Two paragraphs into my morning pages, I had a brilliant thought about my heroine and the moments before she gets swept into the time-travel. The scene just formed in my head, spilled on to paper (today writing with a new mechanical pencil, .07 lead, instead of the usual fountain pen) and threatened to continue for at least another page or two, or until my hand completely cramped, whichever came first. I got out as much as I could until that dreaded realization hit me full-force.
Time to go to work.
Ack! Doesn’t that just stink? It’s the worst feeling for a writer or creative mind, to be in the middle of a creative flow where words assault you from every corner (this particular passage was almost all description, little narrative, plot or dialogue) only to have something external cut into your world.
The beauty of morning pages is that all my ideas are in one place (no small feat for any creative mind that likes to spread out, most of all me, who has a secret notebook addiction), so I can pick up the thought where I left off when I come back tomorrow. But can I pick up the writing, too? Or just the thought?
How do you deal with unwelcome intrusions of reality into your creativity? I’m already getting up at 4:45 to write, so getting up much earlier might not be a solution but I’m open to thoughts on what works for you…
{ 2 comments }
Hi Beth,
There’s nothing worse than losing good ideas. I carry a small tape recorder with me. No matter where I am, when inspiration strikes, I mumble it all down as fast as I can go. Then when I have time, I sort through it until it makes sense.
Voice recorders are god-sends! I used to plot stories on the drive to school, when writing in my notebook didn’t really mesh with my reality…lol.
Thanks for the reminder, Carol. Anything that gets writers writing is worth sharing
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