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9.12.12

MIDNIGHT GENIUS

Midnight. 
I've been asleep for an hour, cosily snuggled under sheet and blanket, and then BAM! I'm awake.
I have learned there is no point in tossing and turning or punching the pillow. My brain has slipped into over-drive and I must ride out the storm.
First thing is to make a cup of tea. This may sound strange - caffeine and all that - but it works for me. Then I tackle a cryptic crossword - preferably the Telegraph Toughie - until my eyelids droop.

But sometimes it is the creative urge that won't let me sleep.
Last night I lay in the dark for half an hour with a story going round in my head. It was a fantastic story, a sure-fire prize-winner, so good that I was afraid to wake up properly and break the thread.
Eventually I reached for the light switch and my glasses, grabbed my notebook and pen and wrote with frantic speed to grab my dream story before it faded.


 This morning I read what I had written - here it comes - dah-daahh!
Write a 300 word story in 350 words, then cut off the last 50 so that MC's confession at the end is chopped off. This will add tension.

Yeah - right - glad I woke up to write that.


6 comments:

  1. What it is to be creative? When will we read the story?

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  2. I've woken up with what I've thought was a great idea and scribbled it down - none so far have been worth the effort.

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  3. That's so funny. I've scribbled things down in the night too. I try not to wake Mr A so I do it with the light off and in the morning the page is a mass of swirls.

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  4. I know what you mean about midnight inspiration, the best thing to do is write it down and clear the head.

    As Saul Bellow said:
    "You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write."

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  5. It's no good trying to wait and write it down in the morning though, it's too annoying when you can't remember the fabulous idea!

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  6. Same with me, I have just turned the light out, got comfy and BAM! Brilliant piece of dialogue for a scene pops in there. Light goes on, I frantically scribble it all down, turn off the light and off we go again. After the thrid or fourth time, I usually tell my characters to shut up and leave me alone.

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