From Inspiration to Perspiration

Writers work hard on their craft day and night. Characters, plots, settings, and ideas can funnel around our brains at any given moment. When the writer’s mind wanders, inspiration strikes. Be it at work (yes...most writers have a day job), while driving, or while snoozing. The well-educated writer knows how to take advantage of the situation by either committing these ideas to memory or by jotting them down on a notepad, on a piece of paper, or even on an arm...preferably your own.

Don’t make the mistake of scribbling notes about the plot twisting, on-the-seat-of-your-pants sci-fi action adventurer that suddenly came to you like a revelation from a higher power in the middle of the night onto your significant other’s arm. If you do decide to ignore my advice, at least avoid using a permanent marker. Trust me! When morning arrives your spouse WILL lambast you then toss you and every article of clothing you own out the second story window. Notice how the clothes went after you. This is done to avert any chance of a soft landing. Not only will bodily harm befall the writer who makes such an error—now your brilliant, can’t miss sci-fi action adventurer will be on display for the whole world to see. As luck would then have it, Miss Wormhart, the receptionist at your spouse’s place of employment will weave your notes into a NY Times bestseller well before you have chapter 3 done. Not only are you sleeping in a bush behind the garage—you’ve just wasted the last two weeks working on a manuscript that will have you accused of plagiarism.

My advice... carry a small notepad and pen in the pocket of your plaid button down shirt—oh wait! That went out of style in the early 1950’s the moment the word “Nerd” was introduced into our vocabulary. Better yet, fold a piece of paper into the back pocket of your tight leather pants—I mean the front pocket of your cool, nice-looking Khaki pants or blue jeans. That way when inspiration strikes, whip out your paper, unfold it, grab a pen and start scrawling. Just be sure you can read your own writing. That method works for me. I never know when my internal Muse is going to wake up and I’ll bet you never do either. So why not be prepared? You may come up with a bold, fresh character just by watching Dad check the fire alarms in his tighty whities and black socks or a mystical setting from staring out the window while your boss berates you for missing yesterday’s meeting.

The best thing any writer can do for himself/herself is to be prepared. Who cares if the mail you’re supposed to be sorting piles up on your co-worker. You’ve just jotted down the key elements to your next love-triangled spy thriller. And when you finally have it completed several years from now, those dirty looks and bold shout outs directed at you from your spurned co-worker will seem silly and trivial. Don’t let anything prevent you from writing. I never do. Just be sure to actually pull the car over or swerve onto an exit ramp and park before you start writing while behind the wheel. Or just wait for a voice-activated inscriber app for the iPhone to come out. Better yet, wait for the mind-reading inscriber app. Writing will be a breeze then.