So last night I’m lying in bed, dog tired and having trouble falling asleep. (I know everyone has experienced this sometime or another.) I start to drift off and mentally I think ‘yes, sleep, finally’.
I should’ve known better. What do you think happened in that glorious moment between awake and asleep?
Some chick, whose story I don’t know yet, starts talking. Not only does she start talking about what she’s doing, but she’s changing the story as she goes. No, I’m not crazy. (wg) Really. (Looks around for reassurance.)
I reach over for the paper and pen I keep next to my bed for these rare occasions and start taking notes like a friggin’ secretary. I’m tired, but this isn’t so bad since I think she’s telling me the opening of a book. I write it all down because I’ve learned from experience that these little voices won’t let me sleep if I don’t. I put the paper and pen back on my side table and turn over ready to find that lovely floating sleep feeling again. I barely get my eyes closed and the voice starts once more. This time it’s revising and editing the opening sentences I just wrote. Grr… “This is the last time I’m going to do this tonight,” I say to no one in particular. Yes, I talk to myself.
I grab the paper and pen again, while grumbling curses under my breath. I’m tired and I want to get some sleep. “Start talking,” I demand and for a second I think the little voice isn’t going to respond. Fortunately, after a couple of beats it starts again. (I really didn’t want to toss the pad across the room.) I write down everything she says and then I read it back for accuracy. She doesn’t respond, which is almost always a good sign. (It means that I caught everything.) I put the pen and pad back down. Blissful silence reigns and I eventually succumb to elusive sleep.
Now that I’ve expressed my insanity to the world, it’s ‘your’ turn. What behavior (reading/writing) do you do that you know others would consider crazy if they ever saw or heard you do it?
September 12th, 2005
Yikes, it must have been the night for it. I had almost the same experience only it wasn’t a character exactly, it was an entire story unfolding in my head, and damnit, I was trying to sleep, not to mention I don’t have time for another story idea right now! I have a book to finish by the end of this month, two proposals to write by mid November and then I have to get back to my adventure historical.
And yet, the darn story is still bugging me today.
by Sharon September 12th, 2005 at 11:23 amWhoa, Jordan! This is just too scary. You have so perfectly described what goes on in my overcrowded writers brain that its just plain eerie. LOL As to your question, well, its far too difficult for me to pick just one snippet of deviant behavior. My crazy world (Im referring to the one inside my head) revolves around the outlandish, the quirky, and the inexplicably strange. The necessary solitude of writing affords me the privacy to answer my characters aloud when they intrude upon my thoughts. Yes, I argue with them. I also routinely read pages of dialogue aloud in my characters voices, just to make sure its not stilted or phony sounding. Dramatic facial expressions and gestures are, naturally, included in this exercise. As a writer, I, of course, find this all to be completely normalbut then I already know that Imumlets just say eccentric. No doubt if non-writers were privy to my one-sided chats (aside from my husband and daughter who simply roll their eyes and tsk) theyd skedaddle fast. If you hop over to my blog, Jordan, youll see another aspect of the never-quite-normal life of a writer.
by Daisy Dexter Dobbs September 12th, 2005 at 11:47 amWhy, Jordan, I have no idea what you mean. Odd writerly behavior? Nevah. I’m the essence of sanity. Just ask any of the voices in my head.
by Jo Leigh September 12th, 2005 at 1:16 pmSharon, That’s funny. It must be the change of seasons coming up. ;-)I always hear a voice to start my stories. I can tell whether they’re male or female, but I don’t know much more about them. Hence the dictation. (wg)
by Jordan September 12th, 2005 at 2:29 pmDaisy, That’s too funny! Sounds theatrical. The thing I find strange about the character voices in my head is that they actually sound different than I speak. :-O
by Jordan September 12th, 2005 at 2:33 pmJo, I believe you…now that I put my ‘boots’ on. (wg) Exactly which voice would you like me to address? *ggg*
by Jordan September 12th, 2005 at 2:37 pmOkay, that’s skeeery. That is exactly what happened to me Saturday night, and I’ve got two, count ‘em, two, brand new synopses. (Don’t be too impressed, I use synopsis loosely… considering I have a lot of… “and stuff happens here”)
I do that a lot in the car. I wonder how many people see me driving along and think, who is that psycho lady talking and gesturing to? Maybe they think I have a hands-free cell phone. Can you imagine me getting pulled over for talking on the cell phone? “Officer, I SWEAR, it’s the voices in my head.” “Lady, we’re locking you up.”
by Danica September 12th, 2005 at 4:25 pmDanica, That’s me too in the car, except I’m normally singing at the top of my lungs. LOL!
by Jordan September 12th, 2005 at 4:38 pmWeird, I was up to 2 a.m. last night with a chick who invaded my head too! She didn’t have a story yet…though she did have one beautiful scene…and a personality I can’t wait to have some fun with! Just as soon as I’m done with this current manuscript and get it out in the mail!
by Peggy September 12th, 2005 at 4:50 pmMost visually disturbing thing I do: Walking out (physically choreograping) a scene while wearing headphones and playing the novel’s theme song over and over on my portable CD player. I try to do this indoors whenever possible but occasionally I’ll use the back yard.
by PBW September 12th, 2005 at 5:35 pmMy guy says that when I do this, I look like a mime on speed.
