“I knew I should have done it that way.”
How many times have you said that? I’ve said it plenty. In each instance, I probably should have realized the little feeling in my stomach might actually be my subconcious telling me something. Author Kelly Stone is here to show us how to tap into those instincts.
Welcome, Kelly!
Your subconscious mind is an unlimited source of creativity and guidance; in fact, it’s your most powerful writing tool. Are you capitalizing on it?
If not, here’s an easy technique to help you get started. It’s a method I created called “Writing Counselors.”
The subconscious mind is always attempting to get information to the conscious mind, but in order to make the most of your subconscious communications, it’s important that you give your conscious mind a context for the information. Think of your subconscious as the parent and your conscious mind as the child; when teaching a child, the parent must put the material into a familiar context that the child can understand and then apply. It’s the same way with your mind. Because the subconscious mind often presents guidance in a symbolic fashion, you have to give your conscious mind a context in which to understand and apply the information that the subconscious mind is providing.
This is where the technique I call “Writing Counselors” comes in. It is fun and easy to do. I adapted this technique from Napoleon Hill’s original method of subconscious “guides.” Basically, you create a visual aid in the form of a “counselor” that can pass information from your subconscious to your conscious mind in a form that your conscious mind can easily understand, relate to, and subsequently use the information in a practical way.
Step 1: Create a Counselor
Your counselor can take any shape and form that you wish. It can be male, female, an animal, a symbol, an avatar, or your favorite author. It can be an admired historical figure. It can be your high school literature teacher. It can be an image of your higher self. Whatever symbolism resonates with you will work as your imaginary writing counselor.
Step 2: Create Categories of Counselors
Create counselors for various categories in your writing life. Below are some categories you might wish to create:
Daily Writing Counselor
The responsibility of this counselor is to help you fit writing into your schedule on a regular basis and to show you how to overcome any obstacles that stand in your way. This counselor will be the person/form you turn to, in your mind, for help when you need advice regarding your daily writing habits.
Plot Counselor
The responsibility of the plot counselor is to aid you in coming up with plot material.
Idea Counselor
An idea counselor helps you generate new ideas for your stories.
Career Guidance Counselor
A career guidance counselor is one who will provide you with your subconscious mind’s wisdom regarding every aspect of your writing career.
How to Work With Your Counselors
Once you have identified a counselor for each category you want help in, and you have the image of that counselor solidified in your mind, make a list of questions or problem areas that you will need their help on. Get into a relaxed state and begin posing your questions. Have a notebook handy to record the answers you get. Your questions should be as specific as you can make them.
Pose the question, either out loud or silently, while holding the image of your Writing Counselor in mind. Be open to the response. Everyone’s subconscious mind communicates with them differently. Some people “hear” the counselor say something, others get a mental image in response, or you may get a feeling that you should take some action. After you receive an answer, write it down and then thank your counselor for any wisdom or advice. Gratitude is an important part of this technique.
Here are a few sample questions you can try with your various counselors.
Sample Questions For a Daily Writing Counselor
Daily Writing Counselor, what steps do I need to take to make writing part of my daily routine?
Daily Writing Counselor, what I can do to avoid distractions to my daily writing habit?
Daily Writing Counselor, how can I get my family’s support so that I can write every day?
Sample Questions for a Plot Counselor
Plot Counselor, please provide me with the next scene in my novel.
Plot Counselor, should I change the villain in my story to another character?
Plot Counselor, please show me the major points I should make in my essay.
Sample Questions for Career Guidance Counselor
Career Counselor, should I invest my time in learning to write fiction or nonfiction at this time?
Career Counselor, is Agent X a good match for me?
Career Counselor, is it a good idea for me to change genres at this time?
There is a wide range of questions you can ask your counselors. Remember to pause after you ask the question, and be open to receiving the answer. It may take some practice to begin receiving answers but as with all subconscious mind communication, the more you practice the easier it becomes.
Using Writing Counselors to communicate with your subconscious mind is a practical and easy way to start building the bridge between your conscious mind and your most powerful writing tool.
***
RU Crew, do you listen to your subconscious minds? Was there an instance where you should have and didn’t?
Thank you to Kelly for being here with us. Join us on Monday when Sally Bayless will be here with an update on her journey toward publication.
BIO: Kelly L. Stone (http://www.authorkellylstone.com/) started a successful writing career while working a full time job. She is the author of a novel, GRAVE SECRET (Mundania Press, Sept 2007) which was called “powerful” and “well written” by RT Book Reviews. She is the author of the TIME TO WRITE book series for authors, a series of motivational and practical books designed to teach you how to write no matter how busy you are and how to capitalize on your innate subconscious creativity. TIME TO WRITE (Adams Media) was released in January 2008, THINKING WRITE: The Secret to Freeing Your Creative Mind (Adams Media) was released in October 2009, and LIVING WRITE: The Secret to Bringing Your Craft Into Your Daily Life (Adams Media) will be out on September 18, 2010. Kelly is also a licensed mental health counselor. She teaches writing workshops across the country and is available for one-on-one consultation; contact her at Kelly@AuthorKellyLStone.com
Kelsey's serving up bite-sized morsels for your noggin on her new 
Hi Kelly,
Thank you for such a thought-provoking post!
