The Subconscious as a Collaborator

How do you come up with your book titles?  Asked this recently, my answer came quickly: At some point I just know what the title is. Which means I’ve been working on it subconsciously. Which makes me realize how essential my subconscious is to the writing process:



Stuck? Set it aside and come back to it tomorrow. Usually when I wake up I know what to do – my subconscious figured it out.
Sudden discovery, typically while brushing teeth or gardening, of a plot twist that ramps up the tension and surprise? Thank you subconscious, you are always on the job.
Realization, as the book nears completion, that details have coalesced into a united theme? My subconscious knew from the beginning what this book was about; the conscious mind is always the last to know.



My principle motivation to write is a desire to connect with other people, but a secondary motivation is to connect with myself and see what will next emerge.


As I write this I find it difficult to say “I figured it out subconsciously” rather than “my subconscious figured it out”.  It doesn’t disturb me to feel that I contain these separate entities.  Should it? 



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Published on January 27, 2013 08:15
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Required Writing

Sue  Perry
Stray thoughts on blogging, writing, reading, and whatever else those topics expose.
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