Employing a Key Psychological Nuance When Writing

By Jean Claude

There is an often overlooked psychological nuance that the average writer isn’t aware of that I would like to share with you below. Playing with this dynamic within yourself can help you make monumental strides as a writer if done correctly.

Good writers already employ this dynamic, and not so good writers don’t. Once you consciously notice it within yourself, you will begin to discern why (both as a writer and as a reader).

Everybody has an “average person” in their minds eye when speaking or writing. When you speak or write, you need to slowly become aware of this “person” inside of your mind’s eye. This “person” is usually a conglomerate or amalgam of your past experiences of people – friends, family, colleagues, etc. All of these people leave a certain “impression” inside of you. When a person engages in writing, speaking, or even “self talk”, he is in reality speaking to this person in their minds eye.

Dissecting and slowly mutating this “person” can have monumental benefits for a writer.

Having a hard time pinpointing who and what this person is like? Ask yourself these simple questions when writing…

In my mind’s eye, is the person I imagine reading my writing…
judgmental.. ?
understanding.. ?
indifferent.. ?
sympathetic.. ?
harsh.. ?
nitpicking.. ?

Once you break this person down into labels and words like the above, you can pierce a subconscious process that you were once very much unaware of.

Usually when I see a person who is nervous about public speaking, I immediately begin to wonder about who the “harsh and unforgiving” person in their minds eye is that they are buckling under. If this “collective average person” in your minds eye is a nice person, then you will fly high and far. If they are harsh, biting, and judgmental, the opposite will be true. A lot of psychic energy is lost to this force in an effort to suppress it, and it is usually formed from hundreds of impressions from childhood, early adulthood, and adulthood.

Be mindful of this, and slowly turn your “inner critic” into one that is kind. If your inner critic is kind, you will be free.

– JC ❤ –