"Subconscious gestation." Yes! A few years ago I started an experiment. I had my 'daytime project' and my 'nighttime project.' I'd work on the novel I was 'supposed to' work on in the morning and perhaps in the afternoon. But in the evening, just before bed, I would play in a journal dedicated to a project I wanted to dig into next. I might write a scene or do a character sketch or just brainstorm plot elements, but I did it with my hands loose on the handlebars. No pressure on myself. I found this worked so well for me, that it is now how I start all my new projects.
There's that "thing" of how we process our day in our sleep, too...and the half hour before sleep is--they say!--reviewed three times more than other times of day as we dream... (my answer to studying for exams back when.)
It took awhile and multiple projects to understand. Slow intuition, I guess! And a holding off on labeling myself "lazy" or "no persistence" in not completing before going on. We really do have to trust the process and be curious about it. I have really set aside "next project" at this point, and am fully committed to completion--and that's a very good feeling! Thanks for reading, Cali--I am grateful for this community.
"Subconscious gestation." Yes! A few years ago I started an experiment. I had my 'daytime project' and my 'nighttime project.' I'd work on the novel I was 'supposed to' work on in the morning and perhaps in the afternoon. But in the evening, just before bed, I would play in a journal dedicated to a project I wanted to dig into next. I might write a scene or do a character sketch or just brainstorm plot elements, but I did it with my hands loose on the handlebars. No pressure on myself. I found this worked so well for me, that it is now how I start all my new projects.
Cindy! What a brilliant idea.
There's that "thing" of how we process our day in our sleep, too...and the half hour before sleep is--they say!--reviewed three times more than other times of day as we dream... (my answer to studying for exams back when.)
Thank you so much for sharing this MO!
That's really interesting that you can overlap projects. And very intuitive to realise that this is part of your process
It took awhile and multiple projects to understand. Slow intuition, I guess! And a holding off on labeling myself "lazy" or "no persistence" in not completing before going on. We really do have to trust the process and be curious about it. I have really set aside "next project" at this point, and am fully committed to completion--and that's a very good feeling! Thanks for reading, Cali--I am grateful for this community.