As a writer, it's great to have an imagination that goes everywhere. It allows you to travel to exotic locales, where you meet the most intriguing characters and experience their amazing adventures.
But as a person. . . yeesh. I'm convinced my wild imagination is the main reason I'm such a worrier AND a packrat.
For example, I was going to throw away this empty hand-soap container, because I'd bought a new one. I was this close to putting it in the recycle bin, but then I thought, "I could totally use that for laundry soap, when I want to do a quick hand wash of an item of clothing."
My imagination had convinced me to give this inanimate creature a reprieve. Only I'm 1000% certain I will never, ever use that thing for laundry soap. It's probably an awesome suggestion. But it's more likely I'll just dump some laundry soap from the big container into the sink and then swish it around in the water instead of delicately pumping some from the soap bottle that's been given a new lease on life.
I still won't throw it away though. Because you never know. . .
Fortunately, while I'm ignoring the build-up of Things That Should Be Banished But Never Will Be, my brain latches onto similar random bits and bobs for my books. I see a picture of a heavily tattooed hunk on Pinterest, and I immediately think about a heroine who would find that appalling. Ding ding ding! Another story idea to file away for the future.
Or while I'm pondering the WIP, and the plot, and what I need to get accomplished, a stray thought skitters through my brain, and I think, "That would be an awesome tweet!" But before I type it up, I squirrel it away, because it would be even more awesome for one of my characters to say, and they know it. Even worse, they want to tweet it. (God forbid my characters ever fall in love with Twitter -- I'll definitely be done for.)
So while my imagination can cause some inconveniences -- usually when I'm unable to convince it to take a well-deserved break -- I can't fathom not having its wild abilities at my constant beck and call. It gives me equal parts enjoyment and anxiety, but it would be even more nervewracking if it decided to disappear for good.
After all, how would I know what to do with all these empty soap containers?
That soap container has no clue how good it has it, LOL!
I have to say I'm not as much of a pack rat as I used to be. Lately I've been decluttering my home, pitching and tossing things I probably won't use any more. When it comes to writing however, that's different.
I'm like you, hanging on to stray thoughts and ideas. I've even started a catalog of them in an app on my mini iPad (which is very portable). Now when I get an idea, I open the app and dump it in its category...and if it doesn't have one, I create a category for it. Scary, because my brain is constantly working and now it knows I don't have to keep cramming things in there for safekeeping!
Hey, BTW, I got a chuckle at the thought of your characters tweeting! :)
Posted by: Mae Clair | May 16, 2013 at 01:31 PM
I'm currently trying out the Silva mind control thing and am having some trouble with visualization. Can you shut your eyes and conjure vivid images of your characters at will?
If you can, then according to theory, after meditating to a deep theta state, you should be able to visualize them (mis)behaving or whatever and they will. So if you write yourself into a hole which is difficult to escape from, you simple visualize a HEA and the characters will sort it out without your help, allowing you to start a new project ... or recycle!
This could be the cool way to the future for writers? LOL
Posted by: Quantum | May 16, 2013 at 04:58 PM
I only wish my imagination were at my beck and call. No, my imagination pouts too much when I postpone looking at its ideas. Then when I get around to saying "okay, let me see" it gives me something that looks like the last choppy page that printed before the toner ran out and tells be to fill in the blanks!
Posted by: Melissa | May 16, 2013 at 07:52 PM
Mae, the soap container isn't the only thing here that has earned a reprieve. (Aaaugh! LOL) I've moved enough times the past few years that I've gotten rid of stuff -- or at least I *think* I have, but new stuff keeps getting added. Luckily I don't add physical books to the collection anymore, thanks to the Nook. I've got plenty of keepers, though!
I probably need a mini iPad to keep track of book ideas. Right now I write things down on sticky notes and scraps of paper, which adds even MORE to the clutter. LOL
My characters are glad you want them to tweet. *glares at Mae* Don't give them any more encouragement. LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 17, 2013 at 08:46 AM
Q, you scared me with the mention of the "mind control" thing. I hope you'll warn us before you try it out on any of us. LOL
My characters are ALWAYS in my mind, whether I shut my eyes or not. The tricky part is I have a couple of stories I'm working on at once, so it can get kind of crowded up there. LOL And they're all jockeying for position, like they're waiting for a restaurant reservation, and they're afraid I'll call somebody's name before theirs. LOL
They do seem to work things out, though, which is nice -- I just have to remember they have that ability, so I won't fret so much!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 17, 2013 at 08:50 AM
LOL, Melissa -- you just described my memory! Yes, that faded page when the toner's running out, and you can almost see it. . .
There are times I wish my imagination, not my memory, would act like that. Like when I'm trying to throw away stuff. LOL "Why do I need this again? I can't even imagine a use for this." :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 17, 2013 at 08:52 AM