Hi Kristin
I had discussed this issue in detail quite recently so wih na couple of other schizophrenics and I wanted to post a bit of a blurb about it.
In my case "stream of consciousness" is a style of writing that arises from schizophrenia with the forward motion of ideas and thought processes converted to text as they happen and all that. I am sure many schizophrenics write this way.
Its actually not by choice but is hardwired in as I think Jake said in a discussion recently. As you know this is characterised by lack of punctuation and sometimes syntax and thought processes which might be illogical to the casual observer.
I used to be sensitive about this way of written communication as in the past it was often used to substantiate a diagnosis of a person as "mental" in a derogatory sense.
It wasn't until I read the essay about this by William James, late nineteenth century, that I understood that it was another way of communicating albeit, unusually. A number of American and English writers took up the style intentionally,as in the case of Virginia Wolf etc.
Now I consider it a part of my identity and an addition to the creativity which has been enhanced by my MI.
It is not possible in this style to write with page breaks and paragraphs, as it is with others, because the thought processes don't allow for interruption.
Stopping to edit ruins the flow and then the "spell"of the experience of writing and communicating the "now experience is lost. The whole process allows the reader to briefly glimpse the thoughts and ideas occurring at that point in time, and that point in time only.
Anyway I have talked my flatmate into editing posts for me because once it is written, it is written, the thoughts are gone and I never return to it.
Interestingly, apart from the enormous frustration, from the lecturers when I was doing creative writing at the uni, it was considered an acceptable and unique style of writing.
I am glad you mentioned the term. I hope someone finds the info of interest
Kenny
