Intuitive Writing ~ What String is Playing?
By Gwendolyn Womack | January 29, 2024 |
Therese here to officially welcome our newest contributor to Writer Unboxed, multi-published author Gwendolyn Womack! More about Gwen from her bio:
Gwendolyn Womack is the award-winning LA Times & USA Today bestselling author of The Fortune Teller, The Memory Painter, and The Time Collector. Her books have been described as cross-genre metaphysical thrillers, and her YA debut, The Premonitions Club, is coming out in 2025.
Gwen was a screenwriter for years before becoming a novelist and has an MFA in Directing Theatre & Film from CalArts. Her main hobby is photographing kaleidoscopes, and she often posts pictures of them on social media. She has taught writing workshops at conferences and for writing groups, both in person and online, and offers one-on-one consulting as well as editorial feedback.
Gwen’s well-storied background is sure to lead to some fascinating posts for us here at WU–and today’s post is the first proof. Enjoy. And welcome, Gwen! It’s great to have you with us.
Writing is an incredibly intuitive and often subconscious process. So the more we writers can train ourselves to build intuitive muscle, the more easily we can dive into characters’ psyches, figure out the narrative of the story, and cull our imaginations to answer that age-old question: What happens next?
While writing my second novel, a story revolving around an ancient Tarot deck, I began to think about how writing and intuition are intimately linked. Eventually, I created an Intuitive Writing workshop that I have led over the years, helping writers to tap into their intuition more quickly during their creative process.
Before I outline some concrete tips for tuning into your subconscious while you work, I’d like to talk about brainwaves. Because understanding brainwaves is the key to understanding intuition and intuitive writing.
First let’s breakdown what a brainwave is. Every thought, emotion, and behavior we have is generated by the neurons in our brains. All of those neurons talking to each other create electrical pulses or brainwaves. Those waves can either oscillate fast, slow, or somewhere in between.
There are four main brainwaves and each one has a different rate of oscillation. Think of them as the four strings on a violin. Which string is played determines state of mind.
The first string: Beta is the most active brainwave during the day. It’s the listening, thinking, problem-solving wave. When we go to work, we’re in Beta.
But what happens when you’re writing and you can’t quite capture what you need on the page? Perhaps you’re wrestling with a scene, lacking inspiration, or in some other way stuck? You probably need to step away from the keyboard. This is because deep, creative work requires out-of-the-box thinking and Beta is very much in-the-box thinking.
The second string: Alpha is a slower brainwave that creates a calmer, more relaxed state, and a bridge between the conscious and subconscious. Researchers at the Queen Mary University of London have found that “higher levels of Alpha brainwaves enable people to come up with ideas,” and scientists at the University of North Carolina showed that Alpha brainwaves not only boost creative thought but decrease depression.
So the next time you’re stuck at the keyboard, think of changing the strings. How can you get into that relaxed Alpha state to write more productively? Go run the bath and bring a note pad and pen with you. Take a drive and have your phone handy to record ideas with voice dictation. Take a walk, listen to music, do some deep breathing, or a guided meditation. Better yet, go get a massage and think about your story! For most of us, life is busy and creative time is limited, but sometimes time away from writing is even more valuable.
Which leads us to the Golden String…
The third string: Theta is the brainwave that bridges being sleep and awake. Theta can also occur during daydreaming and deep meditation, tapping directly into the wellspring of the subconscious. Theta creates that state of “knowingness.” It can happen when you’re writing and completely into the Zone (you know the one!) and you become transported by your story. When the words are flowing freely, you are either in a deep Alpha or entering a Theta state. It’s an experience all writers hope to have as frequently as possible—though it can be hard to achieve.
For Theta, try keeping a notepad by the bed and train your mind to think about your story as you’re falling asleep. Write down any lines, dialogue, thoughts that pass through your mind as you drift off. Write in the dark. Chances are you will come up with gold. During that time, the doors to your imagination are open wide.
Children can be in Theta during the day up until about thirteen years old, then Beta becomes more dominant. It’s what makes children such great daydreamers.
The fourth string: Delta is the slowest brainwave, which the mind enters when you’re in a deep sleep. Delta triggers the restorative, healing process in the body.
