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| Inspiration comes from so many places. |
Mother’s Day is tomorrow, and as usual, what I want for Mother’s Day can be summed up in one word:
Sleep.
Now, I know I can be a bit…obsessed about getting more sleep. I never get enough, and I always want more. But there’s more to it than that: I’ve found that I am able to work things out while I sleep, which means that when I am stuck in terms of writing, I take a bath and then a nap, and usually the answer comes to me while I am unconscious.
My friend described the brain process like a funnel–you’ve got all this stuff jammed up in the top part, then something shakes loose, and it comes pouring down. Being asleep lets stuff shake loose. So you’ve actually assembled the elements before you go to sleep, it’s just that it shakes loose while your mind is free to wander.
I’m working on the second book for my Loveswept releases, which means I am finding myself with the urge to nap–for work purposes, of course!–quite often. Just this morning I had some plot epiphanies, which were pretty cool, and this weekend my Mother’s Day gift will be writing time, so I’ll get a chance to implement them in the book.
When does your best creative time occur? How do you shake things loose?
Megan
PS: I’ll be relaunching my website next week, with a cool new design! Woot!
You’re not the only one who find sleep helps with problem-solving. Sometimes my stroke survivor husband has a speech therapy session that doesn’t go well but the next day, mysteriously, he gets it. I once talked to a composer who said he handled creative blocks with naps, too. I know my writing goes better if I’m getting a regular 7-8 hours at night. Not happening this week, unfortunately–too much going on, a middle school musical, an orchestra field trip. Everyone promised me I can sleep in tomorrow, though. 🙂
Elena, Happy Mother’s Day to you! I am glad to have my sleep theory–such as it is–confirmed.
I never get 7-8 hours a night, but I do take naps (thanks to my oddball work hours, I can sneak in a nap in the afternoon).
I am writing now, and predictably, am tired.
Happy Mothers Day to all the Risky mothers (dog and cat mothers are included!)
Megan, I used to do my best work late at night. Now I’m not so sure.
Here’s what John Cleese had to say about creativity…
http://youtu.be/ijtQP9nwrQA
I think being well rested is important to being creative. I am a night owl and have always accomplished more then. However, I am only getting 4 or 5 hours of sleep lately, and not much is getting done, creatively or otherwise lately. There may be a spurt of energy, but it doesn’t last as long and doesn’t seem to produce as many results. Being rested does make a big difference. Of course it could be that I am getting older and can’t push it like I used to ; )
Happy Mother’s Day everyone!
I am constantly working on a sleep deficit. I average around 5 to 6 hours a night and I know it isn’t enough. I am NOT a morning person which makes being at work at 7 AM a real trial.
And I definitely do my best writing in the afternoon and at night.
For some reason driving in the car or taking a shower seems to shake loose ideas for me.