For professional writers, and those who want to be.

Catching Fireflies

I'm in the creative stage of a new play. It's the point when everything is right, when there are no mistakes, no plot holes to fix, no need to make everything come together. It's raw ideas, fragments of dialogue, research and so on. It's a lovely time. Sometimes I feel it's the best part of being a writer. Raw creativity. It can also get overwhelming. Thinking is by no means coal mining, it's ridiculous to say it's difficult, but it does overwhelm every other part of life. I've done so many stupid things this week because my brain is too busy coming up with ideas. Why did you put your cheque in the wrong account? Well, I was thinking about the difference between freak, odd, and weird and what would make a character each of those things..... not something you can explain to a bank.

You also have to be quick to the draw in the creativity stage. Catching creativity can be like catching fireflies. The idea sparks in front of your eyes and if you don't catch it, it's gone. I'll be watching tv and there will be that spark and if I don't run downstairs to my notebook the idea won't stick around. Not in my brain anyway. I've been there straining to remember the exact wording of a particular spark a hour later and it's never quite the same.

And yet, it's such a lovely stage. I adore this ability and I treasure it. And there's nothing prettier than the light of a dozen or so fireflies, ideas just for me to turn into something special.