100 things, writing, night time brain muggings

[jana_denardo]

100 things #18, like the subject says, the night time brain muggings. Does this happen to any one else? You lie down to go to bed then suddenly out of nowhere here comes a brand new character with a brand new story idea and you are NOT going to sleep until they tell you everything.

It happens to me all the time. Sometimes I get back and write it down. Sometimes I just let my brain decide for itself if it wants to hang on to something. Sometimes it does, others well points to my icon.

Last night's mugging is still locked in there so maybe it'll be a go. Fantasy piece, I can see three characters clearly, the young mage: he's in charge of the princess's welfare (and trusted with her virtue more or less because he has no interest in women), the princess: outspoken, inquisitive, not about to sit around the throne room doing nothing and a young ex-slave from some forgotten war and country, homeless, selling himself.

All I know is he pitches in to help when he sees highwaymen trying to kill the mage and princess and they reward him with a place to sleep and food only to get him caught up in some kind of intrigue that involves going on the run.

Ah brain muggings.

Comments

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

ooo, that's an interesting brain mugging.

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

It could be. Slave boy explained in detail how mage-boy basically flea dipped him before letting him in the house for any length of time

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Using what? Chrysanthemum or tansy? :D

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

magic water

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Better yet.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

My "brain muggings" don't involve new characters or stories, but they do happen. Often, I get the answer to some plot tangle I have been trying to unravel, or scraps of dialogue for some unwritten scene I've been procrastinating. Both of those require hauling my butt out of bed and scribbling until I get everything out.

Then trying to figure out my scribbles the next day.

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

yes that happens to me as well and if I'm smart I WILL drag out of bed since by morning it'll be gone

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is gone by morning. And I have had a few mornings where I racked my brains trying to remember. But your brain is in two different "modes" near sleep and fully awake and they don't necessarily communicate.

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

no they do not. Heck even my conscious brain is incapable of holding a thought these days. Come up with something cool on the drive home and it's gone before you get there

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

And don't those ideas *always* come on the drive home, in the shower, and two seconds before you're about to fall asleep? Urgh.

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

yes they do. I echo that urgh