"Go away, stupid plot bunny, this is a BAD TIME." "Nope."

[author_by_night]

You’re at work, doing something fairly low key, depending on your job. It might be putting material into folders, it might be waiting to take your next order, or you might be a student, and you’re listening to a lecture.

Suddenly, a plot bunny nibbles on the carrot that is your muse.

You know you’re supposed to be doing work, and you don’t feel like getting caught. You also know that in the past, when you’ve waited on ideas for longer than five minutes, they’ve vanished into thin air.

 

Writers have a very unique problem, because we tend to have two worlds: the world around us and the world inside our heads.

 

A non-writer cannot understand it. When I tried to explain the predicament to my mother, she simply stared at me and said, “isn’t it like wanting to daydream about the baseball game?”

 

If only, if only.

 

So my question is, how are we, as writers, to deal in a world that does not allow for time to just stop and write? How have writers before us dealt?

 

 One thing I’ve tried doing is making notes. Nothing that requires wasting anyone elses’s time, and nothing that will get me into trouble – just quick, simple notes.

 

Problem? Well, for instance, let’s say this happens while I’m in class, and I go to take quick notes. If I do so, I usually end up with more notes on my story than on the lecture. Whoops! And taking notes at work – unless you have your own office that nobody else ever uses for anything, and a place to put the notes with faith nobody will ever see them? That doesn’t work either.

 

Another thing I’ve tried is letting the thoughts flow while I work. However, this tends to be even worse than taking notes, because next thing I know ten minutes have passed and I’m staring at the same line on the same piece of paper. Yeah.

 

It’s also hard in social situations. Let's say you decide to cope by telling the person you are with:

 

You: Oh, I JUST got a great story idea!

 

Friend: Huh, cool, what about?

 

You: Well, it takes place in Italy–

 

Friend: Oh, that reminds me, ever seen the movie Under the Tuscan Sun?

 

You: No. So anyway, this girl, Barb –

 

Friend: And I forgot to tell you! Derek and I are looking for a new car!

 

You: Oh. Great. *Sigh*

 

You also can’t very well write at random with friends. Unless, of course, they are writer friends. (In which case they will also let you dish your ideas, although it’s really never a good idea to monopolize the conversation. Mention it to a small extent – just remember that your friends are not human notepads. Granted, I forget this all the time… right, flisters?)

 

So, how do we compromise?

 

 

 

 

Comments

[gileonnen.livejournal.com]

The way I have it figured, my plot bunnies will stay or go as they will--if they're really worth picking apart and writing, my brain will keep coming back to them and fleshing them out whenever I have free brainspace. Then, when the free brainspace actually corresponds to free time (viz. midnight until two in the morning, on schooldays; more often, on other days), I have enough of an idea-shell already in my head that I can get the words out fairly decently.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Good point :)

[firebird157.livejournal.com]

Love your icon... may I steal (with appropriate credit of course) (/random)

I'm always having random plot bunnies at work... I have been known to just grab my notepad and scribble a sentence summary down between accounts.

[gileonnen.livejournal.com]

*giggles* Sure--it's my making, my dumb pun; credit or don't as it suits you!

[petitecrivan.livejournal.com]

My job doesn't require much brainpower, so I usually can drift off into storyland without stopping working. While I unpack boxes and such things I usually disappear into my own little world and get quite a lot of things done in there. If I'm working the register, I take a piece of paper from the printer, fold it up, and write on it whenever no one's around. It seems to work...I've gotten a lot of writing and planning done this summer!

At school...well, I pay attention in class now. In high school, I wrote an entire novel in my history class and still got an A.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can usually drift off if I'm doing something really low maintenance, though even then I tend to be really slow when I do.

[daintress.livejournal.com]

I send myself e-mails with snippets of the story. Usually, I can write half a page or so, mail it to myself, and pick up when I get home.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've done that, though - how do you when other people are around? Or do you have your own, seperate office?

[daintress.livejournal.com]

I do have my own office, but even before I did, this worked, because I'd have the e-mail program open and be typing, but not have anything in the TO: field yet, so if anyone walked by, they had no idea who I was writing to, only that I was sending e-mail. Since I send out a lot of policy e-mails, this worked well for me. They assumed I was working.

[dirigibleplums.livejournal.com]

Found this through metafandom.
If I'm at work, I try to make a brief note and stash it in my purse. If I'm in class, I try to do the same, though unfortunately it often gets lost. I hope that whatever I've written is enough to jog my memory and get me back on the same train of thought I was when I made the note. It's kind of a psychological game--I write it down so I'm convinced I'll remember it later and it won't take over what I'm doing, but if I don't write down enough, I might not remember what the hell I was talking about.

I've added you, by the way.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

I can see how that method would be either confusing or helpful! I like it though.