I’ll certainly give this method a try, but what happens when your subconscious doesn’t have the answer?
This probably goes back to one of my greatest fears as a suspense writer–creating intelligent characters who are a good deal smarter than me.
Thanks, Tracey
Posted by TraceyDevlyn | September 10, 2010, 5:22 amHi Tracey!
Thanks for dropping by and for your question.
It isn’t so much that the subconscious doesn’t have an answer, it’s more often that we are not receptive to that answer. Try asking your question in a different way, or write the question down and then forget about it for a while. The answer will likely come to you at an unexpected moment (the *a watched pot never boils* theory). You might also ask your subconscious mind why you are blocking on the answer and see what comes up.
The answers are there, you have to train the conscious mind to receive them. EXPECTING an answer, and being open to the process going on, is critical to making the process work.
Thanks for the question!
Cheers,
Kelly
Posted by Kelly L Stone | September 10, 2010, 7:37 amHi RU readers!
Thanks for having me here today. Just wanted to mention that I’ll be popping in periodically today to respond to comments/questions, and all who leave a comment can receiving the 1st chapter of LIVING WRITE, *The Power of Daily Writing*, free if you will just email me at Kelly@AuthorKellyLStone.com and let me know you want it.
Thanks!
Kelly
Posted by Kelly L Stone | September 10, 2010, 7:39 amMorning Kelly!
Wow, fascinating! I use my subconscious alot, but mostly when asleep. I’ll start thinking of a problem I’m having with my plot before I go to sleep, and when I wake up there’s a good chance I’ll have solved it overnight. It doesn’t make for restful sleep however, so I don’t use it very often. =)
I’ll have to put your ideas to use – get some sleep AND get great ideas!
Thanks!
carrie
Posted by Carrie Spencer | September 10, 2010, 9:15 amThanks for stopping by Carrie!! Sleep is a GREAT way to communicate with your subconscious mind. Have you tried my technique for inducing hypnagogia yet? I blogged about that one time before with RU. Kelly
Posted by Kelly L Stone | September 10, 2010, 1:03 pmHi, Kelly -
We’re always delighted to have you at Romance University!
I use a technique very similar to the one Carrie mentioned. But that time between being fully awake and fully asleep–I call it the Twilight Zone–is where I seem to be able to communicate best with my subconscious. Do you have any advice for capturing those thoughts without completely disrupting my sleep? Sometimes I’ve forgotten those ideas by the time I wake in the morning.
Thanks so much!
Kelsey
Posted by Kelsey Browning | September 10, 2010, 12:31 pmHi Kelsey!!
It’s always a joy to be with RU!
I read your post after I replied to Carrie. What you are referring to is the hypnagogic state, that phase when the brain is slipping into an alpha mode and that is linked to ultra-creativity because the subconscious is so close to the surface.
You can induce it by laying down and holding your arm straight up in the air, then dozing (do this when you are not super tired or really need sleep, otherwise, you fall into deep sleep too quickly. A good time to practice is on a weekend afternoon, when you might otherwise take a cat nap). The tension needed to keep your arm up versus your mind’s wanting to fall asleep will induce the hypnagogic state. Practice for 10 minutes or so, or until your arm gets tired or you get too sleepy, just make sure to roll over and write down your thoughts before drifting off!
You can also do this with specific questions– for instance, “Subconscious, what is the next scene in my novel that fixes the plot problem?”, then lay down, arm up, try to doze, see what connections the subconscious gives you.
Thanks for your question!
Kelly
Posted by Kelly L Stone | September 10, 2010, 1:08 pmKelly -
I remember this suggestion, and I promise I’m going to use it this time!
K-
Posted by Kelsey Browning | September 10, 2010, 3:48 pmLet me know how it works for you!
Posted by Kelly L Stone | September 10, 2010, 5:01 pmI have learned over the years to do what I call “self-coaching.” Sometimes it resembles what your discussing. Other times it’s like just having an active coach in my head to encourage, suggest, etc.
Posted by Debbie Kaufman | September 10, 2010, 1:24 pmHi Debbie!
Thanks for stopping by!
That technique that you use is another way to communicate with the subconscious. Anything that works to build the bridge is useful.
Kelly
Posted by Kelly L Stone | September 10, 2010, 4:59 pmThis is a great adaptation to Napoleon Hills’ council! I tried this and was very thrilled with the results.
I sometimes find it difficult to write down the information I am receiving because I’m so relaxed I can’t read my own writing! My solution is to turn on a small hand-held recorder and quietly voice the information I am receiving.
Later, in a more alert state I can listen and write any more information that comes to me, or feed the information into Dragon Naturally speaking for a written record.
Thanks so much for such a great idea.
Posted by Karen Rothstein | January 10, 2012, 11:26 amHi Kelly, My passion is to write a visual art book. A How To Book with photos of my artwork. I am stuck on expressing the visual picture in my head to the words on paper. Thanks from one breeze to another, Brenda
Posted by Brenda | January 15, 2012, 5:27 am