Have you ever noticed that insights seem to come at the most
inconvenient times—at least when it comes to writing?
Just this morning, while getting ready for work, I had the
most amazing line come to me for a section of my novel that I've been
struggling with. I am trying to describe a scene—and my portrayals of place have been--well, let’s just say... lacking.
But this morning, curling iron in hand, I found The Perfect Words. But—I’m
ashamed to admit—I had no paper or pencil handy. While for a brief moment I
considered lipstick on the mirror to get it down, I finally ran to the door and
shouted the line to my husband, begging him to write it down before it escaped.
Crisis averted--this time!
I often have inspired thoughts in the shower, or during my
daily walks across campus—or driving to work. There’s something about the
solitude—and the music I often have playing during those times—that sets my
imagination afire. But usually, because of my location—or occupation of the
moment—those thoughts get away from me. Oh, I have the “notebook by the bed”
thing worked out. I usually catch those early morning musings. But, this
morning I had an epiphany about the rest.
I have an iPhone.
(I can hear you thinking. “So? Who doesn’t?”And it's very true—they seem to have bred like rabbits!)
But I
realized, at about 19th and Union, that I can set my phone up—every
morning as I pull out of the garage—to record my voice in a sort of spoken
drive-time journal. So, at what is typically the longest light of my commute, I
turned on the recorder and let it run while I "thought out loud."
I haven’t listened to it yet, and surely most of what was captured
was rambling. But I’m betting somewhere in the midst of those meandering thoughts and lengthy pauses was a
gem I don’t want to lose.
If I can dig it out, I’ll let you know.
And if you are a writer who has already tried this, forgive
my sense of brilliant innovation and let me know how it’s worked for you.