What PBW said. I throw on my headphones, play my WIP soundtrack as loud as I can and walk through a scene. Or sit there and talk it out to myself with the music playing. (my husband just ignored it at this point) And I’m Italian, so I talk with my hands to begin with, When I’m blocking out a scene - fuggetaboutit…
by Steph T. September 12th, 2005 at 5:43 pmYeah Peggy, my heroine sounds pretty interesting too. I just wish she would’ve given me a bit more of plot. Right now all I have is an opening scene and I’m not sure I am going to keep it as the opening.
That should piss her off royally. *ggg*
by Jordan September 12th, 2005 at 5:50 pmPBW, I’m sure that is a sight to see in the backyard. Snicker. You have reminded me that I need to make a greater effort to incorporate music themes into my writing. I tend to listen to the classical station when I work. It’s soothing, but not really inspiring.
by Jordan September 12th, 2005 at 5:52 pmSteph, I do talk to myself a lot. The sad thing is sometimes I answer questions that haven’t even been asked aloud. :-O
by Jordan September 12th, 2005 at 5:54 pmJordan - I do the same thing. I try to sleep and - bang - the ideas start flowing. I’ve tried the “oh, I’ll go to sleep and remember tomorrow” plan. Yeah, that never works. Have to get it down or it’s lost. You know, there’s a reason the characteristics of schizophrenia sound a lot like what goes on in a writer’s head every day…
by HelenKay September 12th, 2005 at 6:35 pmHelenKay, I tried the waiting game too. Boy, was that a joke. If I did manage to get to sleep, I forgot everything. Normally, the voices simply got louder until I paid attention. I hear you on the schizophrenia similarities. (wg)
by Jordan September 12th, 2005 at 8:51 pmThe the most disturbing thing I do is talk to my husband, mother or sister (when they’re visiting, otherwise, just over the phone) in public places about methods of murder and body disposal. It’s a little startling for the other patrons.
by Trace September 13th, 2005 at 5:57 amOne thing I might do is jot down notes when I’m talking to my friends or out somewhere in public. This makes my friends or whoever I’m talking to very nervous, especially if they’re talking about themselves. Because they thiink I’m jotting down something about them and I’m going to put them in my next book. But it’s usually not the case. If so, I wouldn’t do it directly in front of them. It’s funny how a single word or gesture or something small can trigger a whole thought about a current story or a future story. And it can have nothing to do with the conversation you’re having. It just triggers and entirely different thought. And when you try to explain this, people don’t understand and they think that you’re writing about them.
by Cherlyn September 13th, 2005 at 7:11 amThis happens to me but in the morning. I’ll finally have one of those rare, glorious days where I don’t have to be somewhere at 7:00 and the hubby will have gotten up with the kids to let me sleep. But in that drowsy sleep-drug induced state where I’m ready to roll back over and cuddle into the pillows, an idea will show up or a character will perch on the edge of my bed. And the thoughts won’t stop coming until I’m fully awake and itching to get to the laptop. But of course once I’ve emerged from the bedroom, the family attacks me and I have to wait…
by Lynn M September 13th, 2005 at 9:21 amI get most of my ideas from history books and museums. I have no idea where the characters come from, though.
I posted about that some time ago.
The best way to develop ideas is walking, though I do get the occasional one in that state between still being awake and sleep.
Most of my creation is a conscious procress; I develop backstories for my characters and I outline my plots. I have yet to hear a character talking to me.
by Gabriele September 13th, 2005 at 1:48 pmTrace, That’s funny. I have had some pretty interesting talks about vampires in public. People do look at you as if you’re a little strange.
by Jordan September 13th, 2005 at 1:51 pmCherlyn, My ex-boyfriend was convinced he was going to end up in one of my books. I had to explain to him that he doesn’t fit the ‘profile’. *gg*
by Jordan September 13th, 2005 at 1:53 pmLynn, I envy you that. I can’t do jack in the morning beyond breathe.
by Jordan September 13th, 2005 at 1:54 pmGabriele, Are you calling me crazy?
by Jordan September 13th, 2005 at 1:55 pmI’m laughing but I really shoulnd’t be cuz I’m probably guilty of all of these. If I’m really deep in teh groove (rare these days) I tend to zone out so it’s fingers and head and my eyes aren’t focused (take my children please–I’m beggin…). I also keep sticky note sketches of houses and businesses and fake maps near my computer for different WIPs and yes I’ve caught people in the car next to me, laughing at me cuz I have a terrible habit of plotting and/or composing dialogue while I drive. DO I really look that spaced?
by Cece September 13th, 2005 at 2:11 pmCece, I’m not sure if you look spaced or not, but I look as if I’m conducting an orchestra while I’m driving and singing.
by Jordan September 13th, 2005 at 2:23 pmYou should see me trying to act normal when teh kids are in the car!
Apparently I do the whole head movement thing and everything. *sigh*
by Cece September 13th, 2005 at 5:44 pmGabriele, Are you calling me crazy?
Lol no, only a bit weird and that goes with the job description.
I think it’s very difficult to analyse and describe the creative process that goes into creating a novel (or any other form of art). I work on a more conscious level than some, but “hearing” a character tell you his story the moment you try to sleep is basically the same than thinking about the story while walking through the ripening wheat fields - in the end it happens in the creative part of our brains and makes its way onto paper or the keyboard. Imho.
by Gabriele September 13th, 2005 at 5:52 pmCece, I bet. *ggg*
Gabriele, I agree that in the end it’s all part of the creative process.
by Jordan September 14th, 2005 at 2:37 pm