Where do you do your best thinking?
Yesterday morning, I had no idea what I’d write next. So I visited my idea place. In less than ten minutes, I had the kernels of three things to write.
At the same time, I took a shower.
I don’t use idea shampoo. But for as long as I’ve been writing, it seems my best ideas come in the shower.
Once the idea arrives, I dry off quickly so I can jot a few notes.
Maybe the secret is to occupy yourself with a simple task
that allows your mind to roam.
Maybe the secret is to occupy yourself with a short task that allows your mind to roam. Agatha Christie said, “The best time for planning a book is while you’re doing the dishes.” That’s never worked for me, perhaps because I hand wash the pots and pans only in the evening, and I’m more of a morning person.
But my second-best idea place is in bed, as I try to fall sleep. It’s my best place for titles and opening sentences. So I keep paper and pens on my nightstand to record those for the morning.
If you’ve not yet discovered your idea place, I hope you will soon. Whatever yours is, there’s no place quite like it.
