Tapping into the Subconscious to Help with your Writing

I’ve been reading about different ways for writers to tap into their subconscious and thought I’d share them with you. Exploring these internal spheres can help generate material or uncover a deeper meaning in the pieces you’re working on.

1. Dreamwork: Writing down your dreams can help you capture unconscious thoughts, emotions, and experiences. It’s best to get the ideas down as quickly as possible upon awakening, so be sure to keep a pen and paper on your nightstand.

2. Stream of consciousness writing: If you asked my writing group, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be able to differentiate between stream of consciousness writing and my regular writing. There are a lot of famous writers and coaches who talk about this method, from Julia Cameron in the Artist’s Way or Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones.

This technique involves writing without stopping, letting your thoughts and ideas flow freely onto the page. You can write about anything that comes to mind, without worrying about grammar or punctuation. This technique can help you access thoughts and feelings that you may not have been aware of and can be a powerful tool for freewriting.

3. Visualizations and Guided Imagery: Visualizations and guided imagery can be used to access subconscious thoughts and feelings. My personal favorite is Belleruth Naparstek. Check her out here.

By imagining yourself in a particular setting or context and allowing your mind to wander, you may be able to tap into memories, feelings, and ideas. Meditation, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques can all be helpful in facilitating visualization exercises.

4. Open-Ended Questions: Asking yourself open-ended questions can help you access subconscious thoughts and feelings. Questions like "What is holding me back?" or "What am I afraid of?" My go to is usually “What would I say if I knew what I wanted to say?” Next time you feel stuck, maybe try a few and see what happens.

5. Mind Mapping: I attended a Mind Mapping workshop with Brian Weller and will sometimes use some of his techniques to see connections between seemingly unrelated ideas.

6. Theta Waves: I once heard a podcast with Iyanla Vanzant who talked about using theta waves. (There is an actual ThetaHealing which incorporates the use of focused meditation or prayer while listening to theta frequency sounds but I was kind of broke when I heard about it and never forked over the money to work with an actual practitioner. ) I did notice that listening to free theta videos on youtube while working seemed to help free my mind and help me get into writing flow. This may have been a placebo effect, but as long as it helps, I don’t mind if it’s real or placebo.