Sleep and writing

[ladyjanelly]

So.  When I write, I usually play with things in my head for a few days or weeks or even months.  Then I write them longhand in my little notebooks.  Then I type them out and re-read them and send them to the beta, make changes to them again and post.

In most cases, this plan really seems to work for me.  I get to use a lot of "wasted" time as "writing" time, like when I'm in the car in traffic, or when I can't sleep.

This doesnt work for me when the thing I'm working out and thinking through while I'm lying in bed is one of the worst nightmares of my very most messed-up character ever.

I mean, I got really good conceptualizing done, playing on the edge of my own sleep to get the surreal and non-linear images I was looking for in a dream sequence.  

On the downside, I didn't get such great sleep.

If this scene flows on paper as well as it's flowing in my head, it'll be worth it though.  

Is it mercenary of me to send my brain out to play in a minefield if it comes back with shiny presents?

Comments

[editorzon.livejournal.com]

Nope, that's what the brain is there for, to take one for the team! I do something very similar with the stories I always have going on in my head and actually try to give myself at least a good 30 minutes of what I call bed time to set the stage and let the brain get sleepy so things just flow.

As for lack of sleep? Coffee is my dearest friend. ;-)

[ladyjanelly.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, Sobe Energy.

I think fic for a huge part of my day. It's sorta crazy actually. Like--what do normal people do with all that time?

[editorzon.livejournal.com]

I've always wondered that myself too. Don't they get bored? There's always something being played out in my head. Makes life a lot more pleasant, especially waiting in lines.

I've not tried Sobe Energy, gotta check it out!

[e-p-kitty.livejournal.com]

Not at all. My process can be very similar.

[ladyjanelly.livejournal.com]

Sanity is expendable, art is worth it?

[e-p-kitty.livejournal.com]

Totally!