Studies have proven that most people are noticeably stronger in one hemisphere of the brain or the other, mostly due to their tendency to exercise one side more often. Neither side of the brain is better than the other. But, as writers, we can’t discount the value of figuring out which side we live in most—and then stretching ourselves to explore the uncharted territories on the other side.
Our work (and our lives) would be pretty useless without the logical sides of our brains. Our writing would be a frenetic wash of color and emotion, which would probably end up being indistinguishable to anyone but ourselves. We need that logical side of our brains to help us organize our thoughts into coherency. But the power of art is almost always the result of the right side of our brains—the unconscious side. So how do we keep our conscious brain out of the way long enough to tap into our unconscious creativity?
1. Make time to dream. In my recently released CD Conquering Writer’s Block and Summoning Inspiration (http://www.kmweiland.com/books_CWBASI.php), I talk about the importance of daydreaming. Quietude can be difficult to find in the midst of our hectic lives, but even just a few minutes of daydreaming every day can reap significant results.
2. Don’t censure yourself. Creativity is a delicate and temperamental creature, and it often wilts away under the weight of “the rules” or the carping of our infernal internal editors. Not everything that bubbles up from the depths of your unconscious creativity will have worth, but give yourself time to get it on paper and let it rest for a while before judging it.
3. Tell your left brain to zip it. Your left brain can be a pushy character. When he’s telling you he thinks he knows best how to write this story, tell him to stow it for a bit, so his chatter doesn’t distract you from the offerings of your right brain. Your left brain will get his chance later.
4. Focus on the senses. Our subconscious works on a level deeper than words. It feeds our brains with images, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings, which our conscious brains then translate into words. Nothing wrong with those words (they’re the tools of our trade, after all!), but give a try to focusing on the raw sensations. Close your eyes and visualize the scene you’re writing. What colors stand out? What can you smell? What does your body feel like? This is the best way I know to find those all-important “telling” details that bring a scene to life.
5. Listen to your gut instinct. Ever get that itching feeling that something is wrong with a story? You’re zipping right along, having a good ol’ time with your characters… but something just doesn’t feel right. I’ve learned to trust my gut instinct. I can’t think of an instance in which it has ever failed me. We just have to learn to interpret what it’s telling us.
Most authors would be the first to admit that the best of their writing is beyond even them. It comes from someplace outside the conscious realm. Once we recognize and accept that fact, we are then able to take advantage of the tremendous opportunity of harnessing our unconscious minds. The two sides of our creativity—the conscious and the unconscious—working in harmony, the one pulsing and pounding ahead, the other slowing and refining, are capable of producing some pretty fantastic things.
K.M. Weiland writes historical and speculative fiction from her home in the sandhills of western Nebraska. She enjoys mentoring other authors through her writing tips, editing services, workshops, and her recently released instructional CD Conquering Writer’s Block and Summoning Inspiration.
I love daydreaming! Have the time I’m not sure which world I’m living in is reality but it sure makes for great novels. I do try to use both sides of my brain but I know one of them is more dominant.
CD
Elizabeth – Thanks for hosting Katie.
Katie – What wonderful advice. Writing is a creative art. If we can’t tap that creativity, our writing can become stale or at least, take more effort. The real “juice” of writing comes from our ability to tap what our brain can do already if we let it. I like your idea of trusting one’s gut instinct, too. Most of us are lots better than we think we are at knowing when a story is/n’t working.
Elizabeth, thanks for sharing K.M’s post with us today.
K.M., you offer some inspiring tips that can also help in everyday work that doesn’t involve writing. Listening to that gut usually pays off no matter what. Best of luck. Love the cover.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Daydreaming is one of the things I’m very good at.
Elizabeth, thanks for the introduction to Katie – this is fascinating, and I agree with Mason – very inspirational in many areas.
Thanks so much for coming by today, Katie! And for your post. I’m so happy to have a real *reason* to daydream! And listening to our gut is always a good idea, and something I frequently forget.
Very, true. In writing, letting go is perhaps the most important–and maybe the hardest–thing to do. But then in editing, those Lefties can kick back in.
Great post, K.M.! Thanks for hosting, Elizabeth.
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
Until we’re used to tapping into all our senses, it’s a good idea to remind ourselves to focus in on all the senses. We often forget about the way things smell and feel especially. Thanks for the advice. (Love the cover.)
Thanks so much for having me today, Elizabeth!
@Clarissa: It can get kind of wild when you can’t remember if something really happened or if you just imagined it. (And, yes, I have done that!)
@Helen: I agree. Smell is a sense most of us seem to forget, and yet it’s the one linked most closely to emotion and memory.
@Margot: Especially if we’re avid readers (which all writers should be!), our subconscious will have absorbed a lot of truths about fiction
@Mason: Thanks! Isn’t that the great thing about the creative life? Most of its principles apply to far more than just art.
@Kaye: One of my best skill sets too!
@Alex: I’m definitely a left-brainer, obsessively so sometimes. But I’ve learned to shut it off when it gets in the way.
@Teresa: I always find beginnings one of the most difficult parts, usually because my logical brain wants to get everything perfect before moving on. It definitely makes for more stress than necessary!
@Michele: It all comes down to balance (surprise, surprise!). When both sides of our brains are working harmony, watch out!
Excellent advice. Sometimes it’s difficult for me to turn off my logical side.
I love this, because I think I’ve been hung up on beginning my new novel for just the reasons you listed here — too much chatter from the left brain. I’m going to take your advice and just spend some time daydreaming.
Thanks, Katie.
Robert Olen Butler calls this “dreamstorming.” He argues that this kind creativity is the most powerful, since it’s the most organic – and I’m inclined to agree with him!
I daydream a lot. Perhaps that is why I do run into several other obstacles, but never really run out of ideas for plots.
This is so very true! When I’m mulling over a scene, I put on some music, lay in bed, close my eyes and just daydream the scene. I’ve come up with my best work that way!
Oooh we like “dreamstorming” gonna keep that one in our back pocket! Thanks for the inspiration!
@2girls: Butler’s book From Where You Dream (which is where I found the term “dreamstorming”) is an interesting read.
@Dorte: Heaven help the world (and me) the day I run out of story ideas!
@Sun: Thanks for reading!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful post.
Malcolm
Loved the post, Kate. I’m a fan of how committed you are to supporting others. Thanks!
As a troop of daydreamers, we’ve certainly found our calling as writers! Daydreaming has always come easily for me. It’s going to that still, quiet place under the words and thoughts, that place of no mind, no body, that has to be more intentional for me. But when I do, the daydreaming that follows is even richer and more focused.
As part of my creativity coaching training, I read The Zen of Creativity, which reminded me how important it is to let go of control. To let the vision come from a place of nothingness. When we’re in a place of forcing our art (often for worthy reasons), it’s easy to skip the playful act of daydreaming because it doesn’t feel “productive.”
And then, as we take pen to paper, we need to continue the play. My good friend George Shannon calls this stage of playful exploration “galumphing.” So, let’s take Kate’s advice. Give up the guilt about how your mother called you lazy as you hung upside-down on the couch—lost in the world you created—as others busied themselves around you. Claim it! Dream, create, galumph!
“Galumph” – I love it. When I was young, my father called my Galloping Gunther, because I was always running around on my hands and knees, pretending to be a horse. Guess I’m now a Galumphing Gunther, huh? :D