Recording Writers’ Ideas on the Hoof.

ideas (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee)

We all do it, or, at least intend to: record those random ideas that come at unexpected moments. I have Moleskine notebooks, each with its dedicated pen, in all rooms of the home so I can jot down those elusive thoughts before they escape. And, when I’m on a walk, I take a voice recorder with me to speak those ideas: a retirement present from my brother.

Today, whilst out with my wife, for a pleasant walk in the local countryside, I was struck by one of those thoughts that encapsulates an idea. I dug the recorder out of my pocket and switched it on.

Nothing.

The batteries had drained!

Disaster.

I tried the usual trick of repeating the idea several times. But, in reality, I knew other things would overwrite the thought long before I reached home and had a chance to record it.

Then, a moment of inspiration: I was carrying my mobile phone (something I don’t always do). It has no voice recording facility, but we have an answer machine on the home phone. So I rang home and spoke my idea to the machine. Back home, I listened and wrote down the idea.

Simple.

There’s always a way, if you’re willing to think laterally, eh?

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#NaNoWriMo day 5 progress - to 23401 words.

First of all, that total makes it look as though I've done a lunatic number of words today. But that's because yesterday I missed out the words from one session, so they've been added to the total for today. I actually had to go through the chapters and note the total words for each and then add them up as my scrap paper on the desk was so full of figures, I hadn't a clue where I was!
Anyway, had a couple of brill ideas overnight: good job I keep a Moleskine and a pen in the bedroom, otherwise I'd have lost those bright sparks.
Still enjoying the weaving of the tale, though I did feel a bit weary at the end of today's last session. Everything moving forward, even if there have been a couple of amusing, if unintended, diversions: we're still moving forward, which is what matters.
Had to add a couple of characters to my spreadsheet timeline, but they were already prepared and just waiting in the wings for me to bring them on stage. So much about this seems to depend on the preparation before the NaNoWriMo challenge starts.
Ah, well, time for relaxation. See what the morrow brings.