Tap into your intuitive writing muse
Remember when being creative was chopping the heads of dolls and dipping them in mud or lopping the neighbours roses, gazing in innocent delight at the carnage and display of abstract art surrounding you? You didn’t need to explain anything; it simply was a master piece.
Oh for those days when it didn’t matter what you created as long as it came from your heart and soul.
We’d build forts, temples and theatres, colour in kings and queens. Learning to write, read stories and tell tales were all part of a glorious time of discovery and expression. Proudly we’d hand in our ‘what I did in the summer holidays’ and, even better to be asked to read aloud hamsters escapades.
Where oh where did those days of free, intuitive expression go?
The trouble is most of us haven’t done anything more creative than make butterfly cakes or cut up a sheet for a ghouls outfit since leaving school. It’s been so long that now we believe that we are crap at creative adventures like writing and telling tales.
This is where tuning into your intuition is your greatest friend. Intuitive writing is putting your pen to paper and switching off the conscious noises that distract your hearts flow.
Intuition is that gut feeling, a knowing or an aha moment. You simply know you are on the right track.
When you write intuitively you produce rich, delicious writing that your readers want to savour. They can lose themselves in your words and become a part of your world.
Just because you can’t remember what it was like to jump in puddles, or leap over streams, catch raindrops from leaves, doesn’t mean to say you can’t start again and reach into your hidden depths and write a book. One which will change your world and very possibly the world of so many others.
Tips to connect to your writing muse
- Find the right place and time to write. Let the day go, put pen to paper and trust that what appears are the right words.
- Listen deeply. After a meditation or bath, take the moments that follow to hear what your heart is saying.
- When you don’t know what to write, ask for guidance. When it comes write it. It will make sense later.
There is something quite magical about words and how we use words to convey our emotions, thoughts, and ideas. In times of conflict powerful writers and writing emerges whose use of language stirs something deep within us. Take ‘In Flanders Fields’ written during the Great War by John McCrae, (May 1915)
We each have a purpose, a reason for being, something which we are here to deliver and as our lives unfold, our knowledge and experiences grow and deepens. When we are living on purpose then opportunities for our purpose open up. Life on purpose is about being connected to our authentic self, the one which is most creative, intuitive, passionate, links to the big picture, is values based and is what we love doing without thinking. Knowing your purpose is the baseline for your book.
Author: Jacqui Malpass
The Word Alchemist, turning your words and stories into books and blogs which ignite you and your brand.
Good points raised here. On my tough days I always remember the Neil Gaimen quote “Start writing, then stop”
Absolutely agree about taking time out. All writing needs reflection time.
Great post. As an author, I know I found it difficult to get started. Once I did though, my fingers didn’t want to stop. It was a fabulous experience when I was able to spend 5 days doing nothing but writing…literally. I was exhausted but, wow, I felt good! There’s the saying that everyone has a book in them. I believe this is true. The one thing I am learning is when to stop writing, when to stop editing and just publish! Like many things, writing is a craft and there will always be things I want to improve upon. If we waited until it was ‘perfect’ no songs would be published or books written. Well, okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration:)
Wow Tandy – 5 days!!! I also love that you talk about perfection. I think just do it and ‘correct’ it later – if you feel like it 🙂
Great post Jacqui, I’ll be giving this a try 🙂
Go for it Jess 🙂
Sometimes I really don’t want to write and then when I put pen to paper and have some quiet time I am amazed what comes out. Just two weeks ago, I also leapt out of bed and headed to my flipchart as the writing had given me some clarity and new ideas. Love it.
Thank you for the great tips 🙂