--By Kirsten Weiss
A challenge when writing my metaphysical mysteries is that even though I can write what the heroine is thinking, when her subconscious is running the show, I can only write her subconscious drives as subtext. The problem is, subtext isn't always obvious to readers.
Subtext is hidden or unspoken meaning. For example, when a character is doing one thing but saying the opposite.
Subtext is a lot like the subconscious in that way. Our subconscious drives are hidden, underneath. We usually don't know they're influencing our actions. In fact, they can be baffling.
One clue that some part of your subconscious is in play is if you find yourself repeating the same mistake over and over. You may even know you're blowing it in the moment, but you can't seem to help yourself.
If you think something in your subconscious may be causing you problems, try to figure out what that part of yourself is "getting out" of it, misguided though it may be. Is your subconscious "protecting" you or protecting some part of your ego? Or does it think it's protecting you when it's really making things harder?
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