“Opening the metaphorical cupboard” - exploring creative intuition

Creative intuition is the magic power all writers possess. But what exactly is it? And how can we get better at it? — blog 1.2

Dearest writers,

I am sure, as you have been writing your many novels, have had the peculiar experience of getting new ideas – the linkages of characters or the ‘hurrah!’ moments of fixing plot trouble. This fleeting, almost magical process is called creative intuition. Dear writers, in this November issue I plan to flesh out this ‘creative intuition’ for I think it offers not only great reflection, but a purposive means of skillful benefit. It can show us how we can wield this type of experience like a sword-shaped quill so that writing becomes effortless in the pursuit of our greatest stories.

I became especially interested in this topic only these last couple months as I have been brainstorming a new secret fantasy project. Dearest writers, as you know, brainstorming is a part of writing of where we are thrown into the deep-end of the pool of ideas – the plots and characters and themes all of which all require creative intuition. I believe we use creative intuition double fold when we are forced to link such distinct ideas together into what we call a story. It has been difficult, as I have found myself stumped, hands raked through my hair with my sore elbows upon my desk thinking – ‘how can I possible make this work!’ It is a frustrating, yet awarding experience that leads to bitten fingernails and flushes of cheeks. And that ‘hurrah’ moment that surely follows. Eventually…at least. So, I wanted to do some research regarding this fascinating yet ambiguous process of intuition.

Most people commonly regard it as a ‘gut feeling’ or ‘instinct leading you to do the right thing’ but I believe, at least in a creative context, it is much more than that.

I read an article called Understanding Creative Intuition, by Theresa Jane Hardman. And I’ll point out some things that I found particularly stimulating. Hardman describes creative intuition as being a ‘fleeting’ and ‘unconscious’ process. She referenced a 1950s survey which interviewed scientists about how exactly they arrived at their intuitive, scientific breakthroughs. Contrary to what you might think, logic and data collection has been found to come much later in the process of scientific discovery. So the question is, how in the world did they make their scientific leaps?

If you watched a recent vlog on my channel, I experienced this creative intuition while writing a scene of Ghostcide, my literary fiction novel. It was a time in the story where things were a little messy and I was trying to close up this stubborn plot hole which simply wouldn’t close. It was as if the key I had to lock the door didn’t work anymore. So instead of trying to get the key to fit– I simply opened the door. It’s difficult to explain exactly what happened but it was some sort of reasoning that just clicked. A new idea that came once I opened my mind to the underworld. That I dug under the very fabric of my story’s reality and found something that didn’t just fix the plot hole, but transformed the whole story. And when I say underworld, I really literally mean that I opened the story up to the possibility of such a place. I found that the story was bigger than I thought when I simply opened my mind up to the possibilities.

It’s like transforming a murder-mystery into a fantasy. Or a romance into a time-travelling historical fiction. The breakthrough I was looking for was indeed missing, and all I needed to do was to know that missing piece was out there. And that I simply needed to dig deeper. To see where my story could go.

“it was some sort of reasoning that just clicked”.

And since this experience, and furthering of my new understanding of intuition, I began to believe that conquering such an experience would help build better stories. Even now, in my YouTube videos (@ananeu) I find myself simply making stories up on the spot for the sake of the piece of advice I am sharing. I’ve seen it too when I write poetry. Where I am more predisposed to the intuitive momentum which seems to effortlessly write my poems for me. So how exactly do you ‘intuit’?

It’s part knowledge that there is something missing as well as a belief that you will come to it. To intuit is to anticipate – using emotion, focus and ‘brain energy’ (as I like to call it) to find that spark. And to discover with gentleness and patience – something that admittedly I am still learning.

I have come up with some pieces of advice I am using to try and conquer my creative intuition – to write better stories and develop more original ideas in a way that is as simple as breathing air. And I thought I would share some with you.

