Listen to them – the children of the night. What music they make! ~ Bram Stoker, Dracula
My most productive writing comes after the sun goes down. Like some manic ghoul, I type madly away, becoming more inspired as the moon rises and the sky blackens. I routinely write until 3:00 am every evening. If I’m on a roll, I’ll stretch it out till 4:00 or 4:30. I come to life at night. Somewhere in the family tree, there’s no doubt vampire blood.
This routine started out as necessity. Working at the State Department or at one of our overseas missions, of course, I was tied to an 8:15-5:30 (more like 8:15-7:00, or later) schedule. Right after dinner, I’d lock myself away and write and get as much in as possible before midnight. On weekends and holidays, I’d let myself go and succumb to my inherent vampire ways. I owe much to Newt Gingrich. His shutting down the government in late ’96 – early ’97 gave me a precious, uninterrupted month to crash on my first novel, Permanent Interests. I also grew a beard and dressed every day like a fugitive from justice. My wife at first was indulgent, then less and less so as my appearance descended into that of a character from Deliverance. Oh, men! Continue reading “Inspired Insomniac: Voices in the Dark by James Bruno”
