annethology
  • Home
    • About Annethology
    • About me >
      • A little more about me
    • About my books
    • Author talks
    • Contact me
    • Forthcoming events
    • World Mental Health Day
    • Privacy
    • Sign up for my newsletter
  • Sugar and Snails
    • Acknowledgements
    • Blog tour, Q&A's and feature articles >
      • Birthday blog tour
      • S&S on tour 2022
    • Early endorsements
    • Events >
      • Launch photos
      • Launch party videos
    • in pictures
    • Media
    • If you've read the book
    • Polari
    • Reading group questions
    • Reviews
    • In the media
  • Underneath
    • Endorsements and reviews
    • Launch party and events
    • Pictures
    • Questions for book groups
    • The stories underneath the novel
  • Matilda Windsor series
    • Matilda Windsor >
      • What readers say
      • For book groups
      • Interviews, articles and features
      • Matty on the move
      • Who were you in 1990?
      • Asylum lit
      • Matilda Windsor media
    • Stolen Summers >
      • Stolen Summers reviews
  • Short stories
    • Somebody’s Daughter
    • Becoming Someone (anthology) >
      • Becoming Someone (video readings)
      • Becoming Someone reviews
      • Becoming Someone online book chat
    • Print and downloads
    • Read it online
    • Quick reads
  • Free ebook
  • Annecdotal
    • Annecdotal blog
    • Annecdotal Press
    • Articles >
      • Print journalism
      • Where psychology meets fiction
    • Fictional therapists
    • Reading and reviews >
      • Reviews A to H
      • Reviews I to M
      • Reviews N to Z
      • Nonfiction
      • Themed quotes
      • Reading around the world
  • Shop
    • Inspired Quill (my publisher)
    • Bookshop.org (affiliate link)
    • Amazon UK
    • Amazon US
    • books2read

About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

TELL ME MORE

The amazing workings of the unconscious mind

19/9/2016

6 Comments

 
I had a dream last night. Don’t worry, I’m not going to bore you with the details, as I can’t remember much more than the basics of the characters involved: a mother, father and three young boys. It was one of those dreams that feels extremely vivid, but doesn’t translate into the waking world. And, while I don’t think the dream content merits interpretation, I do take it as a communication from my unconscious mind. A reminder of its existence, or my belief in such, in good time to provide a theme for the post I wanted to write today in response to the latest flash fiction challenge.

Picture
Freud called dreams the royal road to the unconscious but, just because we can sometimes find meaning within them, I don’t think there’s much to be gained in trying to analyse every one. Sometimes, as Freud is also often quoted as having said, a cigar is just a cigar. Sometimes, just like the thoughts that come to us in a hypnagogic state, they’re plain and simple whimsy, as if put forward for our entertainment.

Whether we encounter it in dreams, or in the state of reverie induced by the rhythms of walking, the unconscious is a gift to the writer of creative fiction or non-fiction. One of the greatest pleasures of the writing life is being surprised, shocked or amazed by the behaviour of the people one has made up.

I was deep in the story, carried along by its momentum. If I ran into difficulties with a scene, a solution generally presented itself overnight. I think Stephen King calls this 'leaving things to the boys in the basement'. 

I was constantly startled by Frances’s behaviour. I was working to an outline, I knew where the story was going at every point, but the little details […] took me by surprise. It was a sequence of small and rather delicious shocks. Harriet Lane

Writing my debut novel, Sugar and Snails, I still vividly remember the moment I “discovered” the guilty secret of my main character’s father, Leonard, as a young prisoner of war that had shaped his parenting choices. I’ve also written elsewhere about the “shock revelation” I had about my own painful adolescence that freed me up sufficiently to begin writing that particular novel.

In these two examples, the communication was too strong to ignore, but the messages from our unconscious minds are often much more subtle. If we want to draw on our unconscious minds, it’s worth making space for the unexpected.

I think we often write as we live – prompted by the unconscious. [… W]hen you step away from a creative problem, the unconscious works to solve it. That’s why writers need to protect their non-writing time, and why sometimes ideas seem to come out of nowhere.
Shelley Harris

Some swear by writing exercises, such as morning pages; some, like me, find inspiration through walking; some even through housework. But, while stream of consciousness works for some, we need the discipline of our conscious minds to translate this into something others will want to read. That’s partly why I’m a little suspicious of dreams in fiction, although I did use one as a plot device in Sugar and Snails. (I envisaged it as a strong hint of Diana’s secret but, as far as I’m aware, most readers didn’t guess till later.) That might be why I enjoy slipstream as a genre that seems to sit between the conscious and the unconscious.

Given my general aversion to the supernatural, I do sympathise with those rationalists who reject the whole notion of the unconscious – although I that doesn’t stop me thinking they’re wrong. As I’ve inferred in a couple of my non-fiction reviews (The Social Brain; The Voices Within), I lament British psychology’s distancing from psychoanalytic ideas, despite their potential contribution to the interpretation of the results of controlled experiments. While I gave my character, Diana, some aspects of my character and biography, I enjoyed making her a very different kind of psychologist to me, someone with little interest in wishy-washy psychotherapy. Steve, the protagonist of my forthcoming novel, Underneath, is similarly dismissive of any attempt on the part of his girlfriend to look for deeper meanings beneath his undeniable distress.

The amazing capacity of the unconscious mind features in some of my short fiction, particularly in these stories in which temporary delusions protect the characters from uncomfortable truths: ”Melanie's Last Tune”; “Madonna and Child” (p12); and in my latest short fiction publication, ”Dancing White” (p29). The latter emerged from a flash-fiction challenge on the subject of water from a couple of years ago. If you’re interested, you can compare the version published by Crack the Spine with the original 99-word flash. I think this is my first publication from one of Charli’s flash fiction prompts, although perhaps untypical given that both the mini version and the extension came from the same uncomfortable experience in which memory merged with fiction and also generated another short story, “Silver Bangles”, published over three years before.

So finally to a fresh 99-word story on the theme of amazing:

Speed dial

Picture
Phone clamped to my ear, I throw clean underwear into a bag. I hate to miss her birthday, but Gill will understand. Grabbing my toothbrush, I blurt out what I know. The idiot’s done it again. I’ve got to go. There’s no-one else.
Silence at the other end. Why doesn’t she speak?
“The idiot?” A man’s voice? Offended. How could I call him instead of Gill?
“Sorry!” I cringe to think I’ve hurt him. “I didn’t mean it.”
But I did. “We need to talk about this.” Time he got some proper help. Stopped relying on me.

Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
6 Comments
Charli Mills
21/9/2016 06:48:10 am

Your post is rich with the texture between the conscious and subconscious. I can feel, yet hardly articulate the recognition I have sometimes in a dream a vast city-scape I've never seen before with steep beaches and often I'm flying to it. It holds no real meaning except for that brief recognition, "it's that place" but I have no idea where "that" place is. When surprises unfold in fiction writing, I feel a similar recognition and although surprised it feels like the right detail. So much I want to come back to your post and explore, too. Having read your book, I'm enjoying the links to your characters and their development. Your flash makes me think of what we casually call a Freudian slip -- perhaps a Freudian speed dial? A cringe-worthy moment though probably needed.

Reply
Annecdotist
23/9/2016 04:17:48 pm

Thanks, Charli, we could call it a Freudian slip of the finger, which chimes even more with your photo of the hand pointing.

Reply
Norah Colvin link
26/9/2016 03:43:03 am

Interesting post, Anne, with the interplay between the conscious and the subconscious, some bordering on the supernatural. As always, I appreciated the links to your stories. While I had read Melanie's story before, I enjoyed reading it again. I found The Madonna and Child very sad. I usually enjoy the twist at the end of your stories but I had predicted this one early one, and the young man's choice of words served to reinforce the baby's situation. I recognised the similarity of Dancing White to Silver Bangles. You portray the complexity of our human frailties very well.
Your flash - oh, what a recognisable situation. If I haven't put my foot (or my finger) in, in quite the same way, I've definitely come close.
Thanks for a great post with much to explore.

Reply
Norah Colvin link
28/9/2016 09:05:44 am

Hi Anne. I really enjoyed this post and the way you delved into the conscious and the unconscious. I think one of our first discussions may have been on a similar topic. I also do not like to have everything explained by a dream sequence, unless it is a novel in which dreams are an important aspect of a character's personality.
I love the "mistake" made in your flash. How close I have gone a few times to putting my foot in my mouth. It is a good reminder to only express positives and keep negatives to oneself. Easier said than done.

Reply
Norah Colvin link
28/9/2016 09:15:49 am

I forgot to say how much I enjoyed, as always, reading your short stories. Thank you for linking to them. I had read Melanie's sad story before. It is beautifully told. The Madonna and Child is very sad too, though I had guessed the fate of the child not far into the story. You gave strong and unmistakable clues. I did see the similarity of Dancing White to Silver Bangles, which I had read previously. Sad, sad, sad. I always enjoy the opportunity of reading your stories.

Reply
Annecdotist
28/9/2016 12:04:08 pm

Thanks, Norah. Interesting interpretation of the flash as I thought, although the truth was painfully embarrassing, I saw it opening up a conversation that needed to be had.
Thanks also for reading my stories. I so appreciate your support.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Free ebook: click the image to claim yours.
    Picture
    OUT NOW: The poignant prequel to Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home
    Picture
    Find a review
    Picture
    Fictional therapists
    Picture
    Picture
    About Anne Goodwin
    Picture
    My published books
    entertaining fiction about identity, mental health and social justice
    Picture
    My latest novel, published May 2021
    Picture
    My debut novel shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize
    Picture
    Picture
    My second novel published May 2017.
    Picture
    Short stories on the theme of identity published 2018
    Anne Goodwin's books on Goodreads
    Sugar and Snails Sugar and Snails
    reviews: 32
    ratings: 52 (avg rating 4.21)

    Underneath Underneath
    reviews: 24
    ratings: 60 (avg rating 3.17)

    Becoming Someone Becoming Someone
    reviews: 8
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.56)

    GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4 GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4
    reviews: 4
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.44)

    The Best of Fiction on the Web The Best of Fiction on the Web
    reviews: 3
    ratings: 3 (avg rating 4.67)

    2022 Reading Challenge

    2022 Reading Challenge
    Anne has read 2 books toward their goal of 100 books.
    hide
    2 of 100 (2%)
    view books
    Picture
    Annecdotal is where real life brushes up against the fictional.  
    Picture
    Annecdotist is the blogging persona of Anne Goodwin: 
    reader, writer,

    slug-slayer, tramper of moors, 
    recovering psychologist, 
    struggling soprano, 
    author of three fiction books.

    LATEST POSTS HERE
    I don't post to a schedule, but average  around ten reviews a month (see here for an alphabetical list), 
    some linked to a weekly flash fiction, plus posts on my WIPs and published books.  

    Your comments are welcome any time any where.

    Get new posts direct to your inbox ...

    Enter your email address:

    or click here …

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Tweets by @Annecdotist
    Picture
    New short story, “My Dirty Weekend”
    Picture
    Let’s keep in touch – subscribe to my newsletter
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Popular posts

    • Compassion: something we all need
    • Do spoilers spoil?
    • How to create a convincing fictional therapist
    • Instructions for a novel
    • Looking at difference, embracing diversity
    • Never let me go: the dilemma of lending books
    • On loving, hating and writers’ block
      On Pop, Pirates and Plagiarism
    • READIN' for HER reviews
    • Relishing the cuts
    • The fast first draft
    • The tragedy of obedience
    • Writers and therapy: a love-hate relationship?

    Categories/Tags

    All
    Animals
    Annecdotist Hosts
    Annecdotist On Tour
    Articles
    Attachment Theory
    Author Interviews
    Becoming Someone
    Being A Writer
    Blogging
    Bodies
    Body
    Bookbirthday
    Books For Writers
    Bookshops
    CB Book Group
    Character
    Childhood
    Christmas
    Classics
    Climate Crisis
    Coming Of Age
    Counsellors Cafe
    Creative Writing Industry
    Creativity
    Cumbria
    Debut Novels
    Disability
    Editing
    Emotion
    Ethics
    Ethis
    Family
    Feedback And Critiques
    Fictional Psychologists & Therapists
    Food
    Friendship
    Futuristic
    Gender
    Genre
    Getting Published
    Giveaways
    Good Enough
    Grammar
    Gratitude
    Group/organisational Dynamics
    Hero’s Journey
    History
    Humour
    Identity
    Illness
    Independent Presses
    Institutions
    International Commemorative Day
    Jane Eyre
    Kidney Disease
    Language
    LGBTQ
    Libraries
    Live Events
    Lyrics For The Loved Ones
    Marketing
    Matilda Windsor
    Memoir
    Memory
    Mental Health
    Microfiction
    Motivation
    Music
    MW Prequel
    Names
    Narrative Voice
    Nature / Gardening
    Networking
    Newcastle
    Nonfiction
    Nottingham
    Novels
    Pandemic
    Peak District
    Perfect Match
    Poetry
    Point Of View
    Politics
    Politics Current Affairs
    Presentation
    Privacy
    Prizes
    Psychoanalytic Theory
    Psychology
    Psycholoists Write
    Psychotherapy
    Race
    Racism
    Rants
    Reading
    Real Vs Imaginary
    Religion
    Repetitive Strain Injury
    Research
    Reviewing
    Romance
    Satire
    Second Novels
    Settings
    Sex
    Shakespeare
    Short Stories General
    Short Stories My Published
    Short Stories Others'
    Siblings
    Snowflake
    Somebody's Daughter
    Stolen Summers
    Storytelling
    Structure
    Sugar And Snails
    Technology
    The
    The Guestlist
    Therapy
    TikTok
    TNTB
    Toiletday
    Tourism
    Toxic Positivity
    Transfiction
    Translation
    Trauma
    Unconscious
    Unconscious, The
    Underneath
    Voice Recognition Software
    War
    WaSBihC
    Weather
    Work
    Writing Process
    Writing Technique

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Picture
    BLOGGING COMMUNITIES
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from havens.michael34, romana klee, mrsdkrebs, Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It., adam & lucy, dluders, Joybot, Hammer51012, jorgempf, Sherif Salama, eyspahn, raniel diaz, E. E. Piphanies, scaredofbabies, Nomadic Lass, paulternate, Tony Fischer Photography, archer10 (Dennis), slightly everything, impbox, jonwick04, country_boy_shane, dok1, Out.of.Focus, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Elvert Barnes, guillenperez, Richard Perry, jamesnaruke, Juan Carlos Arniz Sanz, El Tuerto, kona99, maveric2003, !anaughty!, Patrick Denker, David Davies, hamilcar_south, idleformat, Dave Goodman, Sharon Mollerus, photosteve101, La Citta Vita, A Girl With Tea, striatic, carlosfpardo, Damork, Elvert Barnes, UNE Photos, jurvetson, quinn.anya, BChristensen93, Joelk75, ashesmonroe, albertogp123, >littleyiye<, mudgalbharat, Swami Stream, Dicemanic, lovelihood, anyjazz65, Tjeerd, albastrica mititica, jimmiehomeschoolmom