Insomnia
A major change in direction, a sudden surge of goodwill toward the world and all mankind, a return of interest in my own thoughts, and I sit up, wide awake, at 3:15 a.m.
I let the puppy out to potty so she can sleep longer and then pull a stack of pages into bed. I have a midnight clarity about the article that has been accepted for publication. I recline comfortably, curled up with the snoring dogs, and make long red strokes through unnecessary paragraphs. I draw arrows and circle key phrases. Shift this, flip that, this section is unclear — go back and work it until it makes sense again.
I eliminate redundancy and inconsistency and the article once again feels solid — stable. It is ready to be seen by others in this new form. I pad through the dark, quiet house into the kitchen where I slice an apple and bring the peanut butter jar back to bed. These changes are good, and must be finalized. It is now 5 a.m. and I sit down to the final edit. I am not tired. I feel alive.
Crunch.
November 8th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Yes, there’s not clarity quite like insomniac clarity. I swear I’ve had some of my best moments of inspiration lying in bed awake. Congrats!
November 8th, 2007 at 11:21 am
I think we should have t-shirts with this on it “Shift this, flip that, this section is unclear — go back and work it until it makes sense again. ” If that isn’t a motto for life, I don’t know what is. Maybe print it backwards so we can read it in the mirror? Or upside down so we can read it all day? Thanks.
November 8th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Sarah J, I’m so glad you “got it.”