I keep notes by my bed.

Most writers do, I would imagine. It doesn’t really matter what it is that you write. Songs, stories, poems, blog entries, whatever the case may be, a writer will keep notes in some form or another. Usually there is a file, either on your phone, computer, or a real honest to goodness folder or notebook with actual paper in it. These files are not only handy, but inspiring, and also quite important to the craft.

Now, the notes that I am speaking of here are not notes about pieces already written, although those types of notes are necessary too. What I mean in this instance when I say “notes” are actually “ideas”. I have an idea file on my phone, and a notebook by the bedside in case I think of a good one just before drifting off to sleep or, more often, wake up in the middle of the night with an absolutely amazing idea. Then I go back and read what I wrote later on. Sometimes these ideas are good, sometimes they are not so good, and sometimes they are completely baffling.

Flipping through the notebook this morning I came upon one of those baffling entries. This one is several months old and I don’t even remember writing it down. I must have thought it was the funniest thing in the world at the time, or possibly fodder for one of my “I really will publish one of these someday” short stories. Either way, the entry was right there staring me in the face, and I had to deal with it. Are you ready for this? Two words.

Towel vampire.

That’s it. That’s the entry. Towel Vampire.

Not “Vampire Towel”, that would almost make sense. Clearly a towel has been turned into a vampire through some ancient ritual gone wrong and is wreaking havoc at the local gymnasium. That I can work with. But no, I wrote down “towel vampire”.

What the hell is a towel vampire?

Is it a vampire who only sucks towels? Why? What kind of freak just sucks towels all day? Gross. That’s even grosser than a regular vampire with the blood and all. Eww.

Perhaps it’s some sort of an invention? Like, maybe it’s a thing that sucks the moisture out of a soaked towel in an emergency, so you can immediately use it again. Actually, that’s not bad. Somebody who knows something about engineering and building stuff get on that. And cut me in on the profits, will ya? Thanks.

Anyway, that’s all I can come up with. It’s just such a weird a thing to come across. Just those two words on an otherwise blank page. No explanation, no drawing, no note saying see next page, nothing. Just “towel vampire”.

I don’t know, man. It gets weird around here.

Well. Okay. There we are. Towel vampire is now out of my head and into yours. I’m very sorry. Or you’re welcome, depending on how this lands. I’ve drawn back the curtain a bit and given you a sneak peek behind the scenes on where topics for MonDAVEs come from. I’ll go get those curtains ironed and pressed, and hang ’em back up, draw them good and tight, and I’