And cool, I will add you back.

[ehnel.livejournal.com]

Writers have a very unique problem, because we tend to have two worlds: the world around us and the world inside our heads.

"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"

I love that quote. :D

Anyway - good post! Hmm. I don't tend to write up my ideas till they're fairly well-advanced - I used to, and then I got depressed at seeing how many ideas sat all over my hard-drive, and decided not get anything down unless I was actually going to write it. Possibly not the best decision, but we'll see. These days I tend to brood and chew at my ideas, maybe write down a couple of key words on a bit of paper if I'm busy when I get the idea, so I can go back to brooding and chewing when I have time again. It's kind of like creating a mental compost heap. It has to stay there until it's so seething it's about to blow up, and then I'm allowed to write.

To be honest, I've probably lost a lot of ideas by doing it this way, but ideas are a penny the dozen. It's writing the ideas that's the hard bit! And if an idea is enticing enough, it will probably wander back to me at some point.

And of course a few times a month there's an exception to my rule, because I am nothing if not an exception-making-girl. LOL. XD

(Also, I find telling people about an idea makes me lose affection for it. Because they invariably sound SILLY when I say them out loud. :/)

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

True about saying an idea - sometimes it DOES kill it.

[simons-flower.livejournal.com]

Here via either daily_snitch or hogwarts_today ... I can't remember.

Excellent topic.

As for myself, I've taken to carrying around a notebook. Two notebooks, actually. A small one I can scribble in while I'm driving (I've learned to write legibly while not looking) since bunnies strike often in the car. Then I have a full-size one I carry printouts of my WIP in and add to over breakfast or lunch when the muse strikes.

I have an advantage in two ways: (1) I work second shift, so often have a lot of quiet time either during the day or after work in the middle of the night; and (2) because I work second shift, work lately has tended to slow down during the latter half of my shift and I write at work sometimes.

I can't tell you how many in-progress things I have on my hard drive and littered about, but it has to be in the dozens. And I enjoy it.

You're right on with this statement: Writers have a very unique problem, because we tend to have two worlds: the world around us and the world inside our heads. I tend to write best in restaurants -- diners, Denny's and IHOP are best -- and for the places I frequent, the waitresses know me. Those who've never seen me before inevitably try to get into a conversation with me about what I'm writing (asking if it's for work, usually), and I don't want a conversation when I'm on a roll. I want background noise and to be able to write in peace only disturbed by being asked if I want more coffee.

Interesting discussion :)

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

I should try the small notebook.

And YES. I can't stand any sort of disturbance whatsoever when I'm writing, which can make me quite scary. And I hate when people ask me what I'm writng.

[okelay.livejournal.com]

it makes me nervous, distracts me. i'm kinda jumpy and i can be happy on my own world when someone pulls me out.
i hate it.

[hymenchan.livejournal.com]

Well, a mere idea isn't enough for me. Usually when I get hit with inspiration it's an idea + the words.

And then the story just starts writing itself in my head.

This is Very Very Problematic because if I wait too long the words are just gone and then when I try to write that same awesome story that would have been perfect with the words... I have to force them out and there is NO FLOW AT ALL.

For example, I'll get ideas at 3am or just as I'm falling asleep and then the story just keeps writing itself perfectly and then I usually get up and grab pen and paper to write down the beginning I have written out mentally so that I can continue in the morning. If I don't, I can pretty much give up on it.

Another example, HORRIBLE TIMING. I was taking my Stats final. I am Not Good at Stats. So suddenly I get this fantastic plotbunny and I just let the thoughts run for long enough that I won't forget it but that I have enough material to work with without letting the exam pass by, and as soon as I'm done I sit down on the steps outside the building and write down what I have. One good reason to ALWAYS be carrying pen and paper.

OOTP premiere. Same thing! I wrote in the theatre. I used to write in my econ lecture class allllll the time. Nice thing was was that we had breaks in between the 1 1/2 hour lectures. But usually I wrote during the lecture, too, because I figured that took priority.

[/ramble]

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have the story writing itself thing too.

[okelay.livejournal.com]

me too.
i know when an idea wont leave me alone when it starts to write itself on my head.

i usually keep my blackberry close so i can pick it up and write.

i used to have a notebook but half the time i didnt understood my hand writing.

[spiritstairway.livejournal.com]

Here via one of the HP fandom newsletters :)

I carry around a notepad with me. The one I've got is about half the size of a normal piece of paper and it's bound together, 100 sheets. If inspiration strikes I just scribble down the most important notes that I know will jog my memory then continue on my way. For some reason, I have very good recall when it comes to 'key' phrases that I've written. To this day, when I look back on vague journal entries from 7 years ago, I'm still able to identify exactly the subject and the situation. Thankfully I'm able to do the same with my notes.

