At 3:00 a.m. I turn into a Pulitzer Prize winning
author. In the quiet of the pre-dawn hour
I can weave layered themes of written word from the comfort of my bed. The work is genius I tell you. The only problem? I don’t remember a damn
thing in the morning.
I started leaving a notebook and pen by my bedside so that
the next time inspiration struck I would be ready. Inspiration strikes! Oh shoot… I really
should have chosen a simple notebook and not one that has a Velcro
closure. The distinct ripping sound will
surely wake my husband who is a notoriously light sleeper. No problem- I’ve committed my thoughts to
memory so I’ll skip the attempt to write them down tonight.
Next morning: Remember anything? Not so much.
Inspiration: Take 2.
Awake and have fabulous thoughts ready to scribe. This time I’m prepared. Velcro is already
opened and tucked neatly so that I have easy and quiet access to the page. I’m all ready… but then I felt guilty. Do I
turn on the light? I’ve got it! I’ll
scribble the main themes down in the pitch dark and expand on it when there is
daylight.
Next morning: Can you imagine what your handwriting looks
like when you’ve written in the dark? My
penmanship has taken a nose dive over the years. I guess it’s from all that typing. Cursive writing isn’t even taught in elementary
school anymore. They start kids on
computers in Kindergarten and away they go.
Makes me want to buy pen and ink sets for all my nieces and nephews and
start teaching a class on Old English calligraphy.
I’m starting to think that sleep is getting in the way of my
productivity. My next plan of attack is
to get up, go downstairs, brew coffee and write until my carpel tunnel kicks
in. Who needs sleep anyway?
www.sleeveshirtconsulting.com
Oh yeah, I can totally relate. I always tell myself that I'll remember my ideas in the morning, and I never do. The only thing I remember is that I had a brilliant idea last night, and then I get mad at myself for letting it slip away.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your participation in Writers' Week! I've enjoyed your post. :)
Thanks Emily! On one hand you want to seize the opportunity for productivity and on the other hand you want to seize some zzz's...
ReplyDeleteFun contest, and I can't wait to read more submissions.
I'm nodding my head and laughing because I can relate so well to this post. The early morning hours are when I have have my clearest thoughts as a writer. I wake up in the middle of the night with brilliant ideas and compose entire blog posts in my head while putting on my makeup before work. But do I ever jot down notes in my bedside notebook? Of course not. And then my mind goes blank the moment I sit down at my laptop.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! :)
Oh that nighttime inspiration! Where does it go come morning? I wonder if I can read my dark written handwriting.
ReplyDeleteI can't even tell you how many notes I have that I scribbled in the dark, only to not be able to read them in the morning. Or when I can read them, they're so obscure because I was half asleep and I have no clue what I was getting at. Every once in a while, though, I manage to capture something worthwhile...so the pen & notebook stay at my night table.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the contest
Thank you ladies! What's a writer to do? Invest in an itty-bitty book light? (Do those even work?) I'm not ready to face the wrath of a disturbed spouse, so my search for the best solution continues!
ReplyDeleteI've certainly used the "scribble in the dark" technique, also without much success. My latest attempt to save my early morning brilliance is to use my smartphone. It's already by the bed so I just pop it up and type in a few quick notes. Or, I fall asleep mid-note and drop the phone on my face, which is painful.
ReplyDeleteYes, this. I know this. I, too, am brilliant in the middle of the night. Also? In the shower. And the car. Also not ideal times and places to jot down notes!
ReplyDeleteLove the velcro line!