Welcome Input From Your Silent Partner

Your silent partner is in charge of your writing
Your subconscious mind is your partner in your writing.

When you separate the writing process from brainstorming, and later editing, you’ll become aware that your subconscious mind does most of the heavy lifting in writing — it’s responsible for most of the planning, and the writing — your conscious mind, the part of your mind you think of as "you", just takes care of the logical details.

Pause, then start writing
Your subconscious mind is powerful, but it’s not verbal. It sends you information via images and sensations. When writers discuss their processes for writing a novel for example, you’ll often find that they begin with a single image. An entire novel flowed from that image.

Before you start writing for the day, or start any new writing task, pause. Relax in your chair, and take a few deep breaths. Then focus on the breaths, just breathe, and be aware of your breathing. If you’ve done any meditation, you’ll recognize this as a meditative technique.

Give yourself a minute or two of relaxation. If you have a question about your writing, write it down. Then relax again for a minute or two. An image or a thought will arise in your mind. Start writing.

Once you become aware that your subconscious mind "writes", you can pause occasionally while you’re writing to give your subconscious an opportunity to bubble up its input. You’ll find that your writing is not only more powerful, but it flows more easily too.

Exercise 23: Pause.

Today, before you start a writing task, take a moment to pause. Relax, and feel your breaths as you inhale and exhale. Pausing is powerful.