How to Write Surrealism
Writing surrealism requires an extremely open mind. We all have an internal editor that constantly says “don’t write that – it doesn’t make sense,” and this editor must be silenced. You have to let odd, irrational things float out of the subconscious and capture them in writing. Crucially, though, your writing can’t be too weird, or it will become absurdist (see section 6). It has to hover right on the margins between sense and nonsense.
One way to accomplish this is to keep a dream journal. While you’re having them, dreams usually seem perfectly rational. But as soon as you wake up, you realize how bizarre they were. If you want to employ surrealism in your writing, try keeping a notebook by your bed. As soon as you wake up in the morning, while the dream is still fresh, write down what you dreamed. This will provide endless inspiration for surrealist writing.
When to use Surrealism
Surrealism is strictly for experimental creative writing. Due to its sheer strangeness, it’s not usually used for anything – it just has its own inherent value. If you find surrealism inspiring, then by all means explore it. But it’s probably best to avoid this style for school projects unless your teacher advises you otherwise.