Week 4 Storylab: Writer's Write

Illustration by Hiroshi Nagai

5 Unexpected Ways to Fuel Your Story

1. Driving

Record your thoughts while driving for inspiration.

2. Walking, Running, Swimming

Try physical activity to fill your subconscious with creativity.

3. Listening to Music

Listen to music while working to set the mood.

4. Reading

Relaxed reading can inspire your brain.

5. Dreaming

Write down your dreams and allow your subconscious to solve your writing.

Notes

I might rename number 2 as “fitness” or “physical activity” to keep it short and sweet, but it might have turned away those who loathe the idea of working out. I dislike running and curse whoever invented it, but swimming I can do. It’s pretty relaxing. 

Music is a great tool for tapping into writing, though the genre also affects how well I write that day. One day I might listen to electroswing, and the next could be chillhop. I definitely won’t be listening to a podcast while writing—that’s reserved for when I’m making art. Similar to what the author said, I can’t write words and hear spoken word at the same time. I’ve gotten away with listening to music in another language, though. 

I have the weirdest visions while I’m dreaming. I’m sure this applies to most people, but I’m still baffled with what my subconscious provides to this day. There was a time where I tried lucid dreaming, which kind of worked—I was mostly fascinated by what my brain comes up with—and then I got lazy with it. Fun facts I learned from this experience:

• Almost everyone has 3-5 dreams per night, though only 40% of individuals can remember them. More dreams occur during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycles, the most recorded being 7. 

• Most dreams actually occur before you wake up—those who experience realistic, intense, and/or disturbing dreams may have “hypnopompic hallucinations,” where your subconscious feeds you illusions that seem very real (not to be mistaken with “sleep paralysis”).

•Lucid dreaming is a dream where the individual is aware that they are dreaming. Some people can even train themselves to control the dreams they have while they sleep, though I’ve never achieved this. Oneironautics is the ability to travel within a dream consistently. 

Final Thoughts

All of these are good suggestions made by Ehlers. In conclusion, it’s up to the individual to decide what can help fuel their imagination. It could mentioned on this list or something else entirely. Personally, I tend to be inspired while swimming or listening to music, though I do get some crazy dream ideas every once in a while. 

Link to article.