In the Paris Review, the writer Emmanuel Carrère talked about how he drafted a book that wasn’t working out. (That's pretty normal, by the way.)

To say goodbye to his project and honor the effort he put into it, he wrote a letter to himself about what he had tried to do with the book.

The process of writing about his ideas led him to a breakthrough, and he was able to finish.

So, why did this work?

My theory is that something called our "reticular activating system" (RAS) played a role.

The RAS is a network of neurons running through our brainstems and acts like a gatekeeper for our consciousness. Think of it as your brain's filter system. It decides what sensory information gets through to your conscious awareness and what gets blocked out.

The RAS impact on attention

Once you focus on something consistently, the RAS starts flagging related information as "important." The RAS is why you see and hear a word everywhere after you learn it the first time. And why, if you become aware of a topic, it seems like everyone is talking about it. That happens because our attention is drawn to the word or topic and “sees” them everywhere.

• When you buy a red car, you suddenly see red cars everywhere.
• When you're thinking about starting a business, opportunities seem to appear.
• Your worries tend to find confirmation because the RAS highlights matching evidence.

In such cases, your filter has changed what you notice.

Perhaps the process of Carrère writing himself the letter "put in a request” to his brain to clarify the red thread connecting his ideas. That’s why writing this memo/letter is one of the steps I suggest my clients do when writing a book.

The RAS influences creativity, too.

1. With pattern recognition: By filtering for what you're interested in, the RAS helps you connect seemingly unrelated ideas, which is part of the creative process. Plus, when you expose yourself to diverse inputs, those connections become enriched.
2. With opportunity spotting: Creative breakthroughs often come from noticing something others miss. The RAS can be trained to spot patterns and possibilities aligned with your creative goals.

Our brain listens to our requests, and we don't have to pay a monthly subscription to use it (at least not yet).

What I’m reading:

• Selected Poems by Donald Justice
• Growing Gills by Jessica Abel--a book on creative project planning
• ​Emmanuel Carrère, Paris Review, The Art of Nonfiction No. 5

Warmly,

Deb Ager

PS: Please forward this email to a friend who might enjoy it. ​

PPS: When you’re ready: ​

1. Not sure where your book draft stands? Get clear, actionable suggestions on your nonfiction book from a pro editor and thought partner, so you develop a strong book that makes you proud. Get info on the book draft editorial review.​
2. Need book editing or publishing/design services? We've been providing these services since 2014 and love helping authors bring their book projects home. Get info on book editing. ​
3. Updated–Free Book Writing Checklist: This checklist helps you understand the steps involved in writing a book. From clarifying your message to the four stages of editing and more, you’ll get a handle on what needs to get done and when. Get the Book Writing Checklist.​
4. New! Free Book Publishing Checklist: This new offering helps you understand the steps for editing and publishing your book. Includes marketing suggestions. Get the Book Publishing Checklist.​