Creativity is a strange process and sometimes the simplest process seems to have intricacies we wouldn’t realize if it weren’t for having a lifetime of studying it first hand. I have a theory about inspiration and its fleeting presence it usually affords. I will usually have titles of pieces of writing and words that are scattered, this will be the first sign that words of some sort will be assembled for a poem or a story. I have often tried to save just the bits of words so as to save the feeling if I don’t have time to get to writing at that moment and there is a problem with that sort of jotting down thoughts.

I believe that the words come in streams that are stored in memory- this process is in the subconscious state and the words suspend, not even necessarily connecting or forming specific thoughts or ideas but creating a backdrop of texture for upcoming words and ideas. When I write the words and ideas down it seems to me that it takes the words from the subconscious state and collects the thought in the conscious state. The conscious state being more pragmatic insists on responding to the process but never develops the words the way the subconscious does easily. I know it almost seems like two entities speaking simultaneously and before you go get the nice people in white coats-it is the process of creativity where two hemispheres of the brain decipher and create what will be a poem, essay or bit of writing. I think as soon as the words go into the conscious the thought and reason ignores the connection of things that don’t connect and the rational mind will not relate the words in the same process.

A different form of the same process is when words stream for a week or so without being written down, this also occurs in the painting process of images as well but now I will relate it just to writing.
The words of experiences and snapshots of life float in the subconscious until one day with just enough time in introspection and availability of clarity, words from all the different snapshots form together with little effort than quick fingers usually on the computer. I this process I will often have up to fifteen or so poems written in the span of thirty minutes, I don’t remember what I wrote in that time and the words all flow together easily without having to over edit-to me this is the most natural form of the creative process.

Has anyone else experienced this form of stream of consciousness and what breaks your stream of creativity? Would love to hear comments on the subject as it is a strange and magical process creativity.