1.        Cookie cutters

Of course, there are patterns – beats to a story or structures to a poem. The more you understand the possibilities – the shapes of which your intuition will fill – the more ideas your mind will be able to conjure. In other words, if you are stuck on what will happen to your story in the third act, open your mind to some patterns you see in other stories similar to yours. If you’re story is a fantasy, a character betrayal or a villain’s reappearance may be cookie-cutters of which you can fill with your own ideas. Maybe the betrayal isn’t really real and they are on the hero’s side after all. Maybe the reappeared villain is the descendant of the hero’s previous foe. With the context of your story, plot and characters, these types of prompts can trigger the nexus between your new idea and your story.

 2.       Teeth and wings and blood and bones

Also practice coming up with patterns that suit you. Maybe you are drawn to specific or familiar themes or ideas. In my poetry I use ‘crutch words’ which help shape my poem as I write. Words like ‘teeth’ and ‘wings’ and ‘blood’ and ‘bones’ seem to come up as ‘patterns’ in my poetry. I use these as space holders for my intuition to work. These crutch words are ever-present in the back of my mind, ready to use like bullets loaded to a gun. I like to think of them like steppingstones to the final idea (the fruition of my intuition). A familiar trigger to a new idea. Dear writers, intuition does not need to be sporadic and random. It can be lead.

3.       Open the cupboard

Sometimes my stories begin as light and simple ones. But my best ideas seem to be the most tragic, the darkest and wildest. Basically they are very…unexpected. To begin with, I seem to avoid the metaphorical ‘cupboard’, not even realizing it is there in the room of my mind as I begin to brainstorm my story. Dearest writers, it is normal – when you begin a story – to have a fixed mindset of what your novel is about, and what it is you will explore. But I implore you to break down those expectations and open your mind to other possibilities. Other characters, other places – other worlds.  Just like in Narnia, opening a wooden cupboard can lead to very unexpected and magical places. A whole world of snow perhaps. Or one full of ghosts.

4.       Plot dreaming

When I am stuck on a scene or simply need ideas for my story, I put my big, noise-canceling headphones on and lay down on my floor with my eyes closed. And I play a dramatic song which matches the vibe of my story. As a very visual person, this helps me immensely. Not only to get emotionally involved in the story, but to prompt my mind to particular images – scenes, settings, actions – which can take place in my story. I tell you, friends, music is your BEST FRIEND. And I also use the words of the song – the feel of the lyrics and music – to let myself prompted into my intuitive state. This opens my mind in a dream-type lucidity, making my ideas flow fluidly and loosely, untethered from my strict emotional and desperate posture I’d usually adopt, sitting uncomfortably at my desk. It’s almost like…plot dreaming. I beg you to try it sometime. It truly may surprise you. (And don’t worry about looking stupid lying down on your bedroom floor. If you’re concerned just close the door).

But that is all the intuitive ways I have been attempting to practice and hone my creative intuition skills. Getting ideas is tough and truly quite exhausting so don’t beat yourself up being stuck or being slow with getting original ideas. I get it. However, writers, I will stress the fact that patience will get you there. I truly believe sometimes there is a right time for you discovering something about your story or anything else, really. It’s called a process for a reason, dear writers.

So, I hope you enjoyed this issue as much as I did. There is something so intriguing about breaking down the writing process – and exploring how exactly creatures like us think. Creative intuition has always been such a spooky thing. And I think science stops at a certain point in explaining exactly how it comes about. But I hope some of my pieces of advice and rambling on about it all interested you. I encourage you to read that article I mentioned previously. I will have it linked below the blog. Thank you for reading up to this point, dear writers, and I wish you the very best in your intuitive works of writing that dream book.

And trust me, some writers are just meant to get lost in the cupboard. Just don’t be afraid to look!

Creative blessings, Ana.

Hardman, T. J. (2021). Understanding creative intuition. Journal of Creativity, 31, 100006. 

Or access the article here: <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2713374521000066>