Dressed for Success, in Flannel

This morning I finally figured out why I do most of my writing in my pajamas. On my best writing days, I wake with a word or thought in my head that begs to be committed to paper. I know how fleeting good ideas are, so first things first. Whether I wake at 4 a.m. or sleep in till 7, I stumble to the computer to capture those words in print before they vanish. No trip by the bathroom or to the kitchen to make coffee.

I try to flesh out the idea as fully as possible. If I don't, what seemed so brilliant when I woke is a muddle by 8:30. Perhaps the fuzziness is because of my age or my hormones or the fact I drink too much caffeine or still eat sugar. As long as an idea is flowing, I keep writing. I'm usually through by 10:00 a.m. or 11:00 -- and still wearing my pajamas. Then I'll break, have something to eat during the transition, take a shower, tackle other things. I have been known to write till 3:00, then put myself in high gear to get myself and the house presentable before my husband comes home from work. I'm often trying to make it to the post office before they close at 4:30.

My writing days aren't always like this. I have been known to write in regular street clothes. But not often.

When my kids were young, there were no computers, just quills to write with and candles for light. (I hope you know I'm joking.) My mind worked better then, I think. I can't really remember. Single words and phrases jotted on paper made sense then. Now, when a brilliant idea strikes when I'm away from home, I'll jot a note or two on the back of a gasoline receipt or the edge of an envelope. When I find the notes buried in my purse days later, I generally have no idea what they mean. What seemed like the outline for an article on parenting jotted in the car now makes no sense. For example:

• Preface: Diane.
• young mom's in gr.
• Siolder women. (Soilder women? Sc: older women? I can't read my own writing.)
• HS teach you.
• This is something.

When I jotted those notes, I was certain I had a best seller. Now, I'm not so certain. Hey, if you can get a book on parenting out of that, this outline is yours. But you might want to change back into your pajamas.