When inspiration hits, you know. You don’t need to listen to an interview with an artist to understand it can be anytime, including when it’s not necessarily convenient. It makes me think of the musician who hears a melody while sleeping and has to decide whether to get up and write it down or record it, or to just go back to sleep. I have had this happen in regard to legal matters I’m working on. I think it’s because sometimes when you’re not thinking about something intently is when inspiration strikes. One thing I have learned is when you have inspiration, don’t lose it.
Whether I am at my desk or asleep, if something good pops into my mind, I write it down. I usually use the Note app on my phone, but paper and pen still work. I have learned that if I don’t, there is a good chance my moment of brilliance will be lost; I may remember it later, but I may not.
The key is to come up with what works for you when you have that great idea, even when it’s at an inconvenient moment. If you fail to record your thoughts when the inspiration hits, it’s on you and is your loss. Come up with what works best for you so you don’t risk losing whatever fantastic thing has popped into your brain.
One way to think about it is what if you were a musician and you didn’t want to get up in the middle of the night to record that melody that came into your head, losing a possible big hit. Or if you were an author and you lose a great plot twist for the book you’re writing. We all have something equivalent in what we do for a living, or in our personal lives. Figure out what works so you remember and can capitalize on your great ideas.
