Does anyone else feel like...

stitchingirl · Mar 1, 2010

At times they have schizophrenia?

I'm not poking fun of those who do suffer from this, but at times it's almost like I can understand what they mean about "hearing voices".

These voices are bits of dialogue that we've heard from movies, tv shows, other people and then try to manuever them into stories. Or scenes that we got inspired to use because of a movie or whatever.

I asked my beta this question and she said that was normal with writers. That we get our inspiration from everything that when something sticks out the most, then our brains latch onto it. Constantly working an angle around certain scenes/dialogue/whatever.

bonitakale · Mar 1, 2010

Back when I could take long walks, that was the point -- after twenty minutes or so, on a good day, the voices would start in my head. Sometimes characters I knew, sometimes just a line with no story to go with it. I'd keep pencil and paper in my pocket.

Chris P · Mar 1, 2010

What Bonita said. I do a lot of story forming on the track or in the racketball court. Sometimes I'm running home so I can get stuff written down.

stitchingirl · Mar 1, 2010

Sounds like I'm in good company

Chris P · Mar 1, 2010

stitchingirl said:
Sounds like I'm in good company

Do you mean us or the voices? :tongue

kaitie · Mar 1, 2010

Yup, I'm the same as Bonita as well. I think my mom always half thought I was crazy, though. Spent most of junior high and high school hearing, "You know these people aren't real don't you?" Non-writers don't get it.

stitchingirl · Mar 1, 2010

Maybe that's where "imaginary friends" comes from. Future writers of the world.

And Chris...I've lived with those voices for so long in my head, that they're no longer considered "company". Sort of like relatives that just overstay their visits until you physically kick them out (or write out the stories).

shaldna · Mar 1, 2010

god, sometimes I think I'm the only normal person on this board.

Cranky · Mar 1, 2010

Well, I've never literally heard the voices of my characters in my head, though I've certainly joked around about it. It's more of a feeling I get when I'm writing, either their dialogue or scenes from their POV. Certain words are ones they would use, or wouldn't, etc. But not actual voices.

I never had imaginary friends, either, for that matter. BUT! A lot of writers do, so I think it's fairly typical for writers or creative types, so I wouldn't worry too much about it, unless you've got a whole host of other things goin' on.

HighDesertBrat · Mar 1, 2010

I thought writing was a marginally socially-acceptable form of schizophrenia. Another illusion shattered.

PoppysInARow · Mar 1, 2010

shaldna said:
god, sometimes I think I'm the only normal person on this board.

Maybe you are. One of these days, we will come for you. :evil

I get that all the time. I'm always dwelling on stories, seeing scenes in my head or talking with characters. Once I wrote out a short story where I had a conversation with one of my characters which dissolved into a huge fight. It was very strange.

HighDesertBrat · Mar 1, 2010

shaldna said:
god, sometimes I think I'm the only normal person on this board.

Normality is overrated.

"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is. Stop arguing with me. You're MY character. I created you. I'm your diety, damn it! Just shut up and continue in your story."

SaraP · Mar 1, 2010

I talk to myself all the time - that is, I voice dialogues out loud. Some people sing in the shower, I speak. A lot of times I have no idea who is speaking, but now I kick the strangers out and ask the characters in my stories to do the talking. Quite an experience. Weird when they laugh or cry, which is why I always need tissues on me.

scarletpeaches · Mar 1, 2010

Sometimes I write a piece of dialogue and sit back, thinking, "Whoa, I would never have thought of that." Which is incredibly wanky, but...I guess that's my way of knowing I'm in the zone.

I once asked my mother, "Can you sometimes hear words, even if there's no-one around to say them?" which made her look at me funny.

I was six at the time.

backslashbaby · Mar 1, 2010

Yep

I also hear myself as omniscient narrator narrating scenes as I live them, ocassionally. And I hear an 8 count as I walk, etc. due to years dancing

I 8 count to sleep!

stitchingirl · Mar 1, 2010

I talk to myself all the time - that is, I voice dialogues out loud. Some people sing in the shower, I speak.

I do that, too. One day I said the words, "What do you want from me?" out loud. Poor Scott just peeked into the shower and asked me if I was talking to my loofah.

I get that all the time. I'm always dwelling on stories, seeing scenes in my head or talking with characters. Once I wrote out a short story where I had a conversation with one of my characters which dissolved into a huge fight. It was very strange.

That made me giggle out loud.

CH1 · Mar 2, 2010

Sometimes I don't realise I'm talking away to myself, characters, plots etc when I turn round my wife's giving me a funny look, she reckons I'm mumbling, arguing away to myself pulling faces. The other morning she looked over at me in bed and laughed, apparently I was laying there, with my finger over my mouth as if I was telling someone to be quiet.

Scoody · Mar 2, 2010

Roses are red

Violets are blue

I'm schizophrenic

and SO AM I!

DrZoidberg · Mar 2, 2010

My theory is that it's normal. Everybody hears voices (ie your inner voice). If it isn't normal, then I'm a certifiable lunatic, and better off for it.

shaldna · Mar 2, 2010

DrZoidberg said:
My theory is that it's normal. Everybody hears voices (ie your inner voice). If it isn't normal, then I'm a certifiable lunatic, and better off for it.

is that like your conscience? because I don't think I have one of those.

DrZoidberg · Mar 2, 2010

shaldna said:
is that like your conscience? because I don't think I have one of those.

Well, that must be handy. You have a promising career in embezelment to look forward to

stitchingirl · Mar 2, 2010

I think mine is on delayed start. Usually after I do something stupid and idiotic, then my inner voice tells me, "Oh, crap. I shouldn't've done that."

third person · Mar 2, 2010

Us writerly folk are supposed to be crazy. Embrace it--you'll come up with better stuff.

maestrowork · Mar 2, 2010

I hear my characters' voices, and I work out scenes in my head; I even "talked" to my characters. But I'm definitely not schizo because I know what is just visions and characters in my head, and what is real.

You are all real, right?

Right?

stitchingirl · Mar 2, 2010

Well, I am crazy, but that's just the effect of having kids will do to a person.

Between my 17-year-old changing her mind every other day about what to get for her birthday and my 11-year-old complaining that he never gets anything good (I swear that boy has every video game under the sun) and how we like her more than him (We do. She doesn't complain as much), it's a wonder I can piece my name together.

Does anyone else feel like...

stitchingirl

bonitakale

Chris P

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

stitchingirl

Chris P

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

kaitie

With great power comes

stitchingirl

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

Cranky

HighDesertBrat

Hired Pen

PoppysInARow

HighDesertBrat

Hired Pen

SaraP

You can't forget those you've loved

scarletpeaches

backslashbaby

*

stitchingirl

CH1

AW Addict

Scoody

DrZoidberg

aka TomOfSweden

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

DrZoidberg

aka TomOfSweden

stitchingirl

third person

She blinded me--with magic!

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

stitchingirl

Does anyone else feel like...

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

With great power comes

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

Hired Pen

Hired Pen

You can't forget those you've loved

~~~~*~~~~

AW Addict

aka TomOfSweden

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

aka TomOfSweden

She blinded me--with magic!

Fear the Death Ray

*