I don’t know if anyone else who writes feels this way, but I’m fairly certain that most of my good ideas come to me via a demon that lives in my head. Or who at least visits my head from time to time.
I haven’t decided if he’s good or evil. The ideas are great. (One point for good.) But he doesn’t seem to understand that critical plot points or new story ideas should not present themselves, demanding my attention, while I’m on the highway doing 90 kph. (One point for evil.)
Seriously, I once wrote an entire song pulling over every block to write a new line. I’d stop the car, write a line then wait and see if more was coming. When no other lyrics seemed forth coming I would drive away only to have the next line slide into my head complete with percussion and instruments that I have no idea how to play and so have no ability to get down on paper. Thanks.
My most recent story idea has me leaning towards evil. The idea came while I was walking down a hospital corridor. It was a great idea that quietly suggested I risk sitting down in a possibly plague infested hallway to get the critical plot points down before they faded into “what was that idea” and “damn it, that was good, why can’t I remember” territory. I didn’t sit down. I took a picture of the wall that inspired me instead and hoped for the best (I can’t afford to get sick again.) Nice try demon.
PS. I’ve been thinking of setting my phone up for hands free calls so I can call myself on the road and leave random messages about writing ideas while dodging traffic.
