Buzz - Why Reading Makes You a Better Writer
by John Wolf
I heard on the science channel that research into why people seek spiritual reassurance may be directly the result of how the brain works. Extrapolating this thought, I came to the realization that this is also what makes rabid readers potentially good writers.
Recent studies find that we react to the world from a brain map that is updated by our subconscious as it records real stimuli coming in all the time. But we act from our mapped impression, not the actual the real-time input from our senses. Have you ever wondered why you can drive to the supermarket without wrecking the car and be thinking about something else altogether? Your subconscious gets you there, while your daydream is running off your map.
As a result of how we are wired, we are constantly seeking reassurance our map is right. We can easily be talked into map adjustments, so it can be a bad thing or a good thing depending on whom or what is influencing our decisions to change our map. Real conflict comes from what we've mapped and what comes in subconsciously. This is why people unsure of the world around them, or are paranoid, get so confused and overreact emotionally. The spirit world can seem real if we re-map our reality and override our interactions with the real world. If we understand we have this functionality, we can better filter outside influences not to distort our sense of reality by mapping junk into this part of our psychic. But because we are not wired to run in real-time, we are constantly looking for guidance and reassurance.
I hope that made sense. It has helped me not to take myself so seriously and take time to balance myself out. This conflict going on inside is disconcerting if you don't realize it is a natural thing. You need to get into the rhythm of letting the mind work it out and not force illogical or misguided information into your thoughts. That's why I stopped reading horror stories or seeing terrifying movies. It really does impact your map in a negative way. You're much better off avoiding it. Your good judgment is a good advisor, but many people indulge in all kinds of chaos, thinking it enriches them. It doesn't, it distorts your map and confusion results along with nightmares. Who needs that?
One reason those that make it their life's work helping others feel so enriched is their map is coinciding with the real world around them in a satisfying way. The conflict is nulled-out and they feel good about themselves. After a while you seek out more positive acts to get that satisfied feeling like Mother Teresa working with really sick people, she didn't notice the environment. She was running off of a positive feedback map that she was doing good.
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I know that was kind of deep, but if we really are built this way, it helps to know it and behave accordingly to avoid spirits, ghosts, and other contrived concepts from taking over our thoughts. But, in the same breath we can use this mechanism to be better writers. Say what?
Let me place this seed of thought in your map. Writers have purpose in their story telling. They tend to build little maps in their minds of plots, characters, etc. that are quite imaginary, but what is it based on, what is the influencing balance that enriches our thoughts and causes gratification in what we have written?
If we read a great deal, we are filling our map with raw material. We can massage that material into instances of new plots and we can twist attributes of characters we have read about into new characters with more depth than the unassured guesses of coming up with a fresh idea. We don't need to seek out measured correctness; we know we have a winner. In fact, the satisfactions of creating a character based on solid logic from internal comparative processing of characters from a whole raft of read novels can produce a new an exciting clone that only you know where it has come from, but the one that reads your story will be impressed how rich your characters seem and imaginative. Well duh, your imagination map has been pumped up and only doing what it does best.
If you are afraid that one day you'll run out of map space, don't worry. Your brain is like a Doritos factory. If you run out of cells, your brain will make more. So read your ass off. Fill that map up with great stuff. The writer in you will appreciate the effort and reward you with the next breakout novel. Strive to filter the daily gunk out of your thoughts. It will muddy your map. You want to run a clean machine.
I hope this gives each of you the confidence to start mapping for the future and not be concerned by that inner nagging of self doubt. That's a natural reaction that we are wired with. Don't let it overrule your good judgment. Be a world class mapper. This is probably the drive that makes us spent a fortune going to writers conferences. We are soothing our mental anxieties that we are doing this right.
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John Wolf keeps the kennels clean at the Fox&Quill Hunting Club JohnWolfBooks.com |
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