The fine art of catching brain whimsies

The last few months I have been carrying around a small pad of paper in my purse. I have one on my bedside table, one in my car, one upstairs in my office. I discovered that throughout the course of the day, and sometimes in my dreams, I'll think of fun dialogue, think of a solve to a plotting problem or the like. But it goes in one ear and out the other if I don't write it down.

Scary that at 33 I'm already going senile.

Still, acceptance is a part of grace, so I bought a bunch of notepads and now I write everything down as it occurs to me. Then I refer back to it as I write my books, thinking of where I might put this idea or that phrase.

I think my brain functions better swamped in spontenaity. My dialogue and plot always come out punchier if I don't think too hard about it. I can always polish later, but the spark emerges in a flash, fueled by toxic amounts of caffeine.

Did I mention I am a major, tremor-ridden coffee addict? Keeps the creativity flowing. I highly recommend it.