Nine Minutes
Bright and early this morning, inspiration struck. The idea was good, I'll use it in a story later, but what's important is the realization that came with it. I discovered the nine most important minutes of my creative endeavors. I have my alarm clock set for 6:30 AM, which I know will allow me to hit the snooze button once and leave me plenty of time to get ready and go to work. I tend to lay there with my eyes closed in a semi-conscious state. I suspect most folks both understand and appreciate that concept. More often than not, however, some kind of idea creeps out of my subconscious. It might be large, like a whole subplot to a story. It might be small, like a phrase a particular character might use. In either case, I have a notebook next to my box of Kleenex to write down whatever pops out. I will confess that later, when I have to read my half-asleep writing, I struggle to make out my own writing, but at least it's on paper. The beauty (or tortuous bit of my reality