And as for being out with friends... well :) I'll either duck out for a quick moment and record the idea into my phone, to be written down at a later date, or outright take out the pad and scribble down ideas. They're my friends, they'll understand! Two weeks ago we were in the middle of a meal when inspiration struck and I jotted it down. Most people understand that when inspiration strikes, you have to grab it in case it doesn't strike again.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

That's good that your friends understand. Some of mine do, but others don't.

[doro-chan.livejournal.com]

I started using a notepad as well. It works really well, because once I noted the important facts, ideas or phrases, I can concentrate on what I have to do instead of what my mind would like to do.

I have a bigger problem, though. If I don't write every now and then, I get depressed. I can't concentrate on anything and it always takes a bit of time to figure out what's wrong. I'm fine again after writing a page or two, but if I don't, it only gets worse.

[asphodel-ale.livejournal.com]

I keep a clipboard with scratch paper on it at work, and when I'm waiting for people to come up and be served, I jot down a few sentences. (There isn't enough time between people to do anything else anyway.)

I also write during breaks and sometimes at lunch. Then I take home what I've written at the end of the day/week.

I just have to remember to write obliquely enough so that whatever comes out of my pen is work-safe, but not so much so that I forget what I actually wanted to say once I get it on the old computer. It's an interesting balancing act. *grins*

I also keep a composition book in my purse and write in it whenever I'm waiting for my order at a restaurant, or whenever I have more than a couple of minutes wait. The cover is hard enough to make a decent writing surface by itself, which makes it better to my mind than a plain notebook.

[nicolen.livejournal.com]

Here via one of the newsletters.

I do the same thing with keeping a notebook in my bag and writing during my breaks.

I'm also lucky - or unlucky - enough to spend the whole of my working hours chained to the computer and if random plot bunnies strike, I'll quickly email all the info home so it's there and waiting for me...

Metafandom ahoy!

[dunv-i.livejournal.com]

*shrugs* I use a note book - actually, I only started Jan. 06, and I already have filled out 7 of them. MY preferred type is the Moleskine regular sized squared notebook (not journal or mini or reporter style), but super expensive; I use it anyway because it doesn't throw me off the writing like other types will for various reasons. When I'm in class and I'm using paper, I write in there because the blank pad (not the notebook) reminds me I'm supposed to be doing something else so I remember to keep switching back and forth. And when I'm using my laptop, I can type so much faster than I can write that it generally doesn't seem to become an issue.

Though I agree, it's an issue, particularly since I seem to have the easiest time writing when I'm supposed to be working.

Here via land of meta

[dancesontrains.livejournal.com]

I tend to have good ideas when I'm at work. On the supermarket cash tills.
And generally there's another four hours or so to go. Unfortunately, the story tends to write itself inmy brain, and I often end up having to wait a few days or longer for it to reappear in any usable form. Same thing in the bath..:(

[modillian.livejournal.com]

Writers have a very unique problem, because we tend to have two worlds: the world around us and the world inside our heads.
Eh, I think that generalization...is not generalized enough. It's also painters, sculptors, etc artists and probably also engineers and architects and things who are used to creating worlds in their minds. Pop-up bunnies are just as likely to keep one awake at night as pop-up hypothetical structural problems ('s true, a couple techy friends of mine have mentioned it to me.) So at least writers aren't alone in The Crazy!

[fantasyenabler.livejournal.com]

The notebook method seems to be the preferred solution here, which is what I use as well. I'm lucky in that I'm always taking notes in my professional life, so no one thinks it's odd that I carry a Moleskin or that I'm always writing in it. Though to be honest, I don't write down all of my ideas as they usually stay still until I sit down to write. What I have to write down as it's happening is snippets of scenes, pieces of dialogue, and new ways of phrasing exposition and description. Those are the items I hate to lose, so I always stop what I'm doing and write them down. (Except when I'm in the middle of talking or teaching, of course. Again I'm lucky in that I have an excellent memory so as long as I can get it down in an hour or so, I'm good.)

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry about your ex. :/

It really is sometimes problematic, to get others to really understand you.

[http://users.livejournal.com/skyglass_/]

I used to use the back of receipts for hiakus whilst on retail. Obviously, though, only those that the customers didn't want.
But I have been known to keep random bits of file paper, text files on the computer, or just a long list of titles that come to me whilst in the middle of something else. (Usually the thesis). Nowadays, it's notes on the PDA as I'm walking about. Or notelets in SL, whilst waiting for people - that's a dangerous hobby, because you have to park your avi somewhere where they *won't* collide with anyone else. So I end up writing a virtual note in a virtual cafe...very meta.

