I’m convinced creativity has a tenuous relationship with my conscious mind. When I’m painting, I do best in the zone where if you asked me my name I’d have to stop and think for a minute. When I’m life drawing, my best work is quick, when I’m under such time pressure my conscious mind is not allowed to interfere. Writing works better too when I get into the story and just let myself go into a dream-like state.
Dreaming won’t get the cake baked, though. Logic and rules must have their turn. Often I can’t see what the painting needs next until I’ve done the bit before. In the same way, I write a scene, then have to solve the problem of how I move from it to the next plot development. But I can’t even see the problem until I’ve written that new scene. Happily, working these problems through often leads to more new ideas.
But new ideas and good lines often pop into my head at night. I come awake to hear Steven talking to the Prof, or Penny talking to her daughter. I just listen and they have the conversation I’d not been able to hear while I was sitting in front of the keyboard. Or, as my father-in-law used to say, out of a sudden, I know how some plot problem will be resolved.
Other times, a new story idea or piece of dialogue not apparently related to anything I’m working on appears from nowhere I can figure out. Maybe I had some of the material from which it is made sitting in my head, but like the cobbler’s elves made his leather into fine boots while he slept, so there’s a crew of creatives beavering away in a part of my brain locked off from conscious scrutiny, making stuff up. When I go to bed, I lock the doors and turn the lights and the television off. How come part of my brain stays switched on? Who’s in charge of these people?
The frustrating aspect of these creative gifts from the unknown recesses of my brain is answering the eternal question, should I get up and write this stuff down? It’s warm in bed, and I’m sleepy. I have to put on my robe, turn on the study light, put my glasses on and then write. Originally I tried thinking I’d just remember the idea and write it in the morning. Sadly, I’ve learned I might recollect in the morning that I had a great idea during the night, but that’s all. I’ve tried shorthand notes, but Steven dazzle trip isn’t much help the next morning either. No choice, really. Get up, wake up just enough to write sensible notes, but don’t wake right up or the dream fades away leaving me holding a pen and wondering what I’m doing at my desk in the middle of the night.