A Notebook By The Bed

Last week I talked about how an idea came to me in a dream. The only reason I remember it is because I wrote it down in the notebook I keep beside my bed. I didn't always have one, but after losing one too many ideas in the middle of the night, I started, and it has paid off more than once.

There are ideas in my bedside notebook that I, to this day, don't remember writing down. As illegible as they can be, there are critical ideas among them. Stuff you've read (hopefully), and things that have yet to be published, but key story points, character motivations, all kinds of different parts of stories that would have been lost if I hadn't written them down in the moment.

"Nah, I'll remember. I'll write it down in the morning."
No you won't. You'll remember you had an idea, might even remember what it pertained to, but you (I, let's be honest) will just spend all day frustrated that you had a really good idea, but don't any more.

So, add me to the list of authors who tell you to keep a notebook by your bed. Sometimes your subconscious has good ideas, too. At least give yourself a chance to put your insomnia to good use.