The mind of a writer ...

[VanessaC]

Thought this might be a fun discussion ...

I recently had to drive a long-ish car journey, and, as usual, my mind worked on writing and plot ideas. The normal sorts of things for me: kidnapping, murder, theft, perilous journeys, how the magic system works, whether two of my secondary characters are actually a good match for each other, how many different ways I could think of to express apprehension ... and a lot more besides.

I then wondered if other writers do the same sort of thing? Would love to know.

Also, what on earth do non-writers think about? I can spend hours of time plotting stories and mapping out worlds in my head!

[TimothyEllis]

Non-writers - "Are we there yet?"

Writers - "Oh for peats sake, we're there already? I'm not done with that scene yet!"

[VanessaC]

Non-writers - "Are we there yet?"

Writers - "Oh for peats sake, we're there already? I'm not done with that scene yet!"

 

Yep. Pretty much.

[VisitasKeat]

The mind of a writer is the most interesting one among the human species. We have an unique mindset that renders reality into something fictional, to the extent that we can talk our way out of any tight situation, without creating a scene in front of others. Hell, we already made up the scenes inside our minds to dodge whatever and whoever wanting to overwhelm us! We are brave ghost hunters and paranormal investigators daring new ventures and experiments for purposes of world building. And that would surprise many who had hitherto thought of us as shy and introverted. We play cozy detectives in workplace and domestic settings, and we busting up cases of thefts and potential dangers would surprise others. They, these non-writers and other mundane boring folks, with the exception of voracious readers and film makers, don't see things the way we do, don't interpret life as we do. We writers are truly a blessed lot. We give our imagination wings and don't just lead a dull life. Our brains are museum stuff. The world would be a boring place without writers.

[notthatamanda]

My mind never shuts off and I wish I would. I turned to writing because I am always taking whatever is happening out a thousand interactions from now, trying to imagine every possible scenario, so I can prepare for it. It's exhausting. I finally trained myself to focus on the good possibilities and then I started turning them into stories. It's a pleasure to write, but offer me something to shut the disordered thinking down and I would be more than happy to take it, even if it meant never writing another word.

[VanessaC]

My mind never shuts off and I wish I would. I turned to writing because I am always taking whatever is happening out a thousand interactions from now, trying to imagine every possible scenario, so I can prepare for it. It's exhausting. I finally trained myself to focus on the good possibilities and then I started turning them into stories. It's a pleasure to write, but offer me something to shut the disordered thinking down and I would be more than happy to take it, even if it meant never writing another word.

My mind also tends to go to the negative possibilities first - perhaps not as badly as you - and it takes conscious effort to think about the good things that could happen instead! I find taking a moment to celebrate good stuff helps - and I keep meaning to start up my "Journal of Happy Things" again. But it is possible - I found myself stomping across a field on a dog walk the other month and started reciting good things in my mind - it's impossible to do that and stomp and grump at the same time, and by the time I got across the field I was happy again.

[Kate Elizabeth]

Every time I go for a walk at the park, I start figuring out where bad stuff would happen, especially in the isolated areas.  As for that covered cistern by the creek, it's a great place to dump a body.  I also drive by the lake half the time to and from home.  I've talked to my husband about the best points on that two-lane curvy road where someone could ram a car over the guard rail into the water.

[notthatamanda]

Cognitive behavior therapy helped a lot with the negative thoughts. I can usual control that unless I am overtired or very stressed. I'm starting to try to break the scenario generator by treating it as an addiction or a compulsion but it is very deeply ingrained in me.  Thank you for the suggestions.

[Vijaya]

This is why I enjoy reading books about writers and their process. One of my favorites is Process: the writing lives of great authors by Sarah Stodola.

[Lorri Moulton]

Before I wrote books...I thought about house plans and garden plans. 

Now, I describe gardens and houses in my stories!   

[Writer]

I'm not necessarily thinking about books but I'm always thinking about something other than what's happening in front of me. Usually, I'm having conversations with people who aren't there. (Unfortunately, my lips move during the imaginary conversations, and that attracts comment from the real people around me, who would prefer that I talk to them.)

This happens most when I'm in motion, like during a walk or a car ride.

[VanessaC]

Every time I go for a walk at the park, I start figuring out where bad stuff would happen, especially in the isolated areas.  As for that covered cistern by the creek, it's a great place to dump a body.  I also drive by the lake half the time to and from home.  I've talked to my husband about the best points on that two-lane curvy road where someone could ram a car over the guard rail into the water.

Oh, I love this!

[cecilia_writer]

I find it quite soothing to think about plot tangles, beginnings for stories etc while driving. On one occasion I also found that it seemed to bring my blood pressure down at the doctor's. Maybe focussing one anything other than whether they're going to increase my medication would help, though!

[alhawke]

Yeah. I commute to work over an hour a day and during that time I come up with all kinds of twists and turns for my tales. It's usually conversations between characters. It's really one of the only times during the day where my mind can wander--about my stories.

[idontknowyet]

My creativity gets better the farther I get from something to record my ideas. Sad fact! 

[MaxDaemon]

I'm not necessarily thinking about books but I'm always thinking about something other than what's happening in front of me. Usually, I'm having conversations with people who aren't there. (Unfortunately, my lips move during the imaginary conversations, and that attracts comment from the real people around me, who would prefer that I talk to them.)

This happens most when I'm in motion, like during a walk or a car ride.

Me tooooo!

The only problem I have is that sometimes I write out the story in my head, all this beautiful dialog and scenes and descriptions .. and arrive at my destination and POOF!, the story is written and my mind has erased it. I can no longer remember the details. It's like a dream - you wake and the perfect story was going on, so great, so wonderful, so involving .. um .. now .. five minutes later ..

It's .. gone. 

[W.R. Gingell]

I do a hecka lot of my plotting in the shower and while driving. Honestly tho, the mind never stops working even when I want it to; I'm another of those who exhaustively goes over old happenings or new threats all day and all night and never shuts up

so that's fun

at least i can write and get rid of some of the angst that way 

[Hopscotch]

I think about writing only when I'm at the keyboard.  Otherwise, I'll forget everything before I can record it.  But I do let things stew w/o deliberate thought so my keyboard time is manic.