I'm seriously tempted to complain to Irish Rail. Not about train delays or lack of seating. No, I wish to complain about the dearth of conversations to eavesdrop on.
I've taken two train journeys to Dublin and back in recent week, and over the course of those hours, I didn't hear one conversation worth eavesdropping on. It's simply not good enough. Where's a writer to get inspiration?
Other Writers Eavesdrop
Other writers I know can't seem to walk down the street without stumbling upon a riveting conversation. 'I heard a man breaking up with his girlfriend,' they'll say. Or 'I heard two oul wans talking about weird ways to persuade their hens to lay eggs.'
That'd certainly have me reading for my notebook and pen.
Photo Description: This is a ring bound notebook with lined pages. A black goundtain pen rests on the page.
Meanwhile, all I ever hear is, 'I'm on my way,' or 'Are you coming?' I don't even hear bank details that I could use to defraud others if I were that way inclined.
The Challenges of Eavesdropping
If a vaguely interesting conversation pops up, people speak at a level just below that which can be easily heard. I believe this is known as an indoor voice. I wouldn't know; I've never had one.
It makes me long for Maeve Binchy's lipreading superpower, but with my wonky eyes, that's never going to happen.
Indirect Inspiration
And even if these little conversation gems did fall into my lap, there's still no guarantee that it would turn into a story. Other writers hear stray lines of conversation on the street and suddenly they're writing a short story, a novel or a play. This has never happened to me.
Instead, the remark churns around in my subconscious, and a few months later, I'll be writing a piece when a line comes to me. That's a great line, if I do say so myself, I think. Then I remember that it was a line I heard in a restaurant a few months earlier.
If you're lucky, a stray line of conversation will spark a brilliant story. But for many writers, the inspiration comes indirectly. Our brains take what we experience, mix it all up in a literary bowl, and use the ingredients to create a new story.
I find that my inspiration comes more from within. I listen to my internal dialogue, I follow the dance of my thoughts, and I pluck embers from the fire of my notions.
And on that notions-y note, I'll head out into the day and see if inspiration comes while I'm on the bus.
If you'd like to share any brilliant conversations you've eavesdropped on. I'd be delighted to hear from you, and I will shamelessly steal them. You can email me on derbhile@writewordseditorial.ie or phone 0876959799.