The Writer’s Dual Consciousness: Being Both Inside and Outside Your Story

Many writers struggle with the peculiar sensation of being both participant and observer in their own stories, especially when crafting memoir or drawing from personal experience. In both this blog and my corresponding subscriber-only Monday Writing Motivation mailer, I explore how this dual consciousness affects our writing and how we can harness it to create more compelling narratives.

Writing Tips

1. When you’re experiencing a moment that feels “story-worthy,” resist the immediate urge to mentally frame it as a scene. Instead, stay present in the experience first, then later set aside dedicated time to reflect on it as a writer. This helps maintain the authenticity of both the experience and your eventual writing.
2. Keep a “dual perspective” journal where you record events twice: first as you experienced them in the moment, and then from your more analytical writer’s perspective. This practice helps you understand how your observing mind transforms raw experience into narrative.
3. When writing about personal experiences, explicitly acknowledge both your participating and observing selves. Try writing the same scene twice – once from deep within the experience, and once from a more distant, observational viewpoint. This can add richness and depth to your narrative.

Writing Exercise

Choose a significant memory from your past. Write about it twice in 15-minute sessions: First, write it as if you’re reliving it in the present moment, focusing purely on immediate sensations and emotions. Then, write it again as if you’re watching it happen to someone else, noting patterns and meanings that weren’t apparent in the moment. Compare the two versions – what different truths emerge from each perspective?

Quote and Analysis

The very act of selecting what to write about changes the significance of events. A mundane incident, once earmarked for writing, takes on new layers of meaning.

This observation cuts to the heart of how writers transform ordinary experience into meaningful narrative. The mere act of choosing to write about something imbues it with significance, suggesting that writers don’t just record life – they actively participate in creating its meaning.

Want to Dive Deeper?

Want to explore how the writer’s dual consciousness can enrich your work and help you craft more meaningful narratives? Sign up for our Monday Writing Motivation email for exclusive content, where I share personal insights about how this “observer effect” has influenced my own writing journey.