Monday, April 10, 2006

Inconvenient Inspiration

It may be because I drank too much coffee earlier in the evening. It’s 1:10 a.m. Monday morning and my mind just won’t shut off. I may be a little hasty in blaming the caffeine for I have in the past and on countless occasions experienced this very same phenomenon without any stimulants present. Tonight, it could be the synergy of creative overload and artificial stimulation. I have no way of knowing.

After futilely trying to sleep for the past hour, I decided to grab my iBook from my home office and bring it to bed with me. My plan is to write something. It is not my intention to write what I what I’ve been thinking about – I simply do not have the time… I need some sleep. The plan is simple enough: If I can find an outlet for some of this mental energy, perhaps my head will be able to relax enough to sleep.

About a year and a half ago, I started to assemble what would someday become a book. It started out as kind of a memoir/self-help/inspirational/life-experience/autobiography. It is perhaps 25 – 35 percent done and will probably stay that way. I don’t think I’ll finish it. Not that book anyway. It is evolving into a much more sharply defined autobiography – the elements of which have been spinning in my head. In fact, I wouldn’t even call it memoir even though the genres of autobiography and its sub-genre, memoir, are almost interchangeable. But I digress…

The point of all this is that I never know when or where or, for that matter, why inspiration is going to hit me. I keep a notebook in my nightstand next to my bed to document these flashes of brilliance so I don’t forget them. A good idea, but I’ve only used it once and I don’t even remember what I wrote. It’s still there, a mere 18 inches from me right now! No, I’m not going to look at it – perhaps another day. (I have a bunch of hand-written material that I really should look at, but it’s not important right now).

All I want to do is get some sleep. I know from experience that my day will go much smoother if I can grab at least four hours – six would be better. I have a relatively busy day tomorrow. What I would have written had I decided to sacrifice the sleep and delve into it could have been anywhere from the book’s forward or introduction all the way to the middle and beginning. Yes, it’s going to start in the middle. That’s important, it very well may have been the one factor I needed to remember – now maybe I can get some sleep.

Good night.

6 comments:

Jinsane said...

I had to smile I was reading this. Your thought process sounds alot like mine.

I, too, have a notepad by my bed. And, I've probably used it as many times as you have. LOL

My brain is always on overdrive and it can be exhausting. That's one of the reasons why I started my blog.

Hope you managed to catch some zzz's.

Bar L. said...

I can relate to both you and what Jinsane said above. One thing most of us Bloggers have in common is that we are all writers of one sort or antother. I am also writing my memoirs for the tenth time (never finish).

I hope you got some good, quality sleep, Mike! Glad you let us in on your thoughts. I would love to read a book by you about you!

Ellen said...

Sleepytime tea does wonders... really. I know it's a girly thing, but it does possess some qualities that helps to relax the muscles and put you in that much needed rest period.
Celestial Seasonings makes a great brand. I have to be extra careful not to drink it during the day, because it relaxes me too much.

Good luck! I've suffer from bouts of insomnia from time to time, but know I can grab a hot sleepytime if things get too bad.

We all can't wait for the book, by the way... and look forward to the announcement on your blog about a publisher!

neal said...

I can't imagine hoping for only 4 hours sleep. I would be a walking zombie on anything under 6 hours sleep. My body demands at least that, a full 8 is much better but I usually get only 7.

Saur♥Kraut said...

It's a very good idea to have that notebook nearby to record any unusual or interesting dreams. sometimes that's your subconscious' way of telling you new things or giving you some great ideas.

Sadie Lou said...

Lucky you--I can't bring the PowerBook to bed because I loose the Airport signal.
I'd love to write in bed but for now--I'll settle for not falling asleep while I read in bed.
If I drop the book when my head hits the pillow, at least it's not an expensive laptop.
*wink*