Christina Cann

How much of writing is subconscious?

I’ve been thinking and musing a lot about le livre recently, almost incessantly. I call the main character to me when I’m walking to the bus stop, washing the dishes, lying in bed waiting to fall asleep. When she comes and is in the mood to talk (she’s often a reticent little creature), I ask her gentle questions and store everything that she’s saying away, adding to the files I’ve kept on her since the day she walked into my head.

But lately it’s been more difficult than it ever was to start my writing for the day. Since Friday, I think I’ve only written about 4000 words, when I feel like I should be writing so much more. Or is the “should” too overrated? Should (ha) I just let the story come out as it will and trust that it will be in a presentable condition by the end of the month, when I’m hoping to hand it out to readers? Is the subconscious work I’m doing enough for now, until the words come pouring out?

I really, really hope so.