SpikeTheLobsterState of the Onion
January 10th 2009 21:17
No, I don't look like Tom Hanks (or Meg Ryan)
After almost a week of virtually no sleep, a sick cat, a recovering partner and more money troubles than the American car industry (all of which you can read about on my other blog if you really want to), I'm starting to get back on track.
I'd never realised how sleep deprivation can affect the contents of my onion-head. In the past, I've had periods of insomnia, but they've generally been fine: I don't need masses of sleep anyway and they gave me more time to think, to imagine, to jot down ideas or try to write. This week, however, has been surprising.
With only a few hours of shut-eye every night, I've found that my inspiration has been badly affected. The waking hours are spent floundering around like some kind of zombie in a really bad B-movie, attempting to corral half a dozen clear thoughts into something cohesive and, generally, failing at the attempt. Periods in front of the keyboard seem to pass in a haze as the cotton wool in my head stops any synapses from firing. Even litres of coffee don't seem to help with anything except exercising my legs as I run to the loo repeatedly.
The only time I've had this kind of brain trouble before was when I worked stacking shelves in a local supermarket: the mindless repetition actually stopped me thinking after about three weeks. That was a singularly frightening experience.
Anyway, the good news is that the cabbage-like growth on my shoulders is now once again starting to work properly. Sitting and chatting with The Muse (that's my partner, by the way) has produced a couple of new ideas, as is often the case. A good piece of advice there, for writers who feel a bit stuck - talk to someone about stuff in general and the mere act of discourse helps kick the cobwebs away and the waters of imagination can run freely again. It's like reading a good book or article, but with a prettier cover (provided you choose the right person).
Hopefully tonight I will be able to put together some notes on a couple of ideas, do a little research and produce a first draft of each. Given the way my mind has been working this week, I'll be re-reading these carefully before posting them, for fear of them resembling something produced by Frankenstein's monster playing with crayons.
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Comment by Quin Goot
Bagman's Gazette
Cinema Banana
Yeah getting in a good sleeping pattern definitely makes a difference I reckon. I am suffering from deprivation today due to the Sydney Festival and I'm all but shut down.
Yes talking is a good idea to get the juices going again, I recommend people watching too.
Looking forward to reading some more of your stuff.