Apparently, my creative batteries recharge at night!
Who knew?
I often wake up in the dark with the absolutely most amazing story ideas. Writers debate the best way to handle such events. Most suggest keeping a notebook by your bed. Others claim that good ideas will survive on their own.
I’ve tried both, and I’ve learned that some of these gems are comically terrible—but not all. :)
This morning, the idea came when it was actually time to get out of bed—so here we are.
There is one problem. Both the Hook and the Twist would require quoted passages from a nonfiction book by Arlene Eisenberg, Sandee Hathaway, and Heidi Murkoff. I imagine their publisher, Workman Publishing, would need to be involved as well.
With all the projects I am working on, I doubt I have time to track down all these issues in addition to writing the book. But the idea was so vivid that I was writing scenes in my head as I gently floated free of sleep.
I guess that is what happens when you get a good night's sleep.
Ideas are precious but also a dime a dozen
You would not believe how many story ideas I desperately want to pursue. I’ve crammed them into notebooks, hard drives, and now the cloud. I must have written the first third of a hundred books before getting distracted or finding something else that seemed to work better.
A simple idea well executed outperforms complicated, cringy, and“precious” ideas. Creative writers also debate whether the idea or the actual writing is more important. I have some nifty insights into this one, but am going to get back to the current post before this goes from tight to good night!
(Attention writers and other creatives: How many times have you pitched the most groundbreaking and innovative idea to get this response? “That’s like the movie/book ____!" If you’re like me, you’ve been smacked more than once by this well-meaning, or sometimes not so well-meaning, response.)
Humans have been telling stories since we learned to speak, maybe even before that. Who knows?
My point is this:
I do want to write this screenplay. The idea and the concept are something I take seriously. Normally, I don’t worry about people running off with my ideas because I have so many it’s embarrassing.
But these days, some AI hack could pee in the creative pond…
Who can I trust not to crib my brilliance? (Insert self-deprecating and appropriately sarcastic laugh about calling myself brilliant here.)
… the very small group of paid subscribers who are my super fans.
If you’ve decided to support my writing monetarily, this one’s for you. I am trying to make $5 a month seem like nothing. Eventually, there will be exclusive stories and books, but my contractual deadlines are keeping me from publishing my solo work as frequently as I initially planned. Paid subscribers get a bunch of my older books and novellas, but this is fresh. And, when they are ready and professionally edited, my new solo stuff as well.
This is unique. I don’t see other writers sharing detailed book and movie premises.
Because it’s crazy!
If you’re here as a free subscriber, I am working on some bonuses for you as well. All I need is a few more good nights of sleep and a smidge more time to type all the things.
Perhaps my What to Expect series could be done as free fan fiction on Substack? I’ll check into that possibly.
Let’s get started. (If you know Derek Kolstad or Keanu Reeves, send them my way!)