Friday, February 19, 2010

Sleep Magic

I am in Chicago with the main plan of getting away from interruptions to write the synopsis for the sixth crochet mystery and to finish the proposal for another series. If only it was so easy.

I have been struggling with the synopsis. I knew the beginning and the end, but not the middle and what made it all hang together. Last night I worked on the synopsis with the Olympic events in the background. Like Camille, I’m not into watching sports, but I have to admit the snowboarding and skating got my attention. I was hoping the semi distraction would loosen up my mind and the story would flow from my fingers onto the yellow legal pad. Instead I just ended up with pages and pages of disjointed stuff.

Finally the skating and crocheting won out and I put down my writing.

Then just before I went to sleep, I told myself to work on it overnight. I went to sleep and dreamt of all kinds of stuff, but nothing about my story. I awoke with no feeling of eureka I have it, either.

Still hopeful, I took my coffee and yellow legal pad into the living room. I sat down and began to write and all of a sudden all of the disjointed pieces had fallen into place and an hour and a half later, I had the basic synopsis.

It reminds me of this yarn I’m working with now. It looks like a bunch of disjointed colors, but when you crochet it, it turns into stripes. The picture is the best I could do under the circumstances of it being night and I need it now. At least it gives an idea of what I’m talking about.

I think this working on a problem in your sleep thing works. Anybody else ever try it?

16 comments:

Camille Minichino said...

I have a friend, Dr. Eric Maisel, who writes a lot about this, Betty. One of his best books: http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Thinking-Revolutionary-Problems-Creativity/dp/1580624456/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266647711&sr=1-18

Camille Minichino said...

I'm not sure that link will work: the name of the book is Sleep Thinking.
He has many others on deep writing, and so on.

I'm a believer!

Monica Ferris said...

I have on several occasions had the experience of going to bed worried about a plot point and waking up with the solution, though I didn't consciously tell myself to work on it while asleep. I've more often had the experience of waking up with no solution.

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Betty, this is one of my favorite writing techniques. I also will lie in bed while half-asleep and simply review a scene in my head. It surprises me how often I'll get new clarity about what I should write or how my characters should respond. There's something about that twilight state that frees the rigid conventional mind and opens a new portal of fertile imagination.

signlady217 said...

Right as I'm trying to go to sleep is not the best time for my mind to start working on a problem! It always wakes up and wants to stay awake for several hours after that, which defeats the purpose of going to bed. Glad it works for other people, though. I'm just not one of them.

Terri Thayer said...

Hooray, Betty, job well done.

That Maisel book gave me nightmares! I couldn't use his techniques, really disturbed my sleep.

I often going to sleep thinking about my characters and story. It's part of keeping the story alive for me.

I think I do better plotting on long walks. With the voice recorder.

Betty Hechtman said...

Camille, I've heard of Eric Maisel. I'll definitely check out his books.

Betty Hechtman said...

Monica, I've had the experience solutions showing up on their own, too. What was nice about it this time is that I asked and it came.

Betty Hechtman said...

Joanna, my experience was a little different. I'm not that good and reviewing anyhthing in twiight sleep. Usually by the time my head hits the pillow, I'm past that and completely asleep.

I merely gave myself the suggestion before I fell asleep.

Betty Hechtman said...

I see your point, Signlady. Worrying about anything as your falling asleep doesn't seem to do anything but mess up your nights sleep. I think you have to deliver the problem to your subconcious while trusting it will figure out a solution.

Camille Minichino said...

Eric's idea is not to "think" about a problem before sleep, but to put it in the form of a question, for example: I wonder how my character will find the clue? Or I wonder how XX will be resolved?

It's a very interesting concept. Taking a positive approach doesn't get you all wound up about it, it seems.

I agree, though, it may not work for everyone.

Betty Hechtman said...

Terri, now I'm really curious about the Maisel book. Techniques that give you nightmare, huh?

Indoor cycling classes at the gym work for me. Walks, too. But the key for me seems to be letting it be and the solutions show up. If I try too hard, I just stay stuck.

Betty Hechtman said...

Camille, I like the idea of asking a question. It makes it more specific. I'll have to try it.

Linda O. Johnston said...

I'm a great believer in the creativity of the subconscious mind, Betty. Plot problems often get solved for me when I wake up in the middle of the night, or when I relax in a bath.

Betty Hechtman said...

Linda, you are right on about the bath. I take one every night and so many times that perfect line of dialogue, the first line of a book, or some plot twist shows up out of nowhere.

Jane said...

Another great device is the 'nite note'! At www.sleepcompass.com
I explain how this great little device lets you 'jot down' all those great ideas that 'pop-up' as we drift off to sleep.
Sweet Dreams!