Writers' "brain gush"
Writers' Brain Gush -- I know it sounds disgusting, but to a writer with a looming deadline, it's a VERY good (though an embarrassing and potentially dangerous) thing.
First the brain gush, then I'll get to how it's dangerous and embarrassing. I'm on Chapter 19 of probably 25 of Bewitched & Betrayed, and apparently my muse has realized that the time to quit futzing around is over. I am in a notepad-writing frenzy. Ideas strike anywhere and everywhere. I don't want to jinx myself, but I seem to have broken through the wall. Yea! I have a stack of scenes written on notepad paper piled up next to my computer waiting to be typed in.
Now to the embarassing and potentially dangerous part. Since I was up early on Saturday (the muse's fault again), I decided to go to one of the two grocery stores we go to on Saturday by myself and let Derek sleep in. I did good on the drive there, and actually managed to get through the store and out the door without incident (major miracle). But when it came time to put my cart back in the "cart corral" I had two problems. One, I couldn't figure out how to re-attach my cart's chain to the line of carts already in the corral. (We shop at Aldi, and you have to put a quarter in to unlock a cart to use. When you finish shopping, you re-attach your cart's chain thingie to the one in front of it and you get your quarter back. Cool.) Now these things aren't rocket science. Yet there I stood, completely unable to figure out where to click the other end of the chain to get my quarter back. I finally had to study the line of carts next to mine to figure it out. I figured it out, then came the really embarassing part. For some reason I couldn't get the chain to reach to my cart, so I pushed on the cart, and then and only then did I see what the problem was.
All of my groceries were STILL IN THE CART.
I did a quick glance around, no one had seen my complete moron moment. So I ducked my head in embarrassment, took my groceries to my Jeep, loaded them, and THEN I returned my cart -- and successfully attached the chain and got my quarter back. Let's hear it for writer ingenuity!
I went home, told Derek that he had missed the entertainment and told him what happened. He chuckled and assured me that he still loved me. Bless his heart, he's used to the complete absent mindedness that is me while in the midst of brain gush. We had one more grocery store to go to and I told him that I thought it best that he drove. We went to the other store, no incident, until we were on the soap aisle. Our favorite soap was on sale (woot!), so I bend over to get it off the shelf and rammed my head into a huge display that a normal person would have noticed. No blood loss, so it was okay, but I probably lost a couple of hairs. Again, I don't think anyone saw me. Though the nice thing was, Derek kissed me on the head to make it better and gave me a hug right there in the soap aisle. As he held me against his chest, I could feel him laughing. What can I say? I'm a source of constant amusement to my husband.
So while brain gush is great for a book, it's embarrassing and potentially dangerous to the author. Apparently this weekend, my brain was working so hard on the book that it didn't leave me two brain cells to rub together for basic human functioning.
This coming week should be interesting.
Your absent-minded, Mr. Magoo-impersonating author,
Lisa
First the brain gush, then I'll get to how it's dangerous and embarrassing. I'm on Chapter 19 of probably 25 of Bewitched & Betrayed, and apparently my muse has realized that the time to quit futzing around is over. I am in a notepad-writing frenzy. Ideas strike anywhere and everywhere. I don't want to jinx myself, but I seem to have broken through the wall. Yea! I have a stack of scenes written on notepad paper piled up next to my computer waiting to be typed in.
Now to the embarassing and potentially dangerous part. Since I was up early on Saturday (the muse's fault again), I decided to go to one of the two grocery stores we go to on Saturday by myself and let Derek sleep in. I did good on the drive there, and actually managed to get through the store and out the door without incident (major miracle). But when it came time to put my cart back in the "cart corral" I had two problems. One, I couldn't figure out how to re-attach my cart's chain to the line of carts already in the corral. (We shop at Aldi, and you have to put a quarter in to unlock a cart to use. When you finish shopping, you re-attach your cart's chain thingie to the one in front of it and you get your quarter back. Cool.) Now these things aren't rocket science. Yet there I stood, completely unable to figure out where to click the other end of the chain to get my quarter back. I finally had to study the line of carts next to mine to figure it out. I figured it out, then came the really embarassing part. For some reason I couldn't get the chain to reach to my cart, so I pushed on the cart, and then and only then did I see what the problem was.
All of my groceries were STILL IN THE CART.
I did a quick glance around, no one had seen my complete moron moment. So I ducked my head in embarrassment, took my groceries to my Jeep, loaded them, and THEN I returned my cart -- and successfully attached the chain and got my quarter back. Let's hear it for writer ingenuity!
I went home, told Derek that he had missed the entertainment and told him what happened. He chuckled and assured me that he still loved me. Bless his heart, he's used to the complete absent mindedness that is me while in the midst of brain gush. We had one more grocery store to go to and I told him that I thought it best that he drove. We went to the other store, no incident, until we were on the soap aisle. Our favorite soap was on sale (woot!), so I bend over to get it off the shelf and rammed my head into a huge display that a normal person would have noticed. No blood loss, so it was okay, but I probably lost a couple of hairs. Again, I don't think anyone saw me. Though the nice thing was, Derek kissed me on the head to make it better and gave me a hug right there in the soap aisle. As he held me against his chest, I could feel him laughing. What can I say? I'm a source of constant amusement to my husband.
So while brain gush is great for a book, it's embarrassing and potentially dangerous to the author. Apparently this weekend, my brain was working so hard on the book that it didn't leave me two brain cells to rub together for basic human functioning.
This coming week should be interesting.
Your absent-minded, Mr. Magoo-impersonating author,
Lisa
posted by Lisa Shearin at
6:00 AM
6 Comments:
If you talk like Jim Backus in real life, then I will applaud the complete Mr. Magoo-ification.
But huzzah on the brain gush.
LOL. I wish I could blame brain gush when I do those kinds of things....
(Brain gush.... you know, for some reason that just makes me think of childbirth....)
I am glad for your sudden inspiration, and while I thought your mindless moments were a bit funny, I don't think any less of you.
I can't wait for The Trouble With Demons!
:)
Thanks, all. I thought the whole thing was hysterical and so typical of how my brain is while finishing a book. I just had to share. ; )
LOL - it could be worse. When I brain gush I tend to draft a lot of material in my head...and it often comes out of my mouth. So, what I'm saying is that I'm the crazy lady who talks to herself, occasionally in very public places (because I don't so much realize that I'm doing it right away), sometimes using different voices (because dialogue needs to be realistic).
LOL, Cherity! You're right, that is worse. Though I have done it before. Hmmmm, I might be doing it now and just aren't aware of it. ; ) I'll have to have Derek watch me.
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