Infants are primarily in Delta the first year of their lives.
When considering optimal states for creativity, try to focus on Alpha and Theta waves and how to get into them. Remember it is important to give yourself permission to go into relaxed states regularly. If you can trigger an Alpha or Theta brainwave quickly and easily, doing so will make your time writing that much smoother and more enjoyable.
I have more on this topic that I’ll share in my next post. In the meantime, take care of your violin and practice playing those strings.
What are some things you do that help you get into a more relaxed state to write? When have you found the best time of day for you to get into the Zone? And where do you most often receive inspiration for your stories when you’re away from the keyboard?
I’ll sign off with my favorite quote on writing from Ray Bradbury:
“Your subconscious already knows what it wants to write, so get out of your own way.”
Gwendolyn Womack is the award-winning LA Times & USA Today bestselling author of The Fortune Teller, The Memory Painter, and The Time Collector. Her books have been described as cross-genre metaphysical thrillers, and her YA debut, The Premonitions Club, is coming out in 2025.
Gwen was a screenwriter for years before becoming a novelist and has an MFA in Directing Theatre & Film from CalArts. Her main hobby is photographing kaleidoscopes, and she often posts pictures of them on social media. She has taught writing workshops at conferences and for writing groups, both in person and online, and offers one-on-one consulting as well as editorial feedback.
Hi Gwen and welcome! I love metaphysical fiction and write supernatural stories dealing with magick and spirits from other worlds. I write in what has been termed “organic storytelling.” The story unfolds from chapter to chapter and grows naturally on the page. I often don’t know what is happening in the next chapter. It’s more like the characters are revealing their story to me from page to page, which becomes an exciting adventure for me as writer. I am at Chapter 24 in my WIP and there’s a blank page staring at me. So, here is my question: is intuitive writing different from organic writing? I don’t know any other intuitive writers, so I’m looking forward to your posts and intuitive writing process advice. (Your comments about Theta subconscious is spot on. I get a number of ideas upon waking up at 4 or 5 AM and must write them down. I think a lot of writers do.)
Hi Paula, Thank you so much for the welcome! I’m happy to be here. I think your sense of organic writing and intuitive writing can be interchangeable. However, intuitive writing also applies to a writer who prefers to outline and plot and plan. (I tend to do both, plot and also chase the surprise. Though I do need a general rough sketch to know where I’m going. I call it my “compass points” so I’m not lost in the story. And I always know the ending to the story before I start writing. That’s my personal comfort level.) Your question on the blank page – generally when I come to a full stop writing on the first draft, it usually means I need to go deeper and do something courageous that exposes the vulnerability of the characters more and/or what the story is ultimately about. I would take some time to ruminate what needs to happen next. Sometimes it’s something we’re reluctant to write, which is why the stop happens. Often times the answer will come when you’re in that meditative headspace. That’s where the intuitive process comes in, giving yourself an open field for the answers to come. Hope that helps and good journey at the keyboard, Gwen
Welcome Gwen, and thank you for talking about brainwaves. I get intuitive ‘hits’ most frequently either during afternoon naps or in that space (hypnagogic?) between waking and sleep. Walking in nature helps kick up the leafmold as well. I’m probably the least in my own way during those times! I look forward to more of your posts!!
Hi Susan, thank you! Intuitive hits, I love that terminology. And I must add afternoon naps to my tip list :). Nature walks are the best too. Good journey at the keyboard, Gwen
Thanks for this, so timely as I just got editorial notes back on my WIP and need to develop/chase some new threads. I love this analysis and will try to tap into Beta/Theta waves as I brainstorm the next few weeks.
Hi Carol, I’m so happy the post was helpful. Best wishes on your WIP and revisions ahead!
Welcome, Gwen! I love the metaphor of the violin strings (not least because I used to play violin). Especially since strings, when they are in tune, can really resonate with each other. :-) I find both knitting and gardening are very helpful for developing a relaxed state: moving the body, not thinking quite so heavily in Beta mode (or if I am, it’s limited to the task and doesn’t fill all my thoughts). They’re not necessarily when I get precise, intuitive ideas, but they definitely help things work in the background. Morning tends to be best for my finding the zone: later in the day, the brain gets really full of those Beta in-box, planny thoughts. A certain level of overwhelm–looking at you, news websites–can be really counterproductive!
Thank you, Alisha! I love the idea of the strings resonating. Yes, it’s definitely challenging after all the news distractions pile up. Knitting and gardening sound very relaxing. I wish I had a green thumb, but unfortunately I can’t even keep a cactus alive. Agreed moving the body always sparks a flow!
Welcome! I loved this post, Gwen, because so much of writing is still a mystery to me even after 20 yrs. And my best writing has come from when there’s an unimpeded flow from head to hand and boy, would I love to access it more easily. I find doing basic household chores, particularly washing dishes, conducive to daydreaming. Also walking my dog. Your music analogy is so perfect, esp. as Alisha above points to resonance. I’ve been singing a lot this past year (I’ve just returned from a winter workshop) and I can hardly write the ideas are coming so fast and furious. Thank you for a wonderful essay on the things we don’t understand very well and I look forward to future essays and checking out your books.
Hi Vijaya, thank you! I couldn’t agree more. Writing can be such a mystery and creating a story is like crafting a dream, which is probably why every time we go to write a new one it feels like the first time all over again. On daydreaming – dishes and dog walks definitely work for me too. That is very cool about your singing. I actually plan to talk about music and the art of humming in my next post. :) Good luck with your story and music!
This was fascinating! I often use a song on repeat that has a certain vibe, or Brain.fm to get into a creative zone more quickly than I can with just silence. And I definitely get most of my unexpected ideas while falling asleep or right after waking up. Afternoon naps are often better than bedtime, but I don’t always give myself the time. It’s frustrating that sometimes the most valuable parts of our day look like procrastination or laziness to the outside world… Welcome to WU!
Hi Gwen, thank you so much! It sounds like we have the same music method. I’m a huge fan of looping. On the napping, if you find you get a lot of invaluable ideas when you do it, I’d definitely give yourself permission to schedule it regularly on your writing days. I personally do count lying on the floor and staring at the ceiling as work, lol. No guilt allowed in the writer’s room. ;) Cheers!
Hi Gwen! This information is fascinating, and I love the analogy with music. My brain is firmly set on the Beta string. However, I find physical exercise is conducive to getting it to move to the more creative Alpha range which also creates a sense of well-being.
Hi, Gwen, thoroughly enjoyed your post. Some years ago I began teaching coaching clients how to access ‘E,’ which stands for energy, after I realized I had become very good at it. I use my ‘E’ for creative work, especially writing, but it can be used for anything. I tend to work with incredible people who are going through something hard, like changing fields, starting a business, or not knowing what to do at all, and I think we can agree that society is very beta—thinking, decision, task, outcome oriented. I teach them how to see their existing, natural ‘E’ so they can unpack what keeps covering it up. Life changes when we see ourselves and what we really need. I always feel I’m taking a bit of a risk with a client because talking about ‘E’ is talking of magic. The magic we all have. But then I remind myself (again) that my clients ARE the ones looking for magic . Ha! I’d love to read on the historical progression of reasoning and movement away from the mystic. Thanks for your post, as it deepened my thinking on this.
Gwen, I love that you’re contributing your wisdom and experience here! I resonate with the violin analogy in your post, with the strings of the brainwaves vibrating and working together. I’ve struggled to get into the Alpha and Theta waves while working on the edits of my novel. It can feel clinical at the surface. Your suggestions are great to help get there. I like music looping also, particularly music that feeds the Alpha and Theta waves. And, I find it meditative and often helpful to sit in silence and stare at a wall. It calms my mind and body to get in the zone. For me, writing longhand is instructive and construction too. Great piece! I look forward to more!
Hi Gwendolyn,
Thank you. I’m fascinated by the way the things outside us get inside or get translated into what gets inside us and vice-versa–how a thought becomes an action, or a number of thoughts become a story, writing on a page or pixels on a screen; or how a physical tree becomes an image or a neural construct in our brains that we can call up at will. Although I had heard their names, I didn’t know the meaning or value of the four strings. Thank you again. I look forward to your future posts and to learning more about them.