Capture Your Nighttime Ideas: Jump Out of Bed or Wait Until Morning?

Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night with a brilliant idea and wondered whether to jump out of bed or wait until morning to jot it down? Many writers find themselves in this predicament. Do you wait until the next morning to write it down, or do you immediately get up to capture those fleeting thoughts?

Personal Experience

My personal approach is to take something I need, such as a pen, from my night table and place it on the floor beside my bed. Then, I turn over and go back to sleep. In the morning, I often ask myself, “What is that on the floor?” After some consideration, I remember the reason it was there. However, it doesn’t always work, and sometimes the items placed there in the night are forgotten.

It has proven effective for me since I often forget ideas by noon.

A Successful Comic Writer’s Experience

One of my acquaintances, a successful Italian comics writer, faced a different challenge. He kept a pad beside his bed and one night, while deeply asleep, he had a lengthy and intricate dream that could be used in a story. He awoke briefly and jotted down the notes on the pad before going back to sleep. The following day, though he remembered having a vivid dream, he could not recall its content – a common phenomenon with dreams. He was not worried since he knew the essence of the idea was still there.

He used to keep a pencil and notebook by his bedside to write down ideas, as they are usually forgotten by the time morning arrives. Remember, you can vividly recall a dream in the morning, but by noon, you might struggle to remember the specifics.

The Importance of Capturing Ideas

While the content of the ideas may fade over time, the creative energy and inspiration remain. By writing ideas down as they come, you can ensure that you don't lose this precious inspiration. Some writers, like my friend, keep a notebook or even a small voice recorder by their bedside to avoid "jumping out of bed" altogether. Every writer functions differently, and the approach that works best for one individual may not be the same for another.

In conclusion, whether you wait until morning or jump out of bed right away, capturing your nighttime ideas is crucial. The method you choose is highly dependent on your personal preference and how you can best maintain your creative flow. No matter which approach you take, always ensure that your ideas are recorded before they disappear into the realm of forgotten dreams.