[lassarina]

My job requires working at a computer while taking customer calls, but I can usually spare a moment to send myself a lightning-quick email. I tend to get ideas in the car while driving, so my parents bought me a super cool voice recorder that I can turn on with one click without looking and talk the idea out to myself while my left brain and body take care of the autopilot driving bits.

Not ideal for all situations, but a possibility. :D

(Here via metafandom.)

via meta xD

[hosh]

You know what's worse? When you're trying to sleep and these bunnies attack. It's happened to me at least ten times and it won't leave me alone until I either get up to write the darn thing out our jot down a quick note or two. >__>

And of course, said bunnies also come during school. I usually just end up writing them on the spot instead of doing my work. Oops. XD

[were-lemur.livejournal.com]

I love sticky notes. They've got just enough room, I can stick them out of sight in one of my drawers, and then after work I can stick them in my notebook.

I've also got my "portable writing system" which is a big sticky note pad, a couple pens, stuck in a neoprene PDA holder. Goes into my pocket and I can write anywhere, woohoo!

[indyhat.livejournal.com]

I now almost always carry a notebook around with me. If I don't have that, I make crappy little notes on my mobile phone, but this sucks, because I can't enter the ideas fast enough and most evaporate.

At the moment, I'm really struggling to draw a line between work time and writing time, because the writing is so much more immediate (and interesting, even though I have a job I enjoy). And there aren't very many people I can talk to about it (don't want to test bf's patience; most other friends don't know I write; don't want to be constantly boring them with the same stuff) ... yeah.

[(Anonymous)]

Tiny little notebook, that lives in your pocket or your purse. I've gone through three of them so far.

Jane Austen used to hide her writing notes under her sewing, they say.
:-D

[mystery-sock.livejournal.com]

Alcohol and drugs in large quantities.
And post-its. (and/or stealing time to make notes on the interwebs at work, or in notebooks/scraps of paper while riding the bus, etc.)

Here's my pattern:
Story idea!!! WOOT!
Lack of sleep, socializing, and housework. Who cares about that shit! The STORY! It's SO GREAT! This is what life is FOR! I am a BURNISHED GOLDEN GOD!
Complete story/novel.
Fall into crushing depression.
Repeat.

It has "worked" for 23 years - and my life is a semi-complete disaster. I've published, so some "good" has come of it - but I have sacrificed being able to have people relate to me at all. Unless they are writers themselves. But even then, they tend to be a lot more sane than I am, in ways that have nothing to do with writing.

Life is a wasteland when the plot bunny goes away. (I see him off on the horizon, having a life without me. Can I invite him back now, please?... I have nothing... I gave up life for writing, and when there's no writing, I have nothing.)

[okelay.livejournal.com]

well, i've found useful to keep my blackberry with me at all times.
whenever i get an idea, i can write it down right away.

well, when i'm at work in the middle of something it's kinda complicated, but its better than writing on a random piece of paper that's too likely to get lost.

even then, sometime is hard to get into the train of thought, like a certain phrase or context inspired you and you have the idea but not where it came from and it was important... like when you have the perfect ending but no idea how to start.

a lot of my problems comes from the fact that i get a lot of plotbunnies when i'm too bussy to develop them, like during final season and my muse seems to go on vacation at the same time as me.

so i havent yet figured out how to not fail and write my stories.

[laura-holt-pi.livejournal.com]

My mind writes without the rest of me needing to know about it. Yesterday, having gone to bed the night before worrying about how to handle a very important scene, I woke just before 4am with the whole scene in my head. I ran downstairs, typed it and posted it to the fanfic community where that story is being run and then stopped to wonder if it could be called wise to be up that early on a work day.

I'm lucky at work. My employer is a writer, so she knows that my mind drifts off when I'm hoovering or dusting and she doesn't get angry if I make a note of a story idea.

[joe-sweden.livejournal.com]

Here via metafandom...

And it's email notes when I'm at work, notebook when I'm out and about. Usually sneak to the loo if with friends and scribble things down. Though, with close friends I often say "excuse me, just have to write something down". They've got used to it by now.

Though, do sometimes email fellow writing friends with an idea, so I can discuss it a bit too...I find it very helpful to bounce ideas with like minded people. They'll often spot things you haven't - connections that need to be made, logic problems, motivation problems that need exploring ("but WHY would character x do that? It's not enough that you need them to do it for the plot!"). Yeah, having HARSH writing e-buddies often useful.

[smartie1685.livejournal.com]

Here via Daily_snitch. I just had to comment that I agree completely that its hard to find time to write. What usually works for me if I think of something at work or school is to jot down just a couple notes and then try to forget about it. That's doesn't work some of the time since I continue to think about it most of the day, but my job is so tedious that it doesn't matter. :) I do a lot of my plotting when I'm driving and then hopefully I remember enough to write down when I get home.