The link between sleep & creativity

Can you harness the power of your subconscious to help your writing?

The link between creativity and sleep is something I have an on-going fascination with, and it’s something I’m researching deeply for my latest book. It’s not just walking or talking in one’s sleep either - did you know some people can even paint in their sleep? There have been several documented cases, but the best known is probably Lee Hadwin. Some of his painting and drawings are amazing.

Which got me wondering: is it possible for authors to harness the power of the subconscious to aid their writing?

As child I suffered from horrifyingly realistic night terrors (perhaps this is why I love this painting, The Nightmare, a fabulously Gothic piece by Henry Fuseli). Somehow, I’m not sure how, I trained myself to realise they were dreams and create a doorway through which I could escape to a calmer place. I still do this now, if I am having a bad dream. When I researched somnambulism and night terrors for Her Last Secret, I discovered this is an actual technique taught in sleep clinics.

Apparently, I also answer if asked a question while asleep. The answer is usually nothing to do with the question, but it’s still pretty impressive, I think.

As for the link with sleep and creativity, I’ve often solved problems in my dreams. The most remarkable example was while writing The Darkest Lies. I couldn’t decide between two ways of starting it. I went to bed thinking: “I’ll wake knowing which is right.”

Instead, I dreamed of a totally different opening – one that hadn’t occurred to me previously. It was perfect! When I woke, I wrote it verbatim. Although the book has been through the usual set of structural, copy, and line edits, the published prologue remains totally unchanged from my dream version.

No wonder sleep and creativity is a subject that fascinates me! The science seems to indicate that the subconscious can create while the frontal part of the brain responsible for self-criticism is asleep, freeing us up. But, of course, it’s a complex subject. Can I write a book in my sleep? Sadly not. It still requires hard work, and a dash of frustration! But there’s definitely something to be learned from simply relaxing, not forcing things, and instead listening to what just pops into our brains when we block out criticism. If we could all do that more often, just think how much easier our work would be.

Have you ever managed to harness the power of the subconscious for your creativity? I’d love to hear!