Kidding Myself

ReminderWhy do my best blog ideas come to me when I can't write them down?

Sometimes I will be in the middle of rush-hour traffic - unable to grab my journal and pen when inspiration hits. In minutes I have composed a whole post in my head with images and everything. I have even been known to chuckle to myself (ignoring the weird looks fellow motorists are flashing my way), POSITIVE I have a winner... until I get home and can't remember a single line.

Nothing.

Nada.

Then sometimes it will happen just as I am nodding off to sleep. I tell myself to get that pen and paper in my drawer, but myself doesn't listen.

Write it down! Creative Me says.

I'm too comfy. Stubborn Me responds.

You'll never remember this in the morning. Creative Me insists.

Oh yes I will... I am even clever enough to create an acronym to remind myself. Retorts Stubborn Me.

But Creative Me was right.

Both of Us forgot.

And I am left with a lame post about how I can't remember that great story I had last night.


29 People would rather be commenting:

gemma said...

just came across your site. and i'm lovin it!
imma link you up ;)

Ed & Jeanne said...

Hah! Boy, you got that one right. Now I've been able for the most part to quickly right down the subject which will cause me to remember the entire thing. It doesn't always work though and I'm left with this "subject"...which then ruins the fun because it feels like a homework project..."Give me three paragraphs on growing old...." Aack. Maybe all bloggers should carry one of those voice recorders like Michael Keaton did in the movie Night Shift! But who likes to listen to their own voice; that's like chalk on a chalkboard!

Bruce Johnson said...

I have the same problem....my solution. A dictating pen. It is a little Dictaphone inside a pen. Usually I just use the pen, but if I am somewhere where I can't right (like at the gym) I dictate into it and then download the audio file to my computer later and transcribe it.

Phoenix5 said...

I was going to suggest a personal voice recorder, but it's already been suggested... twice even! Why are all the good ideas already taken when I think of them??? I'm having the same problem with my novel though. I get these wonderful ideas when I'm driving, or half asleep, but when I get to the computer, they're half-way to Gonesville!

I have to say I love the way you write. Very entertaining! Have you ever tried to wrie a book? (Would that be considered a FAQ? And, if so, has it already been answered?) Tee hee!

Have a great week!

Irene said...

I bet you could write about anything and make it entertaining, so just pick any random subject and give us your humorous point of view.

The Egel Nest said...

I think technically this is called senility...

But I ALSO have the exact same memory technique...or lack there of! :0


Bradley
The Egel Nest

the frogster said...

Heck yeah. I read that Dali used to fall asleep with a spoon in his hand, and when he dropped the spoon he would sketch whatever his half-asleep brain was imagining. You just reminded me of an idea I had last night. Thanks. Maybe you can go to my blog and it will remind you of yours.

Curly Glamour Girlie said...

I do this to a tee! I come up with a great title for the blog entry and everything. And then I get home and nada.

Canadian flake said...

I drive my gnome crazy...because something funny will happen...I will tell him to remind me later so I can post about it...

then when I ask him later, he has forgotten...and of course, so did I..lmao.

LunaNik said...

Yep...been there.

Am seriously considering buying one of those annoying little recorders to carry around with me.

This way, when creativity strikes while I'm...oh, I dunno...grocery shopping, I'll be able to chat about my idea...to myself...out loud...into a recorder...in the middle of the frozen food isle...

Okay, so that's not the best idea.

Anonymous said...

Lol! I do this all the time. I've often thought it would be a good idea to go to bed with a pen under my pillow...at least that way I could write the idea on my arm! lol!

♥♥♥ A- Licious ♥♥♥ said...

so been there and done that my entire writing life.....geeeesh

donchu hate that?

crap!

;o) xoxoxoxo

Megan said...

Story of my life, err, blog. I am always thinking of funny things to post at the wrong times. Then if I do remember, it's not funny. Most of the time I just can't remember my idea at all!

toners said...

It's still a funny post though! :)

Angie @ KEEP BELIEVING said...

Are you the fisherman trying to get us to believe about the one that got away?
KEEP BELIEVING

Cupcake Blonde said...

