Comments on: When Inspiration Strikes at Inconvenient Times

By: Alitriona

Alitriona — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:30:24 +0000

I carry a notebook at all times, I even sleep with it beside my bed. When I write, it all goes down long hand as a first draft.

Now sorting through the notebook to find ideas from months or years ago is another issue altogether.

By: SusanAshlea

SusanAshlea — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:57:24 +0000

I guess I’m in the minority on this one. Generally, once and idea runs through my head, it stays there. Last February when I got the idea for Supernova, it was around 9pm at night. I called Saluki to talk to her about it, and the next day I started writing. While it did veer off the original idea, I am shocked to look back over the original “outline” and see how close it stayed to the original.

I was about halfway through writing Supernova when I got the inspiration for Finding Forever. I wanted to write it so bad, but I am the type that can only work on one big project at a time. So, I “shelved” Finding Forever until about 2 weeks after I finished Supernova. The detailed idea stayed there for 4 months and waited patiently for me to finish what I was working on.

Even now, when I get some weird idea for something in my story, I just file it into slot A in my brain and it stays there. I guess I’m lucky in that regard (or unlucky, seeing as I currently have no less than 4 stories up there swimming around, fighting for dominance).

Now, if I could only remember where I put my phone…

By: SarahBella

SarahBella — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:50:10 +0000

Jules, I carry a notebook and pen with me everywhere. It’s always filled with bits of conversation, different scenarios in which Edward could swipe Bella’s panties- you get the picture.

It comes in the bathroom with me when I shower…
♥

By: edwardsisobel

edwardsisobel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:50:44 +0000

Hey Jules, I am a CPA too but in Australia lol and find I get heaps of ideas while at work – well it’s boring and my mind conjures up much more exciting things in my imaginary world… I have taken to carrying around a memory stick just for my stories and my secret stash of Rob pics and whenever I get the chance or even when I should be working I quickly (or not) type up my ideas. I did get a rap over the knuckles last month that my billings were down oops…

My kids commented a few weeks ago that I now no longer listen to the radio/CD’s in my car which they thought was weird. I realised that it was because I am always thinking of my current fanfic I am writing or wanting to write… A few weeks ago I was so embarrassed I had just thought of the perfect way for a story to end which was really sad and I was driving home crying my eyes out and my kids are all like “Mum… are you ok”. Think I completely freaked them out. I always think about taping my ideas on my voice recorder on my iphone but that hasn’t happened yet.. I wonder how many ideas I’ve had that I’ve lost by the time I get home???

By: Saluki

Saluki — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:15:04 +0000

I have definitely had some of those moments, Jules. I have a journal and pen beside my bed because I have had many moments either right before I go to sleep or as soon as I wake up that I have been struck with inspiration. I also carry around a small notepad in my purse to jot down random thoughts. I’ve even whipped out my BlackBerry and sent myself an email so I didn’t forget a particular idea. Inspiration really will strike at the oddest times, and all you can do is hope the idea will stay in your head long enough to get it written down.

Of course, the flip side of the coin is inspiration not coming at all, but I’ll let you read all about that in my column tomorrow :D

By: mischievousmaya

mischievousmaya — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:48:53 +0000

*hugs Jules* Thank you for the welcome!

For years I carried around a journal and wrote snippets of ideas, stories, prose, poetry… anything really. Enough to fill 7 journals worth. I could never imagine myself using a computer to create a story – it felt so impersonal. But, I’ve found myself writing at the computer as I make my foray into fanfic, and it isn’t so bad.

However, I have a job where I’m nowhere near a computer (I do 1:1 work with a student in a high school), so I find myself pulling scraps of paper out and writing pieces of a chapter, ideas, etc. And while I’ve been struggling with my latest chapter while sitting at a computer, I found the words flowing once I put pen to paper. I guess for me, a paper and pen, ink stained fingers, and a chewed pen cap will always be a better way to write. The messier the better, I say!

♥mm

By: Char

Char — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:38:37 +0000

Ahh Jules, I soooo feel your pain! I have a character in a series named Patrick who just flat out refuses to shut up! Even if it’s not something relating to the stories, I literally can picture him sitting on my couch, big bowl of cheese puffs on his stomach as he comments on whatever I’m watching on TV. Every now and then during those moments, he’ll have a funny one-liner that I write down and try to remember (for example: “I’m on it like herpes on Paris Hilton”. Sugarcoating isn’t his thing) He does share things that will happen in the current story I’m working on, or the sequels (the next one in the series is actually focused on him so I get a lot of scenes from it) and I messily scribble them down in a notebook used for plot notes/ideas/scenes that have been told to me. Sometimes it can be pretty annoying, like trying to fall asleep and having a lemon scene played in my head. Thanks, Patrick (of course he is sarcastically grinning and saying “you’re welcome!” in my head as I type that out. Jackass)

I also have the same “OMF I’m showering/tryna sleep/in the middle of a convo with someone so get out my head” moments and I know how aggravating they can be. My solution: I have pads and pens EVERYWHERE. They’re the little pads you can get at hotels (thanks Dad!) or you can even get a pack of them at your local Dollar Store. But I keep one in my purse, on my nightstand, in the medicine cabinet for after a shower or while brushing my teeth, etc etc. So when something comes to me, I can quickly jot it down. Granted it does look rushed and barely legible, but I’m the only one who’s gonna be reading it. And like you, Jules, I loathe my voice, so dictophone is out! Sometimes they get rewritten in my idea notebook that I mentioned in the first paragraph, but more often they just get paperclipped to the other small sheets of paper and put in the notebook for that story/series.

But unlike you, I actually write my first draft in notebooks or on paper, then type it up. Sometimes things change going from paper to screen, but usually in a good way. Then I proofread and submit/post it, depending on the site and the publication process.

Dunno if that was any help or just a ramble of my own, but that’s my thoughts/reaction to your post :)