Sleep deprived delusion of creativity?

[tolyk]

Does anyone else get insanely creative when massively tired, but then not have the energy/drive to write?

I've always found that I'm most creative when I should be dreaming, maybe its just because I stop focusing and just let my mind wander. *shrug*

How bout it folks, anyone else a more creative writer when suffering insomnia?

 

[BlackShanglan]

I jot it down in broken phrases in a notebook. I'm too tired to write, yes, but I like hanging on to those ideas. Several stories I've written began as drifting-off-to-sleep dreams or fantasies.

Best to keep the notebook and pen by the bed. However wise the voice of experience, the drowsy mind will try to insist, wrongly, that this is the one idea so good that one will remember it in the morning.

Never believe that lying little bastard.

Shanglan

 

[cantdog]

How bout it folks, anyone else a more creative writer when suffering insomnia?

Inspiration seems to live in that kind of neighborhood, but inspiration ain't the half of it. Gettin it done is the thing. I'm only a better writer if I get it done.

Secondarily, craftsmanship. Now that I have it down, I must hone it sharp, clean away the extraneous, polish and tweak. Craftsmanship is right at the heart of better writerhood, but it does depend on number one, haviong written something.

Inspired creative thought is terrific, it's an indoor sport, I dig the shit out of it, I play the game whenever possible, for the joy of it. But the other two things outrank it if you're talking about being a better creative writer.

 

[tolyk]

I jot it down in broken phrases in a notebook. I'm too tired to write, yes, but I like hanging on to those ideas. Several stories I've written began as drifting-off-to-sleep dreams or fantasies.

Best to keep the notebook and pen by the bed. However wise the voice of experience, the drowsy mind will try to insist, wrongly, that this is the one idea so good that one will remember it in the morning.

Never believe that lying little bastard.

Shanglan

*nod* Or the other voice that whispers that this idea will lead immediately to a story and wants you to get out of bed.

I have at least 4 notepads by my bed, and three times as many pens. But alas, my memory is so horrid that I tend to forget to write things down. heh.. it sucks.

Cantdog, wasnt' speaking of being a better writer, just more creative. I get creative spurts when I'm tired, and I don't tend to get them any other time anymore, and haven't in a few years now.

 

[BlackShanglan]

*nod( Or the other voice that whispers that this idea will lead immediately to a story and wants you to get out of bed.

I have at least 4 notepads by my bed, and three times as many pens. But alas, my memory is so horrid that I tend to forget to write things down. heh.. it sucks.

Or I get something in an illegible scrawl, in shorthand images that made sense at 3 AM with the "inspiration" (if it was one) fresh in my head. Something like:

"Totems! And the BIG SEA GULL. Blue and RED."

And that's what I've got to go on.

Where's that person from Porlock when you need one? World's most convenient scapegoat.

Shanglan

 

[tolyk]

Or I get something in an illegible scrawl, in shorthand images that made sense at 3 AM with the "inspiration" (if it was one) fresh in my head. Something like:

"Totems! And the BIG SEA GULL. Blue and RED."

And that's what I've got to go on.

Where's that person from Porlock when you need one? World's most convenient scapegoat.

Shanglan

I know exactly what you mean there, when I do actually remember to write something down that is all I get, unintelligble scribbles. I can't think of any off hand (bad memory and all) but they've all been pretty bad. I've had writers block for so long now that I don't even consider myself a writer, just a guy who thinks up ideas, then forgets them.. heh.

 

[BlackShanglan]

I've had writers block for so long now that I don't even consider myself a writer, just a guy who thinks up ideas, then forgets them.. heh.

Had to laugh at that one.

But, hey ... if you're the one holding the camera in the AV, you've also got some rather superb muscle definition going for you.

Shanglan

 

[tolyk]

Had to laugh at that one.

But, hey ... if you're the one holding the camera in the AV, you've also got some rather superb muscle definition going for you.

Shanglan

Unfortunately I've let myself go a bit since I took that picture.. no more 6-pack, and my arms are so small that any muscle on them looks defined..

 

[BlackShanglan]

Unfortunately I've let myself go a bit since I took that picture.. no more 6-pack, and my arms are so small that any muscle on them looks defined..

Shhh. Just smile and say "that's me."

(Unless, of course, the admiration of gender-confused equines strikes you as problematical. In that case, say something like "Yeah, that was me before I got the giant swastika tatoo. Want to see?")

