Trusting your own imagination

LightShadow · Jul 18, 2006

In my latest work in progress I have been writing my chapters like this:

After I complete the last chapter, I retreat to the silence of my bedroom, lie back on the bed, and allow my mind to wander somewhere into a state that is not quite dreaming, but not quite full awareness. My characters swim in a pool of possibilities, and without much effort, the next chapter presents itself in my mind, and then I return to the computer and make it happen.

PeeDee · Jul 18, 2006

The times I do that, I wind up taking a nap...

SpookyWriter · Jul 18, 2006

LightShadow said:
In my latest work in progress I have been writing my chapters like this:

After I complete the last chapter, I retreat to the silence of my bedroom, lie back on the bed, and allow my mind to wander somewhere into a state that is not quite dreaming, but not quite full awareness. My characters swim in a pool of possibilities, and without much effort, the next chapter presents itself in my mind, and then I return to the computer and make it happen.

I have to keep a cork inside my right ear or my characters will sneak out whilst I sleep.

Seriously, I know this feeling. Many a story has become part of my waking dreams and the reality is scary when you can interpret the thoughts of an imaginary character you are writing about.

The waking imagination is trapped and waiting for you to release these people from their dreary existence. Write and write well, and when you sit up don't forget to engage your characters in conversation.

This is what writers do, imagine and write to entertain others. Have fun with this gift and enjoy the developing story. I think you like to write, and it is coming through with this thread.

Best wishes,

NightWynde · Jul 18, 2006

All my best ideas come out of the kitchen. Washing dishes is great for distracting the concious mind and lets the creative side roam free. Cooking is excellent for this is well. So much so that more often than I'd like to admit I have burned, oversalted, or otherwise ruined a meal so badly that we had to have PB&J for dinner. In fact, one time I was blocked so horribly and for an extended period that my husband said, "I wish you'd hurry up and ruin dinner already so you'll quit being so damned cranky all the time."

Zolah · Jul 19, 2006

PeeDee said:
The times I do that, I wind up taking a nap...

Ditto. When I need to let my characters marinade in an idea sauce for a while, I go for a really long walk with no distractions (no iPod, book, no nothing) and quite often I can work things out that way. But I also get some very good ideas while lathering up my hair in the bath (stimulating the brain, perhaps?), and have ruined many a good notebook by dripping suds all over it while I frantically scribbled stuff down.

seun · Jul 19, 2006

My best ideas seem to come after a few ales and just before I fall asleep. Then I wake up and realise the little of the idea I can remember is complete arse.

bsolah · Jul 19, 2006

I find a walk works a lot for me, but I'm kind of lazy, so rarely do that unless I'm going to the library.

PeeDee · Jul 19, 2006

Zolah said:
Ditto. When I need to let my characters marinade in an idea sauce for a while, I go for a really long walk with no distractions (no iPod, book, no nothing) and quite often I can work things out that way. But I also get some very good ideas while lathering up my hair in the bath (stimulating the brain, perhaps?), and have ruined many a good notebook by dripping suds all over it while I frantically scribbled stuff down.

Ah, now that sounds exactly like me.

Although generally, my characters and their stories are always on my brain. Lord knows how I would survive working a day job if I didn't have people in my head figuring out their problems. It's boring when I've got a story totally sorted out, because then I have nothing to think about.

Shadow_Ferret · Jul 19, 2006

PeeDee said:
The times I do that, I wind up taking a nap...

Yeah, that method would definately put me to sleep, too.

I don't meditate on my characters, I deliberately ignore them. They hate being ignored since characters always want the center of attention. They then get mad at me and become loud and obnoxious, throwing wild, raucous parties and generally trashing my mind until I finally acquiesce and sit down to write the story.

MidnightMuse · Jul 19, 2006

I use that method if I'm stuck on a particular situation. If I've reached a point in the story that needs to be worked out in my head before I can reliably put it down on paper, then I'll stew about it overnight and typically wake up with the solution.

But if I go lie down on the couch to give the next chapter some 'think', my snoring interrupts my thoughts.

For complete and utter inspiration, I'll go spend a weekend at the ocean, without bringing the laptop or notebook - being completely unable to write anything brings my characters, plot and story slamming up against my brain demanding attention. When I get home from a weekend away like that, I can write solid for a week.

Wesley Smith · Jul 19, 2006

I have to bull my way through, writing thoroughly irredeemable crap until the pipes are clean and redeemable crap starts coming through. If I dwell too much on a situation, I overthink it and turns out awful. If I pretend I know what I'm doing, sooner or later I'll actually figure out what I'm doing, and I'll be able to go back and fix whatever problem I had.

Zolah · Jul 19, 2006

PeeDee said:
Ah, now that sounds exactly like me.

Although generally, my characters and their stories are always on my brain. Lord knows how I would survive working a day job if I didn't have people in my head figuring out their problems. It's boring when I've got a story totally sorted out, because then I have nothing to think about.

Yes, it's like a movie-reel constantly running in the back of your head, isn't it? No matter what I'm doing, it's always there, going round and around. When I finish something it feels all empty and drafty there at the back, and after a while it starts playing my least favourite movie-reel: 'Humiliating Moments from Zolah's Life', at which point I know I really need to start work again. I wonder what non-writers have in that place in their brain? TV soaps? Hmmm...

arrowqueen · Jul 19, 2006

I think about it last thing before I go to sleep and let the night shift work on it.

Trusting your own imagination

LightShadow

defender of the blahs!

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

SpookyWriter

NightWynde

Zolah

Over the hills and far away

seun

Horror Man

bsolah

AW's Resident Commie

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

MidnightMuse

Midnight Reading

Wesley Smith

Zolah

Over the hills and far away

arrowqueen

RIP, our sarky besom