Tune In by Tuning Out

 Our writing becomes richer when we tune in the world around us. To do this, we must tune out those ordinary noises, sounds, scents and anxieties that act like static to the creative mind.

Imagine a safe place, a secure place (either wild or peaceful), where you are surrounded by beauty. For some this may be a quiet nook in a library or a waterfall in a park or a bridge crossing a roaring river. Wherever you find harmony, imagine yourself there.

Then, tune out the physical world around you and tune in the imaginary one. Tune it in completely. Taste the air, smell the leaves, feel the grasses blowing in the breeze. There is fire in the atmosphere of such imaginings, coals of creative genius too often buried beneath the ash of daily business. These coals burst into conflagration when we give them attention.

Always include something you love in the tuning in process. Always be specific.

If you have a passion for food, be specific about which kind of food you want to dream about. Maybe fruit? Which fruit? Gale Brandeis said, in her book, Fruitflesh, “We are fruit with breath inside…Breath invigorates us, fills our blood with oxygen, fills our bodies with vitality, fills our language with possibility. Breath, literally, inspires us.”

We must know the wilderness within, the peaceful meadows of the heart or flaming atmosphere of the spirit, before we can craft eloquent phrases that not only touch but move the hearts of our readers. It’s not hard. All we must do is tune out daily care and tune in creative genius.