This is me to a T! Which is why I carry Post-It notes around with me all the time, pull off the side of the road to jot things down, keep a notebook next to my bed since I seem to get the best ideas right before sleep. However, then I have a hard time relaxing again to go back to sleep because all I want to do is get up and write the most perfect blog post ever...that no one else will ever think is as good as I believe it is but oh well.

Anonymous said...

I had a great comment yesterday, but I forgot it completely.

Maureen said...

Ah you guys/gals kill me!

Sushi: Welcome, and thank you!

VE: I remember Night Shift! I had a voice recorder, but gave it to my sister who never returned it; I guess I need to buy another one.

Lotus07: A dicta pen? Cool! Another gadget to add to my geek arsenal...

Phoenix5: Aw, you're too kind. A book? Har! Well, I guess I could self-pulbish, 'cause I would only need one copy - for me. Have a great week too!

Sweet Irene: Well, "if you can't laugh at yourself", they say... ;) thanks.

Bradley: Senility? Senility? What were we talking about again????

Frogster: Cool story about Dali... I could definitely see that with his art style. Glad I could help you out... yes, I am often over at the Bog as you know. But I am too busy laughing at you to remember WHAT the heck I am thinking about...

Curly Glamour Girlie: Must be a Mom thing, eh? ;)

Canadian Flake: I am too embarassed / scared to tell my hubby about my post ideas; especially when they are about how he drives me crazy.

Lunanik: Hahahahaha!!!! You're right! I can imagine the looks I'd get talking to myself... perhaps if I pretend it's Bluetooth or something like half the businessmen I see in the airports; talking out loud into their tiny headsets -- looks freaky, really.

Jenny-Up The Hill: If I had a pen under my pillow I'd wake up with a blue arm, pillow, or face...

A-Licious: Agreed... crap! indeed!

Megan: I always think I'm funnier at night; must be that Twilight Zone between wakefulness and slumber...

Toners: :D Thanks!

Angie: Who Me???? ;)

VP: Ah, Post-Its. Yes, I have those too, but I never have time to grab them, find a damn pen, or retrieve all twenty-three of them that it took to write the idea down on later.

Be.bart: Har!!!! Priceless!

Stacey said...

I am the SAME way. I've thought of getting one of those handheld recorders just for those moments ...

Aimeslee Winans said...

LOL Yup, I think it happens to us all, but I loved reading someone else's whining about it beside that nutzo voice in my head. The same one who thinks up all my wunnerful posts that never see the cyber light of day...

Unknown said...

Ha ha! But that, in itself, was great!

I've been there & can completely relate.

;-)

Jill said...

I HATE that!!!! And then by the time I ****do**** remember, I don't feel like posting it anymore. That's probably why my daughter's always telling me, "Don't write while you drive mama!!! It's not safe!!!!"

NH Yocal said...

You have just described something that happens to me all the time!!!

Caffeine Court said...

Happens to me all the time! Sometimes I call my answering machine from the road and record an idea.

Great post!

Maureen said...

Worker Mommy: I DID pick up a hand-held recorder yesterday … so we’ll see if that helps…

Aimeslee: Ah, two peas in a pod we are it seems.

BMG: Thanks…

Jill: Har! Love your daughter’s chiding.

Melinda: Sorry to hear that!

Caffeine Court: What a good idea! I never would have thought to do that. Another thing I COULD use is the voice recorder function on my phone; if I would ever learn to use it. But it’s only 3 minutes long… so I may just crack open that new digital dicta I bought the other day… thanks for stopping by!

Aardvark said...

I do that all the time...I wrote a post recently where I was wishing for a "call in" entry service on my blog. A girl can dream!

blog hopping!

Anonymous said...

That handheld recorder sounds like a great idea. I usually keep a small notebook and pen with me at most times so I don't lose track of the thought. Also when I have those thoughts in the middle of the night, I get up and write them down immediately. A camera also is something good to have...and, oh, make sure the batteries are charged (I speak from experience).

ShineForLife said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ShineForLife said...

I'd probably freak myself out if I started speaking into my voice recorder while trying to go to sleep. I'd be convinced that an axe murderer was stealthily making his/her way across the carpet under the cover of my half-conscious ramblings. Sometimes, I do manage to remember whatever idea I had the night before. But it's very iffy. Lazy me is just so darn convincing...

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