“Uh oh, it’s happening again.”
Even though it’s midnight and I’m exhausted I can’t sleep. I keep thinking of ideas for blog posts and articles.
“I wonder, should I keep staring at the clock and hope that I’ll fall asleep? Or, should I give in and get up?”
If you’re involved in a creative profession, then the previous scenario has probably already happened to you. Not only are you taking work home with you (I work from home so my work is alway here anyway), but you’re taking it to bed with you.
I think it’s an occupational hazard. How you deal with it depends on your personality.
For my part, I feel that there’s a high risk of making a mistake when I’m tired. For that reason I try to avoid doing client work late at night.
Blogging, on the other hand, is something that I might risk when I’m tired. Especially when it’s my own blog.
What about you? How are you sleeping?
Contents (c) Copyright 2009, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved.
11 responses so far ↓
1 Linette // Mar 15, 2009 at
I usually have to get up and write down whatever is on my mind, after that I can fall right to sleep. I keep a pen and pencil and a small book light so I can write without getting up or turning on the light in the room.
I also have a voice recorder, and sometimes I take that to bed with me if it’s one of those nights when my thoughts are going 100 miles an hour.
2 Laura Spencer // Mar 16, 2009 at
Thanks Linette! It’s nice to know that there are a few other creative people who get inspiration at night.
3 Gena // Mar 17, 2009 at
My mind never shuts off. When I finally do fall asleep, I wake in the morning feeling as if I have run a marathon.
My inspirations: anytime, especially if I’m busy. I am one who writes, once, so, if I cannot jot it down, it may be lost. Thoughts come to me in waves.
I have been writing since 2nd grade and have never had to edit anything. It comes to me, I write it down, it’s done. I have even gone back over some earlier writings and it remains true.
Weird, huh?
I always say that I am waiting until I’m older to write my first novel and hopefully by then it will change. Can you imagine sitting down and writing it all at once? Days of no sleep, no bathroom, no food,….
4 Laura Spencer // Mar 19, 2009 at
Hi Gena!
I’m glad that I’m not alone in my nocturnal. It’s pretty amazing that you’ve never had to edit anything.
Be careful about skipping meals and sleep though!
Best wishes!
5 Stephen Edwards // Mar 20, 2009 at
Hi Laura,
For me, just starting out, I find that the disciplined approach works. I set aside time every working day and dedicate it to writing. Having now retired I tell myself that this is now my job and that with it comes the responsibility to apply myself to the exclusion of all other distractions. As I say it seems to be working for me and I can only hope that this somewhat practical approach doesn’t affect my creativity.
In addition of course I’m still running over ideas and even composition while I’m also trying to sleep. Can’t tell you how frustrating it is to wake up and not to be able to remember my ‘genius’ idea from the night before.
Stephen
6 Laura Spencer // Mar 24, 2009 at
Thanks Stephen!
You’re absolutely right about discipline. It’s crucial to develop a plan and stick to it.
7 Lisa // Mar 27, 2009 at
I have been having a terrible time with insomnia. My brain can’t seem to wind down after the workday. I’ve got a hundred things going round and round in my head. And when I’m writing something, it’s ten times worse.
8 Laura Spencer // Mar 27, 2009 at
Hi Lisa!
Yes, this happens to me too – but not every time that I work on a writing project (only sometimes). Sometimes, the best thing really is to give in and get up and WRITE.
9 Angela // Mar 28, 2009 at
While I often get ideas and write in the evening or during the night, I always make sure to edit before posting. For some freelance pieces or the type of fun pieces I love to write, late night ramblings can be my best.
10 Laura Spencer // Mar 31, 2009 at
Hi Angela!
Good luck with your evening ramblings!
11 Melinda | WAHM Biz Builder // Jun 16, 2009 at
Oh yes. I regularly wake up around 3.00am with my mind ticking over ideas. I try and write them down, both to get them out of my head and stop thinking about them and also so I won’t forget them.
And the ‘still awake at midnight syndrome’ uh, yes. I get that a fair bit unfortunately. I seem to work quite well late at night, however editing and cleaning up my writing needs to be done in the daytime. I think this is because at night I’m tired so I’m not as critical and I edit myself less – so more gets written without perfectionism coming into it. The cleanup needs to be done when I’m reasonably fresh and clear headed.