Reflections in the wee hours

…of 4:56 a.m.

Woke up sick yesterday – some sort of intestinal bug compounded with sinus issues. Did a lot of sleeping. I woke up about 3:30 this morning, my brain brimming with scenes and dialogue for a short story. My belly seems to have subsided a bit, but my head is still pounding with sinuses that are very unhappy. Normally, I would've just rolled over and gone back to sleep, but I knew that if I didn't get up and write down my thoughts, I'd lose them forever.

So that's what I've been doing in between bouts of sneezing & coughing: writing down the bare bones of what's becoming a short story. So far, I like the premise. It's something different, more noir than fantasy, though with definite paranormal elements.

Diana P. Francis talks about the "shinies" – all those story/plot/novel ideas that dangle themselves in front of you like so many diamond encrusted baubles, begging you to touch, feel, grab. Like her, I've got my own set of shinies–a list on my white board. Six story/plot/novel ideas that continue to whirl in my brain. This morning, it was Idea 1 that forced its way forward (I've numbered them on the board, though they are in no actual priority order. This is just how I jotted them down).

At some point, I need to stop whirling and grab on to one of them, writing up a formal proposal for my agent. Not for the short story, but for at least one of the other four that could become novels. The final listing is for a short piece, as well. As Di said, there's all that shiny, all that glitter and temptation. I love them all. I want to do them all. Only right now, my brain is only capable of holding a jotting of notes, especially as it's soon to be muddled with sinus meds.

HOW TO CHOOSE?

Maybe I should go back to bed and start to drift off…After all, that's usually when the ideas hit. Only–the cable guy is coming as early as 8 a.m. to disconnect cable TV. Just my luck, I'll fall back asleep just in time for him/her to arrive.

Maybe I'll just take the sinus meds and hope for the best. ::g::