The Week in Creativity: Jan 8, 2023

My sleep habits got messed up over the holidays. They’ve never been great but the past ten years I finally realized how critical sleep is for my creativity, health and happiness. Also productivity.

But just being able to have fun and do stuff requires a rested body and mind.

I do computer stuff for a living and used to pull all-nighters just because. Just because I was stupid. I’d be groggy for the entire next day and tried to compensate with extra caffeine.

Honestly, it messed with my brain a little. Maybe a lot.

This past week I had a bout of insomnia, lying awake in bed past three a.m., and only sleeping about four hours. Through the careful use of coffee, I made it through my day job. But around six o’clock in the evening, I needed a nap and crashed pretty hard.

Then I had trouble falling a asleep a second night, and the cycle repeated.

It served as a stark reminder how important it is to sleep if only because I have an interest in writing, drawing, or playing music when my brain is alert. When I’m groggy, I only do the bare minimum to survive.

And sleep is one of the best tools for the thing I love most, telling stories.

Story Ideas

I’ve learned a reliable technique to solve storytelling problems with sleep. After a good night of rest, I wake up with ideas about whatever story I’m working on, along with stories I’m hoping to write. I keep the proverbial notepad on my night table next to the bed so I can jot them down.

I learned it, and so can you.

There are a few books that deal with engaging your subconscious. The best are The MacGuyver Secret and From Where Dreams Are Made.

How to Save Your Novel When the Story is Stuck

The story ideas were strong this past week, even with my poor sleeping results.

The problem was my novel. I was to the point of writing the climax and wasn’t feeling it. (Yes, you read that right: I wasn’t feeling my climax.) I resisted writing because something was wrong with the scene I’d planned.

Finally, I thought about the characters and the situation while out for a walk. I felt better about the story because I liked the character development. They were in a good place. But didn’t have the solution for the plot problem.

In the morning I had the solution the story needed.

I love those moments because the story plays out in my head like a mini-movie. I hardly have to write them down if they’re vivid because they stick with me.

Still, the writing has not flowed like a California atmospheric river, but I’m getting there. Sometimes the writing is work, even when you know the story is right.

The Story Story

I’ve mentioned before how I plan my stories in five acts, thanks to Into the Woods by Yorke.

The specific problem I dealt with was in the climactic finish of act four. Everything had built to this moment but it didn’t ring true. What I planned six months ago no longer made sense.

I could have powered through, finished the first draft, and fixed it later. That’s not a terrible approach. But I wasn’t feeling it.

Then I had that idea in the morning.

The remainder of the story had to change, which required a few more ideas, but it was fun. It meant this first draft would be solid, and my delay might shorten the total time I spend writing.

Going Forward

I’m pulling together everything I’ve learned about creativity and storytelling to give it all back to the community.

So If you’re tired of watching others create and you want to finally join in the fun, sign up for my newsletter, Creativity for Fun and Profit and I’ll send you a free course, Awaken Your Creative Abundance.