Six Healthy Practices of the Intuitive Storyteller

When you read the phrase “Intuitive Storyteller,” what comes to mind? What are your immediate thoughts? What is your intuition telling you this phrase means?

The term intuition can be defined from many angles; however, the definition that makes the most sense to me is that intuition is our brain’s compass. It’s sometimes instinctive, sometimes supernatural, and other times resultant of pattern-mapping—seeking out familiar patterns in order to anticipate a response and/or outcome. No matter the definition, the most important lesson I’ve learned about my intuition is that it’s always right.

To me, being an intuitive storyteller means that I listen to those immediate thoughts—the ones that pop to mind, and certainly the ones that linger—and I pay attention to my feelings and other visceral responses around them. When an idea for a story comes to mind, I listen intently, scribbling notes with whatever tools I have at my grasp, eager to understand the idea so that I might pen the best story worthy of it.

So, how can we nurture our intuition to ensure we establish the best possible conditions—internal and external—for intuitive storytelling?

Throughout the many years of honing my storytelling craft, I have found six practices to serve my intuition, my writing practice, and my overall health and wellbeing, and I am delighted to share them with you.

1. Practice gratitude and the power of attraction.

Karma is more than just a boyfriend. It’s the manifestation of energy—like matching like—and practicing gratitude can be one of the brightest beacons for karmic blessings. When you are grateful for what you have—your life, your relationships, your opportunities—you are shining a light that not only inspires others, but a light that attracts and then guides the best possible blessings toward your life, blessings that exceed your wildest dreams. These blessings will ultimately affect your writing practice in a profound way.

2. Manage your creative space.

With all this good energy coming your way, be sure it has a suitable place to land: an open mind, a workspace conducive to creativity, adequate time, and minimal distractions. Distractions can be a killer of creativity, so be sure your writing space is free from those intuition vampires (which are entirely different from intuitive vampires, but I digress...) Ideally, your writing space is free of anything that can distract you. For me, that’s other people; however, many writers enjoy working in public spaces, such as the library and coffee shops. I would need earbuds and blinders. I’m just too nosy curious.

3. Don't drain your well. Don't write until exhaustion.

Listen to your energy because your writing will reflect it. As such, when you’re feeling inspired, your writing will feel inspired. When you’re exhausted? You guessed it. Therefore, don’t drain your well. Setting aside the time of day when you feel most alert and inspired for writing can eliminate flimsy and uninspired work. I’m most alert right after waking, which is normally early in the mornings before the sun even thinks about coming up. I make my coffee and then I’m ready to tackle my WIP. In the afternoons and evenings? I’m beat. Rather than writing, this time of day is best for me to read or watch movies, you know, activities that are still feeding my creativity but not taxing the process.

4. Set boundaries to protect your energy, time, and space.

Let others know when you are available and keep your writing time sacred for only you and your tools. Communicate with those you share a residence. Let them know that you will be out-of-pocket, so if there’s not an emergency, don’t come knocking. During your sacred writing time, you might also benefit from unplugging from your electronic devices. Phone, Siri, Alexa, Instagram? They can wait. The world, however, can NOT wait to read your words!

5. Protect your peace: Unplug.

Unplugging from those devices and platforms can also be helpful in nourishing your peace of mind and restoring your energy and wellbeing. Every week on Sunday, I take a day off—a day off from posting on social media, a day off from email, and even a day off from writing. Sundays are my days for recharging my soul with activities like reading, working with the tarot, playing with my dogs, going on joyrides with the hubby, catching up on the shows I’m watching, catching up on sleep, and just reconnecting with my ideas and intuition. For me, this time is just as sacred as my writing time.

6. Prioritize your rest. Allow your mind (and body) to recharge.

Let’s return to Number 5 where I am going to underscore and circle “catching up on sleep” until my pen carves through the paper. Replenish your energy through getting adequate sleep. As much and as often as you are able, always choose sleep... even over writing. As storytellers, writing is our lifeblood; however, as mentioned in Number 3, if you are tired, your writing will reflect. Unplug. Protect your downtime. Prioritize your rest. Your intuition and your writing will bless you for it.

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Need more resources to help you become an even better intuitive storyteller? Visit my shop!

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In her more than thirty years as a storyteller and visual designer, Amanda “Mandy” Hughes has written and designed over a dozen works of literary, Southern Gothic, and women’s fiction under pen names A. Lee Hughes and Mandy Lee.

Mandy is the founder of Haint Blue Creative^®, a space for readers and storytellers to explore, learn, and create. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Science in Psychology, and she has worked as an instructional designer for nearly twenty years.

When she’s not writing, Mandy enjoys the movies, theater, music, traveling, nature walks, birdwatching, and binging The Office. She is a tarot enthusiast who uses the cards to enhance creativity and foster wellness. She lives in Georgia with her husband and four sons, two of whom are furrier than the others (but not by much). Visit her website at haintbluecreative.com and follow her on Instagram @haintbluecreative.

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