Shanglan

 

[tolyk]

What's a swastika?

Aside from that, I've no problems taking compliments from men, women or gender-confussed horses. I'm just bluntly honest, and that AV was taken some time in 2003 or so.. if memory serves, which it barely ever does.

Anyways, nice thread jack. =) I'm at least glad someone understands exactly what I meant... I'm insanely tired right now actually, and got up to pursue an idea. Failed miserably once again, oh well.. at least I haven't stopped trying, and thats what's important. (at least I keep telling myself that.. I think, can't remember )

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I know exactly what you mean there, when I do actually remember to write something down that is all I get, unintelligble scribbles. I can't think of any off hand (bad memory and all) but they've all been pretty bad. I've had writers block for so long now that I don't even consider myself a writer, just a guy who thinks up ideas, then forgets them.. heh.

Some of my best poems have come of those tired(or drunk) scribblings.

I can so identify with that idea comment. I have plenty of ideas swimming in my head, but from brain to pen they seem to flutter away somewhere. Maybe I should stick to the one page smut, I get less headaches that way.

 

[tolyk]

Some of my best poems have come of those tired(or drunk) scribblings.

I can so identify with that idea comment. I have plenty of ideas swimming in my head, but from brain to pen they seem to flutter away somewhere. Maybe I should stick to the one page smut, I get less headaches that way.

I've pondered trying to write a story out of all the scribbles I have accumalated over the years. Though I think it would end up a wee bit too disjointed.

-Man finds horse
-Man loses horse
-Rainbow warrior


Etc etc.. yes I just made that up now.. creative spurt went away.. heh

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I've pondered trying to write a story out of all the scribbles I have accumalated over the years. Though I think it would end up a wee bit too disjointed.

-Man finds horse
-Man loses horse
-Rainbow warrior


Etc etc.. yes I just made that up now.. creative spurt went away.. heh

I probably scared it right out of you, I have that effect on men.

 

[tolyk]

I probably scared it right out of you, I have that effect on men.

I highly doubt you affect my creative spurts, though maybe another kind of spurt.. (Yes I'm aware of just how lame that sounded, but it had to be said)

 

[BlackShanglan]

-Man finds horse
-Man loses horse

Damnit, that's my draft!

Shanglan

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I highly doubt you affect my creative spurts, though maybe another kind of spurt.. (Yes I'm aware of just how lame that sounded, but it had to be said)

Hehe, that's getting cut and pasted to Carson's thread.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

Damnit, that's my draft!

Shanglan

Man finds horse
Man flogs horse
Bad bad horsie

 

[tolyk]

Hehe, that's getting cut and pasted to Carson's thread.

I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy.

I should try that one in RL *laugh*

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy.

I should try that one in RL *laugh*

It's not far fetched if you saw the lines that actually worked on me.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Man finds horse
Man flogs horse
Bad bad horsie

Oooh darling. Write that story!

 

[yui]

It's not far fetched if you saw the lines that actually worked on me.

"I have a bed..."

 

[tolyk]

"I have a bed..."

Really? Need company?

(Okay, that was the last one..)

 

[OhMissScarlett]

Oooh darling. Write that story!

Just for you, baby. Lit wouldn't post that.

"I have a bed..."

*runs to jump on Yui's bed*

 

[yui]

Just for you, baby. Lit wouldn't post that.

*runs to jump on Yui's bed*

If I'm a little jumpy when a car drives by with headlights on, just bear with me...

 

[Weird Harold]

Coincidence?

Unfortunately I've let myself go a bit since I took that picture.. no more 6-pack, and my arms are so small that any muscle on them looks defined..

I just sufferd through an episode of exactly what you describe in the first post -- at about the time you posted it -- and decided to add something to the Story Starters thread:

He gazed at the bathroom mirror as he toweled his hair, absently considering the image before him.

Thick curly hair framed the face of a pagan god. Thick cords of muscle and tendon defined the neck and thumb thick veins fed the massive pectoral muscles of the chest and shoulders. Perfectly defined washboard abs and narrow hips led down to the heavy muscles of the thighs, which framed a package that would make Smarty Jones feel inadequate. It was the image of a man as perfect as nature and hours of exercise could create.

Willard donned his thick glasses and wiped the steam from the mirror to face reality. "Don't I just wish," he sighed.

Oddly enough, what kept me awake was very similar to the turn this thread took.