are looking for. If you feel challenged about the book’s structure, play around with that in your journal.
- Doodle: Sometimes I doodle before or during writing. Doodling can take you out of linear thinking and open up an inner space to connect with your creative potential and subconscious.
- Dream Journal: Record your dreams in your journal, then play with them. Ask questions about the characters and symbols. Continue the dream. Apply the dream to a writing project in the works. Or start something new.
- Daydream: Allow your mind to wander. Imagine a scene. Or close your eyes and ….
- Music: Play something that takes you out of a linear thinking state and into a more dreamy state. Jump right into writing or pause first: close your eyes and listen before you start creating.
- Wander Outdoors: Walking slowly connects us to nature’s rhythm and her infinite ways of inspiring us. Allow your mind to wander as you walk. Observe with all your senses—hear the birds and the airplanes. Smell the flowers, the car exhaust, and whatever else wafts on the breeze. Sensory experiences, and smell especially, can bring back memories stored in the unconscious and seemingly forgotten.
- Read Poetry: Poetry speaks the language of the subconscious—symbols, rhythm, wordplay, rhyme. It liberates you from the rules of the conscious and often more controlling aspects of the mind. So, read poetry to free your mind and touch your heart, and then write your own poems.
Bonus Strategy!
[author’s goofy ramble: This often happens. I come up with a spiffy number for my post title. This time it was five. I end up with way more ideas. So then I changed it to 7. And now we’re at eight, but I’m pretty sure the blog post titling gurus say to use an odd number, so here’s a bonus:]
- Move Slowly: Slow, mindful movement can put you in an altered state where the mind slows down, and you are open to creative inspiration and the infinite possibilities offered by the subconscious.
My New Book
My upcoming book, Breathe. Write. Breathe: 18 Energizing Practices to Spark Your Writing and Free Your Voice is filled with powerful mindful movement practices from Yoga, Qigong, Sufism and other ancient wisdom paths. These practices can help you instantly tap into the deep wellspring of creative material your subconscious offers.
Mark your calendar to purchase your book on the June 12 launch to have access to bonus materials, giveaways, and more. And join us for the virtual party at 12 noon Eastern time, 9 am Pacific. Click here to sign up for notifications as we near the launch and add more goodies to our bonus.
When you sign up for notifications, you will also receive a free copy of The TENER Method for Creative Flow, a 5 page ebook.
