Imagination by Distraction
A question once asked of me was whether I use any mental tools when it comes to creative writing.
And the answer to that is yes, I do apply one particular tool—leveraging the subconscious.
Now, this might sound like it’s going the way of mediation, chanting, the lotus position and maybe even voodoo.
But actually, this tool is built into us all. It is a fundamental part of our human minds, core to how the brain functions.
And to leverage it we need do no more than see it for what it is.
Continue readingTelling The Future
I was recently asked by a reader how I go about writing the future—to have a narrative in a world decades from now, and be convincing as such. In reply I asked whether they thought for one moment that they were not in the future when reading the story (Seen And Not Seen), even if only the relatively near future. Well, obviously it’s the future—it’s science fiction. And there’s a spaceship…and stuff…
Dream Dreamer Part 2
There are amongst us devotees to lucid dreaming. I am not one of them, but what, exactly, is a lucid dream?
The prominent definitions to be found seem to focus on the ability to control the dream, rather than what the name itself suggests—lucidity. That is, one would expect that experiencing a lucid dream would be to be fully aware within the dream, to feel fully awake and to have a complete sense of self.
As we shall see, the problem is that lucidity would appear to preclude the ability to control the dream. So what are those that have a level of control actually experiencing? Continue reading
Dream Dreamer Part 1
Over the years I have met one or two who claim not to dream—they understand the concept of a dream but have never had the experience for themselves.
I for one believe them.
But why should such a statement of belief be required? If they haven’t ever dreamt then…so what?