OK folks, not a vampire in sight on this site. If you arrived here looking for that then head back over to Amazon
The book itself is a wonderful guide to using writing to help pull you through most any traumatic life event. The advice is succinct and positive. And while the chapters do specify particular methods for particular events, there are some other great writing tools incorporated throughout.
Consider:
Have you ever been vexed with a problem and while your mind was able to circle around it, the more you concentrated on it the more distant it became? I know I have as well. I’ve had the same thing happen with a phone number or when trying to remember a name.
Then, just as I was falling asleep, the problem’s resolution flashed into my head. I’ll bet this has happened to you at some point.
Is this some cruel trick of human physiology? Well, kinda. But not really. What has happened is that your subconscious was able to break through the surface clutter of your conscious never-ending-worrisome-wordtrack. The human brain has an amazing capacity for problem solving. The data that is needed is in there – we just need to peel the layers to get to the answer. Try and peel those layers consciously and you’ll end up with a pile o’ peels and little else.
So the obvious answer is to write while you’re sleeping.
Okay, I’m kidding! Get back here…
Chances are you may have seen dentists offering something called “Twilight Sleep” Essentially they put you in a place where you’re not quite under but not quite awake. This zone is also naturally a part of your normal sleep cycle of falling asleep and waking up. This is where you can practice your twilight writing. This is where you can access your powerful subconscious.
While drifting off
This kind of writing is best done via pen and paper you have adjacent to your bed – unless you have a tendency to fall asleep while stumbling at the computer (just.one.more…stumble…).
As you start to drift, pay attention to your thoughts. Start writing them down, coherent or not. Don’t worry about penmanship, grammar or crossing the “i”s and dotting the “t”s. If you’ve been chewing on a problem all day then most likely the answer will be revealed now.
This is also a great time to pose a question to let your subconscious work on it overnight.
Upon awakening
Important point here, folks. This is not when you “get up”. When your eyes open, start writing – very first thing. Before you go to the bathroom, before you get coffee, before you mumble “good Morning” to anyone or anything. It’s important to gather your stuff before you get up and start your day. Write as stated above. Don’t worry about anything other than getting the words down.
I know it’s a little out there, but hey, what have you got to lose? Give twilight writing a try for a week and see if it doesn’t provide you with post ideas or maybe the solution to some problem.
I’ve not heard of this before, but I do tend to have daft ideas and thoughts as I’m drifting off to sleep. That’s why I keep a notepad by the bed, just in case. This technique sounds a bit like, and I’m sure this is not what it’s called, sub-conscious writing, as used by psychologists and the like?
Anyway, interesting stuff and tremendous SEO work with the post title.
.-= Iain Broome´s last blog ..How to write smarter in Microsoft Word with Document Map =-.
Hi Iain,
Yes I believe it is a bit like the sub-conscious writing technique.
Has the notepad near the bed helped or produced any particular insights?
The title? Ha! I’m no fan of the series at all. I didn’t put the connection together until I had typed the title in wordpress. It will be interesting to see the analytics of this, I guess.
George
I’ve heard about this… but I don’t recall discovering solutions in my dreams or as I was falling asleep. I keep pad and pen by bedside, but don’t use ‘em often.
.-= Meryl K Evans´s last blog ..11 Reasons Why People Don’t Follow Back on Twitter =-.
Hi Meryl,
Me too. I’m also reminded of the Seinfeld episode where he wakes up with a great joke and scribbles it on his notebook, then spends the next week trying to decipher his handwriting. THAT would be me.
George
That’s me, too! Sometimes I just write something in the dark — if I turn on the light, it’ll wake me up — and then in the morning… it’s like “Huh?”
.-= Meryl K Evans´s last blog ..11 Reasons Why People Don’t Follow Back on Twitter =-.
Pingback: Tweets that mention Twilight Writing | George Angus, Tumblemoose Writer -- Topsy.com
I have kept pen and pad by my bedside. Thing is I seem to bypass that twilight part and fall over asleep FAST.
The one time I awakened in the middle of the night and wrote down some brilliant story that came to me in my dreams, it looked something like this the next morning: Twh myyiineell ggggggg, etc.
Love your suggestion about writing first thing in a.m. Not go to bathroom first, though? My writing will probably say: Need to go to the bathroom!
But am willing to give it another go.
.-= Marisa Birns´s last blog ..Cherie Takes Over =-.
Marisa,
Hehe. That is too true. Talk about writing under duress! Maybe you could take the notepad with you to the loo!
George
This is so true! I often find that as I try to put my head to the pillow and go to sleep, my characters start talking again and I have to get up to write what they have to say.
I think it’s all about freeing the mind. Often, we have so much clutter going on in the brain and outside stimulus that we don’t really get in touch with our creative side until we let go. Twilight is a very productive time for me.
Thanks for this marvelous article, George Angus. As usual, you provide superb content for writers.
Best Wishes,
Clarisa
.-= Clarisa Brown´s last blog ..Giving Thanks Spreads – Me: Smiling! =-.
Clarisa,
Thanks for coming by!
Yeah, I think that freeing the mind is a good way to put it. If only I could figure out a way to be in that zone for longer periods. Meditation is helping but I want more!
George
Twilight writing reminds me of Natalie Goldberg’s Morning Pages (she suggests writing for some period of time every morning, to get the cobwebs out and the writer’s juice flowing).
I have a pad of paper and a special pen on my nightstand – the pen shines its own light when you click it – but I’ve never used it. I think Twilight Writing is a brilliant idea, similar to writing down your dreams or thoughts when you wake up in the middle of the night. It’s a great habit to get into — you’d probably astonish yourself at what you come up with!
And regarding freeing the mind – perhaps when we’re not in front of the computer screen, we feel more creative and less inhibited. The imagination isn’t restricted by grammar, self-doubt, fear of rejection, etc.
Cool idea. You rock, George!
Laurie
.-= Quips and Tips´s last blog ..How to Write Effective Titles for Magazine Articles and Blog Posts =-.
Thanks, Laurie!
I really am intrigued by the whole concept. I ended up with a couple of great ideas and one problem resolution this week by giving this method a shot.
Now if I could just read my ^%$!@ handwriting!
George
Try ironing! I find my mind bringing up answers and ideas when I’m ironing.
Peeling potatoes, or cleaning vegetables have the same effect. Any activity that you’ve been doing for years and can do by habit, which reqires some physical skill, but only a small part of your conscioous attention, frees the rest of your mind to bring what your unconscious has been working on to the surface.
While you’re consciously watching that you don’t burn your shirt or your fingers, or cut your fingers off, you’re not overwhelmed with your mind’s usual fast-forward multi-tasking, and the subconscious can get through.
Hi Margaret,
Thanks for coming by and commenting. That’s a great idea! Actually I’ve found that while doing things as mundane as vacumming or folding laundry I’ve come up with great ideas for things.
Cheers!
George
Epic post
I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more posts 
I always I fall asleep over my pad and besides with my pen. After a couple of hours I finish off my incomplete writings and with new great ideas.
Hey Writer Jobs,
It sounds like you’ve got a system that is working for you. That’s perfect!
Thanks for coming by and commenting.
George