Screenwriting : What time of day do you have y… by Stephen Melling

Late night I think it falls mostly. Comes in weird waves though.

It's got to be early morning; just woken up, still in your PJ's.

Interesting, for me its when I'm just about to fall asleep at night... then i cant sleep because I have to write the idea down.

Throughout the day, but mornings really rock for me.

It's a morning thing!

during REM sleeP

I usually have my best ideas when I'm sitting in a car waiting for someone to come out of the bank or the post office or the store that I opted not to follow them into. Staring at people moving through the world from the vantage point of a place you didn't expect to be can be quite inspiring.

Same here Stephen. Or I do get to sleep and then wake up and have to write for a couple of hours before I can sleep again.

Has to be at night, when I have real time to think. The only problem is then I cant sleep until I have written them down

Mostly at night but it can be any time of the day.

On the commuter train when it's too crowded to write--the ideas know I can't write them down, so they come out and scamper about just out of reach.

Haha Andrew, I know that feeling.

Late at night. Then I go to sleep and forgot them. :(

Mid Day

at night, right before sleep, my imagination goes wild. make sure to have a pen or computer

@Joseph, that's a good idea about having pen and paper to hand.

I always have pen and paper to hand, but as soon as I turn that light on the idea starts falling apart like a jigsaw :(

The morning or the depths of the night. I am most useless in the afternoon!

Though I have a little notebook with me permanently, so no idea can get away without me first writing it down!

Always while sitting in traffic.

You should all have a look at the work of Steven Johnson - Here is a link to a nice TED talk he did [www.ted.com/talks/steven\johnson\where\good\ideas\come\from.html][1]. He talks about the Eureka moment not being true and, actually, ideas are not single entities but networks we build. He argues, and I don't think this part is rocket science, that ideas are connections between things and if that is the case we can have more ideas by encouraging more connections. He also talks about when we come up with ideas, again debunking eureka and suggesting the idea was already there, we had formed it but there are certain times like running, shower time, travelling etc. preparing to sleep and waking up that are common moments for ideas because they can be times we are distracted from the general 'noise' in our mind so we can hear an idea that is already there or a time we are winding down and, again, an idea can come through. Worth looking at. [1]: http://www.ted.com/talks/steven_johnson_where_good_ideas_come_from.html

Justin, brilliant link - thank you. I've often thought an idea is like a good rum; you need to give it time to mature for it to be great...

No problem at all

A lot of the time when I'm either asleep but in the early morning or in the shower. The rest of the time, they're just random and I don't really know when they're gonna strike.

Between 5 - 6 AM

Ideas come when you ar the most relaxed, worry free, and not struggling for ideas. Trust your SUBCONSCIOUS. Ask the question, and it will be answered in its own sweet time, and it will be pure genius. I used to have a recorder, or notebook next to my bed. Fortunately, my new friend the iPad is now there day or middle of the night for sudden flashes of inspiration. The most wonderful app is "index card" which helps you put together all your random notes into a cohesive outline anywhere, on the bus, the doctors waiting room, you name it.

5 - 6 AM at work

Time doesn't matter as much as where I am. Usually in the shower or driving.

In regards to Justin's link to Steven Johnson, that is part of the reason why I have trained myself to purposefully make new connections, even if they are silly, just in case a usable concept comes out of it. Or in some cases it allows me to understand a new topic by creating metaphors.

@Lisa I have a shower in my car so I can get maximum idea generation :)

Close the sunroof Sam!

Perhaps moonroof would be the correct term there...

1am - 3am.. :)

no certain time of day....2-4am or late afternoon....no real pattern

Ok how about "Put the convertible's roof up!" ;-D

I'm used to rewrites

It's going to sound a bit TMI but I get a lot of ideas on the toilet. What else is there to do, I guess.

Any time I'm out on a "smoke break".

Why is "smoke break" in quotation marks? My god, what are you doing out there man!

Haha Mindy... Have you seen the series of short films called 'Tokyo!'? There is a film there called 'Shaking Tokyo'. Anyway, he doesnt use a bed to sleep because he has his sweetest dreams on his toilet. You reminded me of that. [www.imdb.com/title/tt0976060/][1] [1]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976060/

Night time does seem to be the general consensus I think... Interesting.

2am. or i have a nightmare and it generally ends up as a feature film screenplay

While I'm watching movies. It's terribly annoying when that happens!

When im walking to and from uni...the quiet gives you time to think in depth.

Actually thats a good point Monique, I get a lot of ideas when walking places.

Best thing is to keep a book or something with you so you can write down all of the random things you think about that can be developed later

Usually at happy hour.

In the morning with a cup (or three) of coffee. I need to be better about taking notes down on paper as well.

Thanks.

Random times, especially when i see things happening in front of me.

around 1-5 am.

Every second of the day! Which is why I am struggling to combine it with the non-film related day job :(

all day everyday! my mind never stops.

when Im dreaming

Late nights!!

Good thread everyone. Keep'em coming! It still seems late nights are the best time. As George Drivakos said, maybe its the time we are the most relaxed...

After I'm supposed to be asleep in bed :P

Right when I get home from work. It's weird, but it's this perfect time when I'm a little wired from the day, and I've also realized that I'm free to do what I want for the rest of the night.

I see my visions in dreams or random thoughts mainly late night or while im sleeping. Then I hear a song and then my visions just click into place! Music is my inspiration, life is my base, and my visions will empower others!

At night

Definitely morning, the first two hours upon waking are my most creative/productive.

Various, but more often than not just at a time when I can't write them down..... like the shower....

when im dreaming! haha ....always need a notebook or phone handy to jot down what happened

Usually right around 4:20pm

Usually it happens between 2am-5am.

Usually when I should do something else urgently or in the middle of financing meeting of totally different project. Funniest ideas of course in train or cafe alone while staring out blinded eyes and laughing to my ideas.

Like Kim and Tyler my mind never stops with the ideas. However night time or afternoon in a cafe surrounded by random people always works for the best ones. The only problem is when they come so thick and fast you don't know which to chase down.

Usually, late at night. Sometimes, when I see inspiring things, or go to inspiring places, and realize how those two things can go together to create an amazing aesthetic.

I know when I am writing novels it is just as I am waking up, but ideas must be written down quickly or they get diluted and lost. Probably morning is best.

Late at night and now when I'm running at night. I do my roadwork at night and my mind drifts into visuals that I have to get home quickly as to write them down. I've written more scenes lately in my head when I'm out running.

It comes to me so randomly, funny daily events will trigger me into developing hilarious standup bits, I need to go to an open mic!

sometime during the 2nd glass of wine

I relate, Phil...I completely relate.

I realise it's unrelated to screenwriting, but as far as the composing of music, it does unfortunately seem to be the more unsociable hours of the day, midnight and onwards.

My girlfriend and I went travelling around Europe a while ago and we both noticed that we where having dreams every night. Dreams we could remember the next day. I think generating new ideas comes down to new experiences. The more you get out of the day - the more ideas you have when you are relaxed - later on.

Have just started writing a novel...although may think about doing it as a script...who knows!! But i get my ideas when i dont have a pen and paper to write these ideas down on....Just my luck!!!

hhhmmm.. good question.. i think generally i get my ideas at night when im zoning out and not thinking.. or even doing something i call "routine-brainless" work like moping the floor or doing the dishes...

first thing in the morning.

definitely when I'm taking a shit, otherwise it's in class when I should be studying :p

At night...when i can look at the stars

Night time.

Nap time. Seriously.

When I'm at work and I need a reprieve from the muck and mire.

That strange space between dreaming and waking. Then when I'm walking the dog. During the shower. Talking to myself while driving to work. Then filling it in all day at work when I should be doing other things. Lunchtime is good for working on new angles. Then catching up with notes and research in the afternoon. The ride home again. Then early evening while putting the kid down. Then I can spend a couple more hours filling in thoughts since the afternoon. Then, when going to bed, planning what's up for tomorrow. Yeah so that's about it I guess.

Richard, Oscar Wilde could when a derogatory remark was made about his lifestyle: "We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars." I agree with JH, That strange space between dreaming and waking is great for fantasy ideas. I suppose the brain has been clearing all the rubbish from the previous day, and things can look different. However, if you take any idea and either extend it, or turn it upside down, or inside out can work wonders. Most ideas are extensions of existing ones.

ALL the time! I live, sleep, eat, and breathe creativity. Every conversation, every vista, every event, is potentially inspiration for creativity - whether writing, acting, photography, , music, voice... I think this comes from my time in Art College, when my tutors told us: "To be a good graphic designer, you have to live design 24/7" and I have carried that through to my other creative areas. It helps, too, to be living in New Orleans, which simply ooozes inspiration. I am blessed to be here.

4am

2 am

My ideas possess me, not the other way around. Especially at 2 am.

After midnight...

When I first wake up, mostly.

Random. Often in the middle of conversations! If people see me zoning out they know what's happening now.

Oh, man, do I know that feeling, Ben...

Generally any time...

Probably at night. I tend to have my best ideas when I'm dead tired.

When I wake up in the morning. I usually lay there for about 15 minutes and think. I run scenes through my head. Then, I get up and write them down! From these notes, I get my best scenes!

I would have to say at night! that's when my mind starts reeling! & I can never get to sleep! LOL

When driving.

Anytime. My brain never stops! The very reason I sometimes have to sleep with the TV on, so it can help drown out my thoughts

I need to log these answers and put them in a chart of some sort.. Really cool.

Anytime, any place, doing anything.

Late nights!

While I'm sleeping!

while sleeping or walking

Just after midnight

24/7

Any time, although mornings would be unlikely.

I find that most of my good ideas come when I do not have anything with which to write them down or am somewhere (shower) where I can not write them down.

There is no special time of day for me. I come up with ideas in my dreams, on my job, out goofing off with my friends lol. Ironically enough a larger problem that I have is coming up with ideas to often. I have to make myself finish something before starting something else.

I have grand ideas or concepts for stories that drive my projects forwards- the controlling idea- but normally the inspiration I appreciate most is re: characters, lines and situations that bring out those concepts. Those bits of inspiration happen at the oddest most random times- walking, driving, in the middle of sleep. Be ready for them-- I jot down on a notepad or my phone or whatever gets it before I forget!!

I actually get a lot of my best ideas from dreams I've remembered. I've written 3 movies based on dreams I've had.

Always in the evenings...towards the later hours...

afternoon.

Driving. Or doing dishes.

Listening to certain kind of music and midnights

Late night!

When my head hits the pillow at night. Inconvenient but whaddaya gonna do?

I'm with you James. After I lie down at night. But I've also got a pad and pencil there, so good inspirations can be captured (I always seem to lose them by morning). It keeps me up later, but worth it.

In the shower or during my train commute with my eyes closed and my buds in.

The moment I switch off the light and go to bed, SUDDENLY, ideas, scenes and dialogue invade my mind - naturally, one has to bloody get up and write the stuff, because I NEVER remember it in the morning - a damn nuisance, but some inspired work almost every time - can it get any worse? Yes, when the characters come to life and begin conversing with you - interesting experience, but it doesn't enhance one's sleep.

During my sleep