Re: inspiration

"Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)" <seawasp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Eric Ammadon wrote:
"Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)" <seawasp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Eric Ammadon wrote:
"Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)" <seawasp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Eric Ammadon wrote:
"Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)" <seawasp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Eric Ammadon wrote:
"Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)" <seawasp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Eric Ammadon wrote:
What does "inspiration" or "inspired" mean to you?

People talk about their "backbrain" or their "hindbrain", which I
interpret as meaning their unconscious mind, the part that's working
but not obvious.

How does all this differ from the idea of a "muse"? Is a muse
supposed to be external, or is it figurative?

I know that in my own case, there are certain states of mind that
allow me to sit down and write as fast as I can type. That's as close
as I can come to anything resembling "inspired" as I understand the
word.
To me, "inspired" simply means that I didn't have to prepare for
writing, I could just sit down and start right away. Normally I have to
take about an hour to work into the mood.
How do you do the "work into the mood" thing?

Put on my headphones, running the soundtrack for whatever I'm trying to
write at the time,
The way you say that, it sounds like there's a specific soundtrack
associated with every piece you write. Am I reading that into your
words?

No, that's exactly what I mean. Assembling the soundtrack usually takes
a bit of time, so the first few chapters are usually being written to a
random musical shuffle, but once I get the sounds clear in my head I can
assemble the soundtrack.
That's an interesting approach.

I tend to write during times when it's very quiet, usually between
midnight and dawn.

I can't do anything if things are dead quiet. Even sleep. Because
nowhere is ever *PURE* quiet, and thus in reasonably quiet times little
noises seem much bigger.

I spent a bunch of years in computer rooms listening to the air
conditioning. White noise is nearly better than quiet sometimes.

White noise is much better for me. It blots out all the little noises
and makes it an even background; I use a fan at pretty much all times so
I can sleep.

I remember times in the past when I've had trouble sleeping. Now I
live a more physically active life and spend fewer hours on the rack.
If I sit still for more than a few minutes I tend to start snoring.

I used to have some sleep-related issues... had to know what every
little noise was, figured somebody might be trying to break in or
something, had to have quiet to sleep. Now I can sit on one of those
benches in WalMart while the wife is checking out and fall fast
asleep. Part of it was replacing paranoia with apathy, basically
saying to the world "you're gonna get me? fine, get on with it, just
don't expect me to worry about your annoying ***." Go figure, eh?

Writing, I use music to help set a mood, evoke images, and also block
out distractions from the rest of the world. When I get to a particular
scene I associate with a particular piece of music, I may put that piece
on repeat until I'm done with the scene.

Whatever works for you is A Good Thing. Music wouldn't work for me.
I haven't even owned a radio or TV in the better part of a decade.

I have a computer, which gives me all the features of radio, TV, and
stereo system, but better. Also, I can play Neverwinter Nights on it.

This morning the conditions for writing are perfect. Except I haven't
been getting enough rest lately and when I try to open up the writing
valve it just dribbles, so I'm sitting here vacuuming the cat. More
Coffee might help. <g>


"It is caffeine alone that sets my mind in motion
It is through beans of java that my thoughts acquire speed
The hands acquire shakes...
The shakes become a warning... I ... AM... IN... CONTROL of my
addiction!...
It is caffeine alone that sets my mind in motion..."

That reminds me of the gom-jabbar litany. <g>

--
http://fictionfromnobody.blogspot.com
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