There’s a cartoon that I used to have hanging above my computer. It was from the cartoon strip “Shoe”. This strip was about a group of newspapermen who are birds. The particular strip I’m thinking of is a classic. Shoe is staring out the window and Skyler, his nephew comes and berates him, telling Shoe he should be pounding the keyboard. Shoe looks back at him and says that typists pound keyboards. Writers stare out of windows.
I have long taken that strip as permission to do a lot of staring out of windows myself. Or strolling around the house. Or standing by the pantry, hands on the doors, perusing the shelves.
Granted then I’m looking for something to snack on, rather than inspiration, but it all comes down to the same thing. Sometimes I need to get away from the computer to get some writing done.
It used to bother me. This staring out the window. I was born and raised a Dutch Calvinist. Work and pray. With heavy emphasis on the work. You had to be productive. You had to have something to show for your time. If you were sitting and reading, well, may as well pick up the knitting and get something else done. Ditto with watching television – though we were very limited on the television watching.
Daydreaming was for people with a poor work ethic and that wasn’t us.
Trouble was, I was always daydreaming. Always making up stories in my head. I would be knitting or embroidering or sewing or doing the dishes or vacuuming and my mind would be all over the map.
I would be thinking about my heroine who was a twelve year old girl like me who had a horse that she was trying to tame and of course it would only listen to her and she had brothers who always looked out for her (as opposed to my brother who always kicked me out of his room and wouldn’t let me read his Avengers or Spiderman comics) and parents who thought the world of her and etc. and etc. I loved making up stories and that carried on for many years.
When I started writing in earnest and sold my first book, reality hit me hard. I had spent five years daydreaming about that first book, re-enacting various story lines and editing to my heart’s content. I sold it, but I was contracted to write another. Deadlines were now a reality and have continued to be part of my life. Yes there are many days I am hunched over the keyboard, pounding on it (sometimes with my head, granted) as words flow out of me. I’ve had to force myself to stay in that chair and push past resistance. But there are times I can’t seem to wrap my head around the problem. Can’t figure out what I need to do. I can push all I want, but it’s like slogging through muck and mud.
Those are the times I need to push back from the keyboard, turn my chair 180 degrees and look out the window. I don’t try to get anything ‘done’. I have to let go of the idea that I’m not being productive insofar that I’m getting words on the page.
I let go of whatever I’m struggling with and just let myself enjoy what I’m looking at. Watch the clouds scudding across the sky, watch the birds on the bird feeder. Let my mind wander again. And often, when I do that, the problem that seemed unsolvable, the knot I couldn’t figure out gets untangled.
But it takes that mindless time for that to happen. Too often when we think of writers we see someone squinting at a computer screen, furiously hitting keys. We don’t think of the hours that it takes, staring out windows, for ideas to slowly rise through the muck. For story problems to eventually get resolved. For ideas to get rearranged while staring out a window.
When my mind is free and when I stop pushing, that’s often when the problem is resolved. Or a story comes to me.
So when you see a writer staring off into the distance, realize that they are working just as hard on their story as the writer pounding the keyboard.
What about you? How much time do you spend daydreaming? And what do you daydream about?
Carolyne Aarsen, originally a city girl, was transplanted to the country when she married her dear husband Richard. While raising four children, foster children, and various animals Carolyne’s résumé gained some unique entries. Growing a garden, sewing blue jeans, baking, pickling and preserving. She learned how to handle cows, drive tractors, snow machines, ride a horse, and train a colt. Somewhere in all this she learned to write. Her first novel sold in 1997 and since then has sold almost fifty novels to three different publishers. Her stories show a love of open spaces, the fellowship of her Christian community and the gift God has given us in Christ.
“When my mind is free and when I stop pushing, that’s often when the problem is resolved. Or a story comes to me.” This is so true, Carolyne. I love to daydream…it should be a requirement in the workplace. :) I love your view!
Great post, Carolyn. I always turn to the shower when I’m stuck–ideas flow like crazy under the hot water. And like you, I had to LEARN that pushing back was okay. Taking a breather didn’t mean you weren’t working–because really, do our brains ever turn off?
I used to daydream a lot more and now I just turn to a good book and let someone else tell me make belief stories. Less effort, much more creativity, and always a fulfilling HEA. I’m thankful for all you inspirational romance writers.
Most of my plot problems untangle in the shower. But I daydream all day, feels like. :) having two little kids at home helps with that as their imaginations are rich and unfettered.
I’m not a writer, so I don’t day dream about plots, but I am thankful that you do, I love to read :-) I find when I’m stuck on a sewing problem the solution comes to me when I’m being quiet looking outside or being outside.
I love the concept of daydreaming so much (and believe it’s a necessary component of life) that I wrote a book about a girl named Amy in Daydreams. :) My oldest daughter moved out of the house recently, and I now have a home office in her bedroom. I love it because it gets the morning sun and has a great view of the backyard with the trees, etc. And I’m with Lindi insofar as the shower is a great place to plot and plan my books. Blessings!
Thanks Jill, I love it too. In fact, my amazing husband wants to put in a new window that will be lower so I can see more and daydream more!
Hey Lindi, I always figured I should get one of those bathroom crayons so I can write stuff on the shower stall when I’m showering. I also get ideas when I’m driving. So no, I don’t think our brains ever turn off.
Glad that you like reading Priscila! And thanks for your lovely comment. I do love what I’m doing and I love that I can do it at home so I don’t have a boss hanging over my shoulder wondering what I’m doing when I’m just staring off into space!
Kids can be very inspiring, Elizabeth. I had my grandkids around for a week and I’m sure I had material for a couple of books.
dlw – I had to smile at your sewing problem. I used to sew all our clothes so would spend hours behind the machine. And did a lot of daydreaming there too. But yeah, I remember getting stuck on something when I was sewing and I just needed to get away from it for awhile. I think when we stop pushing too hard our brain, which is always working, finds a way to resolve it. Pretty amazing, really!
Hey JoAnn, so fun to have your own space. I have mine filled – too filled. That’s why I look out the window when I have to think things through. Looking at my office reminds me that I should tidy and that’s just more work. Windows are better for daydreaming!
Stories are born of daydreaming. That’s how mine get written. Without those dreams I would have nothing to type.
Gorgeous view from your window! I’m jealous.
I find the long view out my office window very inspiring. I can see across our yard and pasture, over the neighboring farm, and on to the mountains across our valley. It is soothing, rests the eyes, and, yes, fuels my imagination.
At least if I can look past the weed-filled garden just below the window…
Yes, I do daydream! Quite a lot, actually. Sometimes I need that time and other times I have realized that I was daydreaming in order to avoid doing something that really needed to be done and I’ve had to watch myself in that area.
I agree, Merrillee. And once you start writing, the mind never seems to quit. In fact, I’ve had to tell my brain to please stop sometimes!
Thanks, Deb. I love it. Although when we first talked about moving out here I resisted. So far from town and grocery stores! But now I love the solitude. Perfect for writing. Or staring out the window!
That’s why I like looking out the window, Valerie! I can’t see the mess in my office.
Hey Julie, I have to confess to spending time daydreaming when I should be working. In fact I remember watching a fellow worker sitting with her chin in her hand, just staring off into space. Then the boss came in and she jumped! Kind of funny. I wanted to ask her what she was daydreaming about but I had to get to work too!
I can so relate to this! I’m also learning, in recent months as I’ve been in a very hectic time period, that I have to read as well. This has never been an issue before, but I’m realizing that reading is an important part of being a writer. Got to read! And got to think. :)
I daydream all the time and about all kinds of things, things that I want to do.
These are added to my to do list and if I really want it, I can make it come true.
Down time is really important, especially in this day and age! (As I sit here at 11:30 writing on the computer ) I need to pull back and just let my mind wander. And, as you said, Sally, reading is vital.
You are so right, Linda! I think we need to visualize the things we want to do. And daydreaming is a way to do that. Mind you I’ve visualized my Oscar acceptance speech for an adaptation I did of a book I wrote…..needless to say it hasn’t happened. Yet. If it does, though, I’m ready!