One of the best ways to discover frightening stories
and powerful imagery is to open the door to the unconscious mind,
keeper of our nightmares and secret anxieties, which can play a vital
role in the creative process. My most powerful work as a writer is a
direct result of allowing the unconscious to enter, including ah-ha
moments of story inspiration and sudden leaps in the drafting process.
For inspiration, story ideas, and solutions to
difficult storytelling problems, long walks away from the computer are a
great way to enter a trance-like state where ideas emerge from the
unconscious mind. I find it's helpful to set an intention for the walk;
for example, the intention to create a creepy premise for a new
story--and then I just walk, swinging my arms and letting my mind
wander. I sometimes can come up with three new developed ideas in an
hour of walking.
Long stretches of freewriting with cursive
handwriting will create a similar writer's trance where I can clear away
the editorial constrictions of my critical ego and allow a different
part of my mind to speak. Why cursive handwriting? I am convinced that
long stretches of cursive handwriting engages the mind differently than
word processing, creating a mental state where exciting things can
emerge. At this point, I hear the voices of my writing students who
dismiss these ideas as silly, opting instead for long hours locked in
frustration before a blank document on the computer screen. All I can
say in response is to give it a try (I should note that some people can
achieve this mental state through long stretches of typing like
Kerouac). For me, this mental state has served as a powerful source of
imagery and metaphors that have sparked new stories, enriched stories in
revision, and opened up new possibilities for stories beleaguered with
problems.
Of course, the unconscious mind can enrich your
writing in the context of disciplined habits and practices: consistently
recording and reflecting on your dreams, setting aside time for
stretches of freewriting and walking, and finding a way to avoid those
frequent side trips to Facebook and Twitter, which keep your attention
on the surface and prevent your creative mind from sounding into the
depth of the unconscious.
Chad Helder
is the author of The Vampire Bridegroom (Dark Scribe 2011) and Pop-Up
Book of Death (Rebel Satori 2010). He is the Stoker Award-winning editor
(along with Vince Liaguno) of Unspeakable Horror: From the Shadows of
the Closet (Dark Scribe 2008). Helder teaches writing at Portland Community College.
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