The Writing Mindset

The art of writing is a more dynamic process than simply putting our thoughts into words on a piece of paper. When it comes to story telling and even more so with poetry, our minds have to be in a certain place in order for our ideas to be conveyed in their truest form. It's very similar to actors and actresses when making movies or performing plays. In order to best portray their character they must believe themselves to be that character. This is why it is said Heath Ledger's role as the Joker affected him so much. In order to best perform as the Joker he had to take his mind to a dark place.

I am currently in the middle of working on a new manuscript for the next installment of the Menarόs series and due to its nature I have to get my mind in a darker place. Obviously, unlike an actor I do not have to become the character to write about them but I must think as the characters would in order to convey into words what thoughts go through their heads. I've caught myself from time to time letting this mindset continue well past the writing process (which is not a good thing). However, once I catch myself doing so I can't help but be proud of it's affect on my writing.

I'm sure we all have read a book or seen a movie that affected us on such a deep level that we had to take a moment after to absorb everything we just experienced. Sometimes this can last a couple days with us replaying the experience over in our heads or even picking up the book or pop in the disc to experience it again. That is my goal with this new project (not that it isn't always my goal, just more so with this one). In order to achieve this goal I must have that experience while writing it. I must let it affect me on a deep level, let it stay with me for a few days. Maybe even dream about it a couple nights. I'd be lying if I said it already has affected me this way but in my defense I am not to the bulk of it yet. Things are just getting started, but one thing is for certain; I'm in the correct mindset.