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January 25, 2011

Is Sleep Writing Like Sleep Walking?

Just after I turn out the light at night my tired old brain decides to become active. Creative. One, two, three and more posts get written in record time in the silence of the bedroom. Sometimes I force myself to get up and write a post while it is fresh and flows. But most of the time I tell myself to remember what I just wrote in my head but in the morning I can occasionally call up the subject of the post but that is about all.

Acceptance is a big part of recovery. Therefore, I accept that all the great posts I write just before falling asleep are my best work. I wish I could share them with you. I know you would be delighted with at least most of them. You will just have to take my word for it that I wrote some awesome posts.

Photo found on good ol' Google.

49 comments:

Shadow said...

this is so like me. i write merrily away in those few moments before disappearing into the world of dreams. most times i kick myself for not writing it down, 'cause in the morning, they are but a vague memory, as you say...

Rock Chef said...

I tend to get most of my bright ideas while walking or cycling.

At bed time I only tend to have one of 2 things on my mind - sleep or...

AS said...

yes, the brain has a strange way, it does work at certain times only :). You recognize your time ..

Anonymous said...

I do exactly the same - I normally try and type it into the notes on my phone - but then tired fingers and predictive text make it impossible for me to read the next day!!

Cindy said...

Oh dear, I can not remember ideas either. my brain does not shut off either, but if I don't do it, poof it is gone. take care.

Anne H said...

You are right - the brain does it thing when and where it will! It has a mind of it's own.

Betty W said...

I believe you, because this happens to me too! The thing is, most times I can´t even remember the subject. :)

Lisa said...

I believe you Technobabe, you are good awake, you must just as good asleep;)

DJan said...

I am usually reading something before I slip into dreamland, and it usually has to do with what I was reading. For me, I have the most amazing dreams, and I only remember a fraction of them. The world of my dreams is so much richer than real life, but I don't how to migrate them into waking. My dreams and your ideas are both alive and well in some alternate universe. :-)

Brian Miller said...

i keep a notebook by the bed...i just wish i could understand what i wrote in the dark...yeah i feel you on this one...

Jeanie said...

I usually end up thinking about things I need to do at work when I'm trying to go to sleep. I usually can't remember those when I wake up either, but none of them would make a good post subject.

Lori said...

I am so with you on this. My mind does the same thing at night but also through out the day...especially when I am driving to or from work or walking on the treadmill..both of which are times I can actually think...lol..

Gary's third pottery blog said...

Me too! I keep the paper by the bed and write out the brilliant near sleepy thoughts! :)

Jeni said...

I always do my absolute best compositions when I am no where near my computer -or a notebook and pen -or any kind of paper or writing implement. Relying on remembering what I know was wonderful work to be remembered when I sit down with a keyboard under my fingers -useless, absolutely useless. The damned creativity spur that had originally shown its lovely head has now poof, evaporated completely. Very frustrating, ya know! And with the kids, trying to remember too the funny things they say or do, I really need to carry a tape recorder and my camera set on video with me at all times!

Maude Lynn said...

I do this, too. I'm brilliant when I'm half asleep!

Land of shimp said...

Aha! For a moment when I read the title I thought, "Does she take Ambien?" because I thought you were being literal. "I woke up and discovered I had written in the night!"

I was somewhat relieved, for your sake, that it turned out to be the results of a racing mind.

I don't know if this will help, but a while back I developed the habit of playing computer games before turning in. Hidden object, or puzzle games, or structure games (wherein you build the town's trucking infrastructure, that sort of thing). The infrastructure games are the best for quieting the mind right before bed. There's so much "Upgrade buildings, establish trade route...wait for the bank balance to rise for next improvement...". It is interesting enough to be fun, but mundane enough to make my mind wind down :-)

Just a suggestion, if you ever want to tell the muse to give it a rest for a bit!

Stickup Artist said...

Being a visual person, I do not experience this, but it is extremely interesting how so many other writers here have experienced the same thing. I guess that must be one of the many reasons why writing seems to take so much out of writers; either forcing themselves to get back up and write, or struggling with effort to recall those precious moments. The human brain is a mystery and to be able to communicate subtle and complex ideas effectively with words a mighty talent.

Ina in Alaska said...

There are lots of things I wish I could remember... especially jokes! I am a terrible joke teller..... sending love to you xoxo

Kristina P. said...

Me too! It's so frustrating.

Maggie May said...

That happens to me sometimes too. It is really frustrating and annoying.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Kathy M. said...

Ha ha ha! I can so relate to that! Along with solving half of the world's problems and most of my own. If only I could remember....

Hugs.

TALON said...

I do a lot of mental writing right before sleep, too, TechnoBabe. I guess it's the time when our brains can just relax and be creative with no restrictions. If anything is still there when I wake up, I know it's something worth exploring.

Syd said...

I think of things too and then...poof...they are gone. So I write what I feel like at the moment I sit down at the computer. Most of it is just about life now. I feel that at the moment I don't have the crisis in my life as I did before program.

Bill Lisleman said...

this happens to me in the shower where even a note pad doesn't work.
So you are holding the good stuff back eh?

Lynn said...

I do the same thing. Actually I do that when I'm awake, too - think of something good for the blog when I'm driving and completely forgetting what it was when I have a pen in my hand. :)

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Heeeeeheheheh!!! I do this too. I have the whole thing in my head then something happens at daylight. I sooo understand.

Great read sweetie.

God bless and have a glorious day!!!

Hilary said...

How about keeping a recording device near the bed and you can more quickly get the words out and then put it to rest?

Opaque said...

I read a beautiful article this morning that talks about this... quiteness permits pondering and activeness in creativity...

janet copenhaver said...

So why are you keeping them from us?

Joanna Jenkins said...

I know exactly how you feel. My best work is in the middle of the night when I'm too tired or cold to get out of bed. Oh well.
xo jj

Fireblossom said...

...which is why I keep a pen and paper near the bed. I jot down the sense of the thing, keywords or whatever, and then i usually do remember enough in the morning to work with.

What drives me batty is when I come up with a brilliant poem ten minutes after settling in for a long hot bubble bath! I either have to get out right then or forget about it. I've done both.

terri said...

Maybe that's where MY awesome posts are! I should be taking my laptop to bed!

Julie said...

I love your wit, Technobabe. You always know how to make me laugh at those human things we do. And yes...I would love your sleep posts! I do the same thing. Like most people, my notebook by the bed has chicken scratch in it, too. I do write dreams in it when I wake up, but it's not the same thing. I wonder if a hand held tape recorder would work? Oh, well...I'd probably fall asleep while mumbling...haha! Thanks for another fun post.

heartinsanfrancisco said...

I sometimes dream stories, even whole novels, and know that they are amazing. Unfortunately, I can't remember anything about them when I wake up, so I am also a great somnambulistic writer. Maybe our work is being enjoyed in another dimension.

Ms Scarlet said...

Ha ha!!! That's exactly how it is!!
I also get very creative in the shower - I just need a plastic notebook. If I ever find some I will send one to Iisleman.
Sx

Big Dave T said...

Most of my blogs are written fairly late at night, nearly bedtime or perhaps slightly past. I do agree that the brain can be more creative when it's losing focus on everyday realities. The creative juices have more room to flow or something.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

I now have a mini recorder so I don't forget all the stuff that decided to wait until the light goes out to make an appearance.

Debbie said...

I am the exact same way. And sometimes I can't even remember the topic of the wonderful post:)

secret agent woman said...

It's kind of like the fish that got away - so big!!

MikeWJ at Too Many Mornings said...

I live my life this way. It's a blessing and curse. Sometimes the words are in there and won't go away until I put them on paper, or whatever we call it now.

Dave King said...

I often think that my best writing is done in the 10 to 20 minutes after I get up. Usually this happens when I have been working just before bed the previous evening - and getting nowhere. I sometimes fall asleep thinking about it and sleep solves all the problems - but not for long. I wake up maybe with reams of it in my head, but the physical act of writing some of it down makes the rest disappear.

Eileen said...

Oh, my goodness, this same thing happens to me! I wonder why that is?
I am profound, intense, philosophical, and insightful in a half-sleep state. Wide awake, I am a slug.
Oh well.
If you could only see what I see in my almost dream-like state, you would be amazed!
Great post!
All the best,
Eileen

Unknown said...

: ) I know just what you mean. We are brilliant in our sleep, right? : )

Shrinky said...

Ahem, I write AWESOME posts in my head after a glass or two of wine, as I fall asleep. Thank Gawwwwwd, I don't actually get up to write or post them - come the morning and the cold hard light of day, I think (nay, shudder) at how close I came to being far from brilliant!!

Hope said...

This happens to me,too. I get up and go write. Sometimes I wonder if that in between place between waking and sleeping isn't a little bit of the Divine at work. And then again, it could be my ego!

gayle said...

I know they are awesome cause mine are too!

The Absence of Alternatives said...

I believe you I do!

Cheryl Kohan said...

Boy...I have been there, done that. I feel terrific, though, learning that it's not just me. Thanks so much! And I totally believe you.

Marla said...

Me too!! I get really annoyed with myself for not remembering in the morning.