K. Marvin Bruce

  Has this ever happened to you?   Have you written a story that you’ve completely forgot?   Not only completely forgotten, but made unfindable?   I play games with my stories and sometimes the joke’s on me. Okay, I suffer from graphomania.   I write constantly.   I do try to keep organized—I use a spreadsheet that has all my submissions on it.   It has rejection/acceptance dates (mostly rejection).   Lots of information. I decided to list on it every story, whether finished or in process.   There are far too many (mostly in process).   When I finish a story I often submit it.   If I get burned, I’m shy about resubmitting.   I often rewrite at this stage.   Then, when I feel brave enough, I try again. The spreadsheet is color-coded.   There, in the color that indicates finished and ready to submit is a story cryptically titled “The Password.”   I don’t remember this story.   I can’t recall what it was about ...

One of the oddities of nature is that dreams are difficult to remember.  More’s the pity since dreams would often make the basis of good stories.  The few I can remember, anyway. I have an odd schedule.  Being a commuter, I’m in bed by the time most people are waking up after the drudgery of work.  When I awake, it is what others call “the middle of the night.”  For whatever reason, I seldom remember dreams. There’s a notebook beside my bed.  There’s one in my pocket while waking.  I even used to have on on the wall of the shower.  Even so, capturing dreams has remained elusive. Scientists tell us that the parts of the brain that record memories—like the record button on a video camera or phone—are disengaged while dreaming.  It is as if our brain says, “you’re gonna enjoy this, but won’t remember a thing.” The dreams I do remember are beset by a crazy logic where the story just doesn’t add up.  We all dream, so I’m sure...