Turning Intrusive Thoughts into Stories
Hello and welcome back to A Writer in the Woods. This month I’m yammering about how my neurodivergence has led me to supernatural horror.
But first some updates...
Spooky Action at a Distance is getting closer and closer to coming out. I am excited, and nervous all at the same time. Until then, you can find preview short stories on Uncomfortably Dark’s Patreon that will introduce some of the characters and their world of ghosts, guns and magic. To read a preview of one of those shorts be sure to check out the Patreon here.
I have two books and a couple shorts in submissions and the query trenches. Like most of publishing, movement is slow, but I’ll keep pushing trying to get these dark awkward stories into your hands.
I’ve finished yet another book recently and will be submitting that to my publisher. It is a tie-in to my debut with a couple characters from Spooky. (Well damn, this just gave me an idea for the next preview short!)
I had fun at Colorado Festival of Horror doing a panel on Monsters I Would Smash. Spoiler, there were a bunch.
At Colorado Festival of Horror talking about Monsters.
All right, let’s get to it.
Neurodivergence is a mixed bag. For those of you who go through it daily, you know exactly what I mean. Everyday is either the same, or completely different and I never know which way it will swing until it’s halfway done. Because of this, I have adopted a habit of hyper-rationality. What does this mean? Well, since my brain can, at any moment, decide to become ultra paranoid, or nihilistic, I had to find a way to balance out the intrusive thoughts. A way to keep myself from going off the deep end and self-sabotaging situations and relationships because I got lost in a dark spiral. The answer? Hyper-rationality. When my brain decides that a situation is heading into the abyss, I pause, breathe and then think of at least three other ways the event could turn. So, how does someone who bases their daily survival on rationale write supernatural stories rife with paranormal activities?
Being hyper-rational in my daily life has freed up my brain to delve into my imagination. You see, I had spent most of my days imagining bad shit happening to me at any moment. Like when I’m walking down the street and trip over a crack in the sidewalk that sends me rolling into the street, (which has actually happened more than once). In that split second my brain flashes to getting smashed by a car turning a corner, (which has never happened, obviously.) If you think about it, I wrote an entire story in the time it took for me to trip and fall. Now imagine doing that for every situation I encounter throughout the day. That is a lot of stories.
By adopting hyper-rationality into my daily routine, I have found that I can channel the intrusive thoughts and daily fears into writing. Now I can visualize the worst result of any given moment and instead of getting lost in it, or allowing it to keep me from being productive, I can write it down, put it into a story and see it play out without it sabotaging my day. This has led me to delve into and explore the supernatural without the worry of allowing myself to spiral into it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a sucker for a good conspiracy theory, I watch a ton of ghost hunting shows, and love reading books that explore mysticism through the lens of science, but for some neurodivergent people, like me, that can be dangerous if there are no guardrails to keep us on solid ground. But, I can read, watch, or listen to something that sends me down a rabbit hole and explore it through stories, characters, themes, and plots. And let me tell you dear reader, I absolutely love it.
Anyway, thanks for hanging for the rant. I hope you are finding ways to turn your intrusive thoughts into something that can help you rather than hold you back. It’s not easy, I get it, but I promise it is worth it. I, dear reader, will continue to try and do the same.
Until next time,
Millie
This month's Moment of Peace
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