Welcome, Luminous Writers, to the Write, Publish, and Shine podcast. I am your host, author, and literary magazine editor, Rachel Thompson.

This podcast explores how to write and share your brilliant writing with the world. In each episode, we delve into specifics on how to polish and prepare your writing for publication and the journey from emerging writer to published author.

Hello, luminous writers! Today, we’re diving into episode 107: “Write What Haunts You.” This episode is part of our series on getting published in literary magazines, drawing from my 14 years of experience on Room’s editorial collective.

Have you ever felt a story or a theme gnawing at the edges of your consciousness, demanding to be written? That’s exactly what we’re exploring today. Writing what haunts you isn’t just about ghost stories or horror; it’s about tapping into the deep well of experiences, emotions, and ideas that refuse to let you go.

I’ll start by making the contrary argument that writing about what doesn’t haunt you can leave your work feeling hollow and disconnected. When we choose topics that don’t stir something deep within us, it often translates to a lack of emotional resonance on the page. Readers, and especially editors, can sense when a writer isn’t fully engaged with their subject matter. Without that driving passion, the work can feel superficial, failing to connect with its audience. Writing that lacks personal investment often falls short in depth and authenticity, making it harder to stand out in the competitive world of literary publishing.

Let’s break down why writing what haunts you can be so powerful:

• Authenticity: When you write about subjects that resonate deeply with you, your passion shines through, making your writing more powerful and genuine.
• Personal Connection: The most compelling pieces often come from a place of personal connection. By exploring themes that affect you deeply, your writing becomes more relatable and impactful.
• Unique Voice: Embracing what haunts you allows your individuality to shine through. Readers connect with authenticity, and editors appreciate a unique voice.
• Universal Themes: Often, what haunts us personally can lead to broader discussions and universal themes, enriching the depth and relevance of your work.

Now, you might be wondering, “How do I identify what haunts me?” Here are a few strategies:

1. Pay attention to recurring thoughts or ideas that keep coming back to you. They keep creeping into your writing, even when you try to write in another direction. This is something I’m very familiar with. I have my own themes that haunt me; I created a whole other podcast around writing about grief, largely centered on loss. Every time I think I’m not writing about that, I find I’m writing about it again. So, pay attention to those recurring thoughts.

2. Reflect on experiences that have left a lasting impact on your life. What are the events that have shaped you? What moments bifurcated your life—when you were one thing before and became something else after? Those could be the themes that are haunting you and may surface in your writing.

3. Consider the stories or themes you find yourself drawn to in other people’s writing. What are the things you want to return to continuously? Those can reveal your own interests.

4. Explore your dreams and nightmares—they often reveal what’s lurking in your subconscious. I know many writers who keep a journal by their bed to jot down ideas about their dreams, bringing those into their writing. I admire that practice, even though I don’t practice it myself. As I say this, I’m thinking, “Oh, I should get a dream journal out.” It’s a great way to figure out what preoccupies you that you feel passionate about writing.

Remember, what haunts you doesn’t have to be dark or negative. It could be a burning curiosity, a cherished memory, or an unanswered question. The key is to write about what won’t let you go.

My tip here is not to worry about trends or what you think others want to read. Imagine if you were a writer really interested in romantic love. If you decided to write something else because it wasn’t trending at that moment, you might miss out on a resurgence in the romance field. Trends may come back around, and your passion is far more important than the latest fad. So, focus on what truly moves you. Your genuine passion will make your work more authentic and engaging.

When I was editing the ghost-themed issue for Room, we received submissions exploring both literal and metaphorical hauntings. We published many pieces that were far from traditional ghost stories. One standout was a poem by Ray Fairburn called Obituary. In it, Ray used the form of an obituary to describe the death and resurrection of a relationship, reflecting on the exhausting nature of an on/off relationship. The humor and frankness really resonated; it wasn’t about scary ghosts or ghouls, but rather how our attachments haunt us. It was clear the poet was haunted by that experience, and it was truly fun to publish this piece. If you’re looking for more haunting ideas, I suggest checking out Room’s ghost issue; the link to order that will be in the show notes for this episode.

In closing, I challenge you to think about what haunts you. What story or idea keeps pulling at you, demanding to be written? That’s where your most powerful writing will come from.

As we wrap up, remember that writing what haunts you isn’t only about creating compelling work; it’s also a form of self-discovery and catharsis. By exploring these deep-seated ideas and emotions, you’re not just crafting a piece of writing—you’re learning about yourself. That’s how to create compelling work; we can feel it when we read. We know when a writer has delved deep and discovered something about themselves through their work, and that shines through. That’s what I mean when I say “write, publish, and shine”—that shine is the essence of the work.

Reflecting on what haunts me personally right now, I can’t help but think of the collective traumas and struggles we’re witnessing today. I stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and now the Lebanese people. Writing can also be a tool for working through those larger haunts—both personal and global.

So, I’ll end with a prompt: Take 10 minutes after this episode to free-write about a memory that keeps coming back to you or a question you’ve never been able to answer. Don’t censor yourself; just let it flow. You might find the seed of your next piece of writing by looking at what haunts you.

Thank you for tuning into the Write, Publish, and Shine podcast. If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe and leave a review. Until next time, keep writing what haunts you and watch your work come alive.

The Write, Publish, and Shine podcast is hosted by me, Rachel Thompson, with sound editing by Adam Linder. To learn more about my work supporting writers, you can visit rachelthompson.co and sign up for my weekly Writerly Love letters, packed with encouragement for your writing journey.

Share this episode with other luminous writers by directing them to rachelthompson.co/podcast or by searching for “Write, Publish, and Shine” wherever you get your podcasts.

I acknowledge the El Muzina Bedouin lands in South Sinai, Egypt, where I record. I stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and the people of Lebanon, joining the global condemnation of the ongoing violence and supporting the movement against Israel’s apartheid, genocide, and flagrant disregard for international law.