Sleep and Creativity: The Ritual

June 10, 2009 in Inspiration, Writer, Writing

This is exactly what I mean by Dreaming Up the Good Stuff!

Five dream discoveries

Scientists believe that a nap can boost creative thought and help problem-solving. So what major breakthroughs in science and the arts have been made during sleep? The old adage “I’ll sleep on it” may have some truth in

[From BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | Five dream discoveries]

As I read this article today on my blog reader, I remembered how so many of my short stories came to me in my dreams… and how, I just go off to sleep for an hour or two before I sit down to write something creative…. It is a ritual… and for the first time in my life, I am going to describe it to you guys.

First, if there is some background material to be read, then I read it. All of it. Then I go to the porch and have a cigarette while mulling things over inside my head. Then I come inside, and just get into bed, pull the covers all around me and go off to sleep. When I wake up, I go and make a cup of tea / coffee (whatever gets me going at that time) and then take that out to the porch. There, I drink my coffee, smoke at least 2 more ciggys, and then in one of those random moments, I have my first line. With that, I stub out ciggy and rush back to my laptop and start typing….

This is my ritual… There are some other articles from the Lateral Action Blog which I would also like to quote over here…

How to Sleep and Daydream Your Way to Success

These days, plenty of people are facing “involuntary entrepreneurship.” They’ve lost their gig and need to reinvent themselves as self-sufficient solos or small business owners. Others understand that “job security” has always been a myth and are simply sick of the crap that comes with working for others. Regardless, all it takes is one good idea, right? The temptation, especially when under pressure, is to work more, rest less… cranking away until you get that great idea. Grind it out. Stay focused. Be tough. Sleep when you’re dead. Wrong.

[From LATERAL ACTION | HOW TO SLEEP AND DAYDREAM YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS]

And here is the other one:

Daily Routines of Famous Creative People

I discovered a fantastic blog at the weekend — Daily Routines: How writers, artists, and other interesting people organize their days (via Undead Pixel). It contains what it says on the tin: first-hand accounts of how famous people optimise their daily routines for creative work.

[From LATERAL ACTION | DAILY ROUTINES OF FAMOUS CREATIVE PEOPLE]

So what kind of rituals do you follow in order to get your creative spark going?