Finding your creative magic with intuitive writing

Some quick thoughts on how to cultivate your own practice

Process shot from designing and illustrating Rooted in Place, my place-based fermentation class that came about entirely because I listed to my intuition.

You’ve probably heard the term “intuitive writing.” But what does it mean?

Depending who you ask, intuitive writing can be a stand-in for freewriting or stream-of-consciousness writing, or it can be writing that’s guided by your intuition.

The latter is how I use the term, and for me, intuitive writing is an important part of deciding topics, choosing a framing, and following certain lines of inquiry over others.

How I use intuition in my writing practice

In some cases, the line of inquiry to follow in a piece of is pretty clear (in a historical narrative, I want to follow and analyze the historical evidence, for example), but in other cases (like whether or not I should write about fish parchment and then make an ASMR video about it), it could go either way. When I’m not sure where to take a topic next, intuition helps guide me down the path.

Or, when I’m deciding between a few book topics to pitch my agent and editor, when other factors are equal (like which one I most want to write, which I think will sell best, etc.), my intuition guides the way. It’s how I ended up creating The Fermentation Oracle Deck, and writing Our Fermented Lives.

It’s how I end up choosing a lot of my newsletter topics, too: I get an intuitive nudge (as I did for this newsletter issue!) that someone on my subscriber list could use the ideas percolating in my brain on that topic.
I feel strongly that when we’re in community with people around a shared interest, even in parasocial relationships, we can more easily tap into the needs of the community and intuitively feel into the ways we can be of support. So if this issue is timely or helpful for you, thanks for sending that nudge (and please keep sending them!)

What does intuitive guidance feel like?

Ok, so I let my intuition guide me in various ways. But what does that look like in practical terms?

For me, intuition guides me largely through physical sensation and through sudden bursts of inspiration and ideas. Through doing somatic work and mindfulness work, I’ve learned a ton about my unique body’s specific wisdom and way of communicating (I offer a few ideas below).

When it comes to our intuition, we really have to ask our logical brain to step aside a bit: Which is a BIG ask for writers, and I think part of the reason many of us struggle with following our intuitive nudges.

I’ve always had a very strong, present intuitive sense (which is why I offer intuitive guidance sessions, I seriously can’t shut it off if I try): But even with that, I wasn’t able to fully harness my intuition as a writer until I learned to trust myself and to embrace process as well as product.

This is a theme that comes up again and again with clients: And why many of my sessions include a lot of support to help folks lean into trusting themselves, whatever their creative path.

So how can you cultivate your own sense of intuition as a writer?

First things first, recognize that cultivating intuition as a writer is an act of discovery and self-trust: It’s a lifelong process, not a one-and-done item on a checklist.

You’ll always uncover more layers of your own power, your own internal wisdom, and your own curiosity. And you’ll always find new ways to express yourself in the world, too. And to me, that’s incredibly exciting.

Recognize that this is a new process, that things may feel unfamiliar, and that it is a process where the end may not be clear in the beginning.
You may not know, for example, exactly why you’re feeling so pulled to write about a particular species of tree or about the diner in your hometown, but you’re willing to follow those paths for a bit and see where they lead.

If you haven’t already, begin a practice of listening to your body and spirit. Notice how your body feels when you’re enthusiastically saying “yes” to something, and how it feels with an enthusiastic “no.” How are you holding yourself? Where are you feeling sensations?
Where are your thoughts leading you? What feels clear, versus muddled?

When you learn what ‘yes’ and ‘no’ feel like to your unique body and mind, you are able to recognize when you want to say ‘yes’ to an idea: I always keep a notebook and pen, and/or my phone notes, at the ready to jot down the ideas my intuition gives me. It’s a beautiful practice that lets you capture them and explore them later (more on that in a second).

Cultivate regular mindfulness and somatic practices help you stay grounded and connected, and to listen to and learn from your body with greater clarity. This is in addition to the myriad other mental health and physical benefits these practices offer!

And finally, and most importantly: Let yourself write about ideas, even (especially) the ones that don’t make sense or you don’t know why you are feeling called to write about them.

Give yourself an intuitive writing space in your days: To produce work as writers, we need to dedicate time to our practice.
But to grow as writers, we need to give expansive, curious space to our practice. Build in part of your day that’s just for you and the ideas you’re feeling called to explore. Even just a few minutes out journaling and brainstorming can help you see where this path might go, if it’s a path your intuition is still really pulling you towards, or if just playing around with the idea was all you needed.

I call that part of my day morning corners, because I sit in a cozy corner of my office with a journal and a pencil and let whatever wants to come out, come out (right now it’s fictional short stories). Morning corners happen before my laptop gets cracked open, my to do list gets checked, or my email gets refreshed (or looked at at all).

Even just 5 minutes, devoted to my ideas and to ‘what ifs’ rather than sticking to what I know, has a transformational effect on my practice as a writer and indeed on my mental health overall. And, because I listen to my intuition and make space for it to expand and explore, my intuition comes to visit and guide me more often.

How do you use intuition in your writing?

P.S. want some more personalized support on your path? Book a remote guidance session with me: I’d love to support you in your own creative unfolding!