A couple of years ago I read an article in Readers Digest about this and it was good to know others have experienced this same sensation.
So let me explain.
It's a state of euphoria which can happen when you're not fully conscious, rather a sort of dream-like state and yet your brain processes are working. I've had what I thought were the most wonderful ideas which gave me that state of well-being. I believed I was creating something so unusual and brilliant I would have to capture it on paper. Sometimes, groggy and not fully awake, I'd jot down these wonderful thoughts only to discover the next morning most of it was either gibberish or plain boring!
I asked my husband about this and he agreed it had happened to him, just the one time, with ideas of such a "persuasive and beautiful" sermon that he rose and wrote it out. The next morning he couldn't believe he'd written such meaningless words! And last night I had ideas of writing about a rather comedic situation about a woman based on Hyacinth in the TV series "Keeping up Appearances". I thought I could sell it as another episode...never mind the series were finished years ago!
As writers, I suppose our subconscious is always coming up with new twists on story lines etc. So we don't want to quash our little creative bursts because sometimes when we're probably in our "right minds" we can come up with great ideas. And many's the time I have the awareness of mistakes jump into my thought processes which I've fixed up in my manuscript the very next day.
I looked up about thirty pages on Google to find that particular Readers Digest article on this subject without success, but enough said that it made me feel a little more "normal" to realize others have experienced this rather deceptive state. It's a nice feeling while it lasts, but alas, feelings come and feelings go! So back to the computer to slog and do things the hard way!
Author of Fire in the Rock and Signed Sealed Delivered, Rita Stella Galieh, like all writers, is rewriting, editing and working hard to get closer to genuine euphoria in guiding her other finished novels to the right publisher! Her weekly blog at http://inspirationalromance.blogspot.com features a very touching story.
My goodness, Rita! I have often been in bed day-dreaming (or should that be night-dreaming? LOL) about the plot and characters in a manuscript, had an idea what needs to happen or be changed and even jotted the idea down. Can't say I have ever had the same experience you describe hear though.
ReplyDeleteI'm not into drugs or alcohol either, Mary. It's a rare occurrence, but I was rather relieved to discover others have had that same experience. I wish I'd kept that RD article, the writer really pegged it.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah! Sometimes those brilliant day-dream words turn out to be dross. Very deflating when your award winning prose looks like drek in the light of day. OTOH I've often "fixed" a ms problem in that half-awake state and the fix took!
ReplyDeleteDrek? What a great word,Alice! I'll add that to my vocab. So you're another one of the elite wacky dreamers!!!!
DeleteTHis is quite funny. As writers, you have dreams about writing.
ReplyDeleteI'm a reader, and I often dream about reading (usually the best book ever!), but after a hard day at work analysing spreadsheets, I would sometimes have spreadsheet dreams.
Only in spreadsheet dreams, nothing adds up.
Ha Ha! If I ever dreamed about spreadsheets,Iola, it'd be a nightmare!
DeleteI've daydreamed and sleep-dreamed a few ideas which eventually made it to plots. I know what you're talking about and think these sorts of euphoric moments have excellent potential. They do need to be gone over by the conscious mind to edit the 'gibberish' factor :)
ReplyDeleteI smiled to imagine Iola dreaming about reading the best ever book, proving that she's a die-hard reviewer. I admit I have had a few legible moments in my sleep thinking, "I'll write about that. What a good plot." What we spend our conscious hours doing runs deep.
I can relate to both Rita and Paula on this as have had both ends of the spectrum. Shows the mind never stops. No wonder sometimes I wake up tired.
ReplyDeleteRita, fascinating post :) Only a few days ago I woke knowing the solution to my plot dilemma with my next book. I love how our subconscious can 'solve' problems for us :) I hope you find some gems in amongst your midnight ramblings.
ReplyDelete