Have you ever noticed how people play mind games? Everyone does. I think writers are the best players in the world. Creating stories and characters takes a lot of brain power. We psyche ourselves up, nurture and feed our Muse, try to silence our internal editors, use affirmations and think up numerous reasons why not to write.
Brainstorming is a favorite mind game among writers and can be played alone or in groups. We use our imaginations and ask ourselves "what if." What if this happened? What about this? What would be the consequence of this action? Why did my hero do that?
We writers use both our conscious and subconscious brains to create stories. We get ideas from stimuli outside of ourselves as well as deep within our psyche. Some writers meticulously plot out what's going to happen before sitting down to write. Others do it instinctively or by the seat of their pants. All of us input data into the subconscious, primordial depths of our brains. While we busy ourselves with work, play, mindless tasks and even as we sleep, characters are fleshed out, plot points and twists are solved, black moments become clear and resolutions are finalized.
It never ceases to amaze me how we writers use mind games to force ourselves to sit at the computer and write. There's book-in-a-month, book-in-a-week, elaborate reward systems, set timers, online support groups—you name it, some writer is doing it just to get the words on the page. We blame the Muse, procrastinate, clean house, run errands, anything to keep from doing what we love and need to do—write and create stories.
Think about it. We love writing. Or maybe we love to have written. So do whatever it takes. Play whatever mind game works for you. Whatever you do, get in the game.
Happy Writing!!!
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