I’ve been out clubbing, first time I’ve been out in a nightclub since New Years Eve, and aside from being reminded that my clubbing days are in the past, well almost, I also had a couple of ideas for writing. These ideas came whilst I was dancing (badly) in the middle of the dance floor, so I had to step to one side and make a couple of notes on my iPhone (thank God for smart phones!) but what I find frustrating is the fact that these ideas always come whilst I’m doing something else.
I get a lot of ideas when I’m at work, I’ve got a note pad which is almost full of notes now. This is something that I have heard writers talk about, having your head clear of writing frees up the creative juices. It’s frustrating because there is no way that I can properly write out the idea, especially whilst I’m at work. Saying that though I think sometimes that is a good thing. I’ve mentioned in this blog before (https://petergermany.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/suffocating-an-idea/ ) about how it can be easy to kill an idea in its infancy so it may be a good thing that when I go back to the idea it may have grown a little more depth.
The worst time that an idea comes though has to be when I’m actually writing and the idea has nothing to do with the project that I’m working on at the time. This has not happened that often but it is the most frustrating because I am a firm believer in writing what is most active in your mind, even if it means stopping what you are writing.
But it doesnt matter when and where the ideas come, the important thing is that the ideas are still coming 🙂
Peter Germany's World 
Sometimes while writing and you have another idea- it is your conscious trying to tell you something. Take a good look at it; dissect it like a frog. Maybe you need a little of something like this to develop your character. Maybe your setting is just a bit off… Maybe where you where going isn’t really where you needed to end up… Sometimes it alludes to the beginning after the end of the piece your working on. Anyway, At least you’re finding inspiration!
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Thanks, I never thought about it like that before 🙂 it is a rare occurance but it’s theist annoying.
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I completely know how you feel about the odd timing of ideas. Most of my ideas come when I’m out running and have nothing to put the thoughts into writing with. The worst is trying to sleep and the brain keeps rolling with story ideas or just different topics to write essays on. I guess I need to rely more on technology like you have and start using my smart phone for notes. Thanks for the idea!
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I’ve rarely laid in bed when the ideas keep coming, but I have woken up in the middle of the night before and hand written 3 pages of A4.
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Once I get a few Sunday chores out of the way I’ll have a look at your blog 🙂
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haha, I understand! My best ones come to me in the shower, or while I’m in the middle of cooking or baking. Hardly the proper moments to stop what I’m doing and write! I also have about 12 different notebooks lying around the apartment that I regularly jot notes down in. Not exactly the best method considering I now have two dozen ideas/characters/notes scribbled sporadically in 12 different notebooks. I have to tear pages out then staple them to others just to organize things together! Never let it be said that I am organized!
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Yeah I can see the down side to making paper notes, of smartphone notes whilst in the shower or with hands covered in pastry. I only have two notepads that I write notes in. One is, as I said, used when I’m at work and the other is in my car, but that one gets little use. One of my faults is that I forget that I have these notepads and I’ll finish writing something and later find the note. I lack organisation too, I keep asking a friend to be my assistant but she is not keen on being paid by M&Ms! lol!
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I, too, often find myself reaching for my smart phone to jot down an idea, a character element, or a plot twist. This is usually when I’m at work or the gym, or in bed wishing I could sleep so I wouldn’t be too tired to write the next day. : )
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I am glad that I’m not the only person that does this 🙂 lol. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment 😀
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Seems like we struggling writers are all carved from the same block! With everyone above, except in my search for a more minimalist lifestyle, I’ve FINALLY! gotten rid of the notebooks. Am trying really hard to make better use of my smart phone, but that’s never as fast as just writing the idea down free hand 😦
Something you might give a poke at when you have the time, Peter (and all) is a public domain project I finished up recently. Don’t let the title scare you off, cause like all of you, I abound with idea creation. But this one also has a lot of information about organizing, researching, and as important knowing when to release an idea. The website (also here on WP.com) has the entirety of the book broken up into individual posts, but if you’re so inclined to support a struggling writer, feel free to grab a copy of the Kindle edition, fully formatted (and well, I might add, not like some PD books that just get scanned and thrown into the system).
http://HowToGetIdeas.info
Thanks for following my blog, Peter. Good to have you on board!
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Your welcome James. i’m looking forward to reading your future posts. I love my iPhone but you are right it is a pain at times writing the notes down, and not forgetting that they’ve been written. I’ll have a peep at your link when I get a minute, Just working on a post at the moment.
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