Dreams and notebooks

A funny thing happened to me last night, as the old saying goes.  Fear not, you can read on, it's not that distressing.

I had a bizarre dream, which took me back 20 years and more to my university days.  I don't know if I mentioned before, but I started in the media business by becoming a DJ, and I began spinning the "platters that matter" on the "wheels of steel" as it were at the college radio station.

In the dream I was back on air, aged 19 or 20, and I kept reliving every mistake I made, whether it was forgetting to cross to the news on the hour, or not playing the right records.  A strange angst dream indeed, but it did give me an idea for part of a plot or a character in a future tvdetective book.

So, to the nub of this blog, which those of you who are kind enough to read regularly will know can go missing, presumed lost, in a Hall ramble. Anyhow, the point was this - I've learnt from writing that inspiration for a story, or one of the participants in a book, or even a location or scene can strike at the most unlikely and unexpected of moments.

Hence I now keep a notebook, or at least some paper and a pen, with me wherever I go, be it out for a meal or a drink, shopping, just a stroll, or even when I'm at work.  Inspiration has a habit of striking when you're unprepared, so I now do my best to be ready for it.  I still live in fear of my early writing days, and how many good ideas may have been long forgotten and lost because I never had a chance to write them down.

On the subject of blogging, I received an email asking if my strange thoughts are all recorded on the tvdetective site.  The answer is (I'm afraid) yes, and if you're interested in my mental meanderings, you can find them on the blog page - www.thetvdetective.com/blog.html 

Personally, they sometimes prompt me to wonder what goes on in my mind, but make of them what you will, and charitably please, if you'd be so kind...