Dreamland

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Two days in a row! Now we're talkin'.

Sam and I just returned from an hour long walk, all across Midway and back, essentially. It is nearly the perfect temperature out there, in my humble opinion (I wrote it out!), and the cool breeze is even nice if one has a brisk pace and needs some air on one's neck now and then.

Christy Raedeke asks on her blog today about ideas for books coming in dreams. My bio with Stone Arch Books highlights my tendency to get ideas in my sleep, and of course MG Book was so inspired. In fact, that book came up in dreamland several more times, leading to additional scenes and so many great concepts that MG Book is now MG Trilogy, woefully unfinished.

Beth will no doubt recall the night, back in 2004, I think, that I jumped up from the bed and ran to my computer. I'd been inspired in dream to write an adult piece of fiction, one that I still believe has a lot of promise. If I ever really feel like working very, very, very hard on a very, very complicated literary novel, I'll return to it. If I can find it! Uh oh. Anyway, in future, it's LF MS.

My point, though, if I have one, is that I haven't had a really excellent dream inspiration in too, too long, and I think I can safely blame the fact that I'm just not sleeping as well as I used to.

They say parents should expect to remain exhausted for the first twelve months of their baby's life, and that the overwhelming tiredness begins to fade (who knows how quickly?) thereafter. If that's true, maybe I'll be able to rely on dreams for inspiration again someday.

Meanwhile, I better get back to work on YA MS the Second. And Eric Stevens' next project. Oh, and maybe some Mad Libs. And the next FTM. And . . .

Comments

7 Responses to “Dreamland”
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PurpleClover said...

I'm not sure about the dreams = novel aspect (since I can't speak from experience...lol) but I can tell you from the parenting aspect...I haven't reached the "fading" point yet. I have a 3.5 year old and a 2 year old. :) Whoever tried to sell you on the "12month fading" plan must have been a desperate soul dying to be a grandparent. ;)

muwahahahahaha! *scary laugh*

March 18, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Steve Brezenoff said...

Hi, Purple!

I had a feeling I'd get a comment like this, though I thought it would come from one of my in-laws!

I think I read that in one of our myriad new-parent books, or possibly I heard it in our birthing/newborn class? Either way, maybe you sleep a little better now than when your youngest was still an infant? Maybe? A little? Please?

March 18, 2009 at 3:17 PM
PurpleClover said...

I definitely don't turn the monitor up as high...if that helps? lol.

My son finally started sleeping thru about three months ago (approx. 20 months or so)and my daughter still doesn't sleep thru (has only done it a handful of times) mainly because she has eczema/allergies and wakes up itchy. It has gotten better.

As for being scared that they will stop breathing...you generally feel much better around nine months and usually by the time they are a year you stop "worrying" as much. But the sleeping thru the night is the kicker...either you are lucky or you're not...I was not. :)

March 18, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Corey Schwartz said...

Hi Steve,

Clicked through from Cristy's blog. Your name sounds very familiar. did you ever take Alex Steele's Gotham class when you were in NYC?

In any case, love your blog name I'll be back :)

March 18, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Steve Brezenoff said...

Hi, Corey.

Wow, yes I did take Alex's class. That's outrageous. This was back in 2000 or 2001, I think. If you were in my class, you've read some of my YA MS!

Thanks for reading!

March 19, 2009 at 5:31 AM
Corey Schwartz said...

Yes, I am pretty sure it was fall 2001. I did read some of your YA and thought it was fantastic. I am still in touch with Tammy (remember, her?), and occasionally exchange emails with Kit and Heather. It was a very talented group! I have one picture book out called Hop! Plop! (on amazon). Check it out for your son.

March 19, 2009 at 7:22 AM
Steve Brezenoff said...

I see! Congratulations on the book! I'll definitely look for it. Obviously, we're making books a pretty high priority in Sam's life already.

I confess my memory of that class is on the vague side. That was a pretty intense era in my life (and for a lot of NYers, of course). That was a great group, though, as I recall, a good deal stronger than the previous workshop I was in with GWW (but don't tell them).

March 19, 2009 at 7:38 AM