Your dream is to become a best selling novelist, journalist in the top magazines, or respected poet.

You dedicate time each day to write, submit on a regular basis, but have not yet seen your name in print.

You know you have talent - everyone’s told you so - and you work hard at your craft.

It’s very possible that you are your own worst
enemy, and your subconscious mind is working
against you by negative thinking and imagining
rejection even as you send the query or
manuscript in the mail.

In the course of researching my new book,
Script Magic: Subconscious Techniques to
Conquer Writer’s Block, I’ve discovered the
large part our subconscious mind plays in
determining whether our writing endeavors
succeed or fail. Going through the motions of
writing and submitting material are an exercise
in futility unless writers learn to program
themselves for success.

Writers are particularly sensitive to
negativity for a variety of reasons. First, for
fiction writers and poets, the very act of
writing fiction goes against what we’ve been
taught in school, where logic ruled and we were
trained to respect that part of our brains
which represented the "critic" and "editor."
Book reports and term papers needed to follow a
prescribed format, and any variation resulted
in less than stellar grades.

Second, in many American families, writing is
perceived as an "artistic" profession and
children are encouraged to take up a trade or
profession they can "fall back on." The very
word "writer" conjures up images of failure,
and at a vulnerable point in their career,
writers hear a replay of old messages and
visualize futility and failure.

How can one change images of failure to
success?

Through a process called Creative
Visualization.

If it sounds "far-out" and New Age consider
this. Before athletes compete in a big race,
they visualize themselves surpassing the
competition and crossing the finish line first.
Before many speakers get up to give a talk,
they visualize the audience’s wildly
enthusiastic applause. Scientists, about to
embark on a decade long research subject,
visualize themselves winning a Nobel Prize to
keep themselves motivated and on track.

Creative Visualization is used by successful
people in all walks of life. It’s a way of
changing negative images to the positive. This
is because the subconscious mind does not have
reasoning ability. What it "sees" it manifests
in reality. Once you learn the art of changing
a negative image to a positive, you’ll be well
on your way to achieving success as a writer.

Start by thinking about the reasons you want to
write that novel or screenplay, and don’t be
afraid to admit it, even if your motive is
something base like making a lot of money or
attracting a partner. Now, take that image and
see yourself surrounded by manifestations of
what achieving your goal on this earthly plane
means to you. It could be monetary wealth or
simply basking in the praise of those nay-
sayers who doubted you could ever do it.

Affirmations

Affirmations are simply positive statements
spoken aloud, encouraging you to go for your
goals. It could be as simple as "I’m a great
writer." In other words, it’s a compliment you
give to yourself.

Simple, no? In an ideal world, it should be.
But in our self-deprecating culture, we’re
taught not to praise ourselves and even to
refuse praise from others. How many times has
someone told you that you’re a really great
writer and you responded by a negative
statement, such as "not really" or "I have a
lot to learn"?

Whether you realize it or not, these negative
statements, once spoken aloud or even thought
in our minds, send a message to every cell of
our bodies that in effect says that we're "no
good." That we’ll "never be writers." The next
time you think of a story idea, a battle ensues
between your innate creativity and this
negative message, which results in the dreaded
writer’s block.

If you’ve been a victim of negative
conditioning, don’t worry. Negativity can be
corrected, primarily through affirmations.

Begin by creating a list of what you believe to
be your best qualities as a writer. It could be
your powers of description, the way you connect
with characters, or dialogue. Be generous with
yourself. Think of every positive statement
anyone’s ever made about your writing and
include it here.

Reread the list silently three times a day.
Once you feel comfortable with this, begin to
say these affirmations aloud, changing the
affirmation so that it always begins with "I."
(i.e. I am a great writer, I have a knack for
terrific characterization).

Once you feel comfortable with speaking this,
perform this act in front of the mirror.

Over time, you’ll find that these affirmations
have taken root in your creative subconscious
mind.

If you truly want to earn fame and fortune as a
writer, you must continue these affirmations
indefinitely. Build yourself up in your mind
and never let a negative word, comment, or
rejection letter destroy the positive image of
yourself that you’ve built. Remember that
people, even friends and family, say unkind
things for a variety of reasons that have
nothing to do with your creativity or skill as
a writer. Editors and publishers reject books,
articles, and stories for reasons that have
nothing to do with your talent as a writer.
Don’t assume the worst (i.e. "I’m no good") but
reflect on the fact the magazine or publisher
may be going bankrupt or your story is not
within the realm of the type of material they
publish.

See very firmly an image of yourself in your
mind as a successful writer, using your own
definition of what that would be. Some writers
imagine a house in the country, perhaps near a
pond where they can reflect. Others see
themselves honored at awards ceremonies.
Whatever it is, embrace this image and keep it
with you always, and success will truly be
yours!
©Copyright DEG International 2000.

© 2005 DEG International • All Rights Reserved •
Email Marisa D'Vari for reprint info