Swiss Cheese Brain

Swiss Cheese Brain by Debra H. Goldstein

Sometimes having a brain that feels like a piece of swiss cheese has its benefits. Some of you know I had surgery, under general anesthesia, last week to remove the hardware from when my foot was rebuilt a few years ago. Although I almost immediately traded the opiate pain pills for over the counter medication, I discovered my brain continued working in gaps. I’d have a thought and then it would fade away as my eyes closed. I’d snap back into the moment before again losing time.

Not exactly what a Type A personality wants to have happening. I fought against the drowsiness and the loss of what seemed to be logical brain connections, but I didn’t win. If anything, it exhausted me more. So, I decided to surrender.

Once I gave up, I saw things with more clarity (except for where the holes were). I realized that sometimes we can’t control the moment or what we want to do any more than we can dictate the flow of a story or the behavior of a character. Pushing against what the story or characters want usually results in flat writing or a dead end. Better to give in until the flow begins anew.

I’m still taking it easy, but my eyes are brighter and my mind not as circuitous.  Those characters and ideas better watch out!