The not so spotless mind.

My husband asked me recently what I was reading. I listed off at least four different books and he looked at me as though I was crazy. When I followed up with the fact that at any given time I was working on at least four books as well. He laughed and said he couldn't fathom the idea.

The problem is I can fathom way to many ideas. This is how I suspect it is for most writers. Inspiration for the next idea doesn't wait for the first book/story to be finished. It pounces into the forefront of our mind with a vengeance and it doesn't care what we're doing. Usually we're in the shower, driving or about to fall asleep.

What's perhaps more surprising is for me at least it's relatively easy to keep all those ideas straight. Reason being my characters speak to me. They have their own voice, their own individual stories and ultimately their own destiny. So 99% of the time I can keep them all straight.

That doesn't mean that my mind isn't chaotic. Hence the above picture. Yes it really feels like that every single day. You're average person has thoughts of their day job, work at home, fun activities they can't wait to do. The average writer has all of that, plus all of that for each character they create. Can you imagine? You're sitting there planning dinner while simultaneously planning a conversation between two main characters, over their dinner while deciding what they should wear based on what is happening in the next scene all while trying to keep the six year old out of the cookies. The real live six year old that is. Which of course leads to the next plot idea. Sigh.....pardon me while I take notes.

Of course this doesn't mean any of this is easy. That whole boatload of ideas can be exhausting. Trying to balance real life and the world you're creating takes it's toll. Sometimes the urge to write is so strong you put real life on hold. Two hours later you look up from the computer and the kids are looking at you like they're starving...oops. It's not intentional it just happens. Which is why writers mumble, scribble, stare off into space and randomly shout out swear words. We're trying to keep those voices in our head in check.

Oh and if you see us randomly crying or glaring at our computer screens that's usually normal as well. Offer coffee and power bars it's the safest bet. 

I read another author had someone ask her if she was done writing. Her response "I will never be done writing.".

Exactly true a writer is never DONE, we may take breaks or try to. But I can tell you from experience it doesn't happen. I'll probably be plotting my next book when I'm dying. 


Ultimately with this blog I'm speaking to both writers and non writers. For the writers all the above is an attempt to show you that you're normal, and not actually crazy. For the non writers when that person next to you starts acting twitchy do not call the men in white coats. We're really ok and not plotting your death. Well at least not for real, in chapter eight maybe. ;)