TIPS FOR WRITING SPIRITUAL FICTION NOVELS

I’ve been asked recently to share some tips for writing spiritual/visionary fiction. Whilst this may surprise the more demure or straight-laced of mindfulness enthusiasts, my initial response is often. “Sit on your butt and type.”

Cheeky, I know.

But clearly, there’s more to writing spiritual or visionary fiction than that. Whilst writing any book requires high levels of discipline, concentration, perseverance and attention to detail, adding the interweaving of consciousness-raising into your storytelling does tend to add uniqueness to the process. And the story.

Personally, I think one of the greatest keys to successfully writing a spiritual fiction novel is this: Show, not tell – gracefully guide your readers quietly down the awareness rabbit hole, then allow them to experience and feel that they’ve arrived in Wonderland: somewhere higher than the trappings of the third dimensional reality; some place brighter inside their mind and heart, where they cannot ignore the brilliance of the place you have transported them to.

I might add that non-fiction and fiction writing in this genre do differ: the former teaches more intellectually – whereas the later bypasses the intellect. I have come to favor the later – fiction. I think I always have, ever since I devoured The Alchemist; The Celestine Prophecy and Way of the Peaceful Warrior. Decades later, these stories and their messages remain in my heart and mind. And I can see clearly now that writing them required the consciousness inherent within the tale.

But whilst I’d love to wax lyrical more about this mysterious process of creating fictional spiritual prose – and I shall in future blogs – for now, I must simply cut to the chase. So here they are – my top seven tips for writing spiritual and visionary fiction:

• Undergo a massive dose of heartbreak. More than once works particularly well. Being able to draw upon a veritable goldmine of painful emotion from a past relationship disintegration is an absolute boon for any writer, and for more spiritually attuned souls the healing process can take you very deep. So quietly bless and thank those insensitive heart-wreckers for their valued contribution to your future writing success.
• Come out the other side of a serious life trauma you’ve had to labor through – one you’ve combed the self-development realm for. Big thumbs up for that one.
• If you’ve thrown yourself amongst a multitude of workshops and deep navel-gazing sessions, meditations, cathartic processes, counseling and or therapy of some sort – particularly over the course of a number of years, or better still, decades – then hallelujah, what are you waiting for. Get thee to thy laptop and start that novel!
• It goes without saying that a few mystical or spiritual peak-experiences in the course of your life does work a treat for tapping into that mysterious realm when writing. What better way to unleash the consciousness component within than tuning into the memory – slow-motion like is great – of some otherworldly reality you’ve experienced. If you have a deep imprint of the feeling state that experience allowed you to access, you’re more than a step closer to your bestseller.
• Don’t get too ‘woo woo’! Unless you’re planning to turf out 99.9% of the reading population?! Avoid getting too fluffy or super esoteric…otherwise you’re likely to have the effect of a feather duster in a sandstorm. Stay grounded.
• Get into state: Useful and sometimes critical. Do what you must. If this requires that you dance naked to African drums (I don’t actually do this) for twenty minutes before you sit down at your laptop, go for it. Yoga, meditation or chanting – knock yourself out. Or even try staying in bed: I found this technique particularly effective when writing The Bright New Dawn. It was also great for (unnecessary) weight reduction, given that I was sometimes so immersed in an altered or focused state that I forgot to eat, or even drink water. Suffice to say, not the most recommended tip and also a great example of the dangers of not staying grounded.
• And finally, seven – since seven is deemed a spiritual number I shall stop at this pinnacle of Tips. Drum roll, please: Care deeply about this earth; care deeply about humanity; love fully from your heart; and have a sense of purpose about why you write what you write. Let’s face it – the earth and most of its inhabitants could do with a helping hand.

Now, get to it…no mucking about…unless you think it’s ‘all in divine timing’ and that some higher power will magically write your prose for you? Good luck with that.

However you get there, take your readers somewhere higher, deeper, brighter in themselves…someplace inspiring, hopeful and uplifting. Combine your years of exploring your own hidden depths with the greatest quality that defines any piece of fiction work – imagination.

Louise’s extensive experiences and background have led her to become a visionary and inspiring Author and storyteller. Her deepest dream and intention is for her books to contribute positively to the rapidly changing face of earth and contemporary humanity: raising awareness, helping to bridge new thought pathways and create alternative and palatable understanding of deeper transformational processes at work – both individually and collectively.

Louise’s published works include: ‘The Bright New Dawn’ and latest release, ‘Her Eight Limbs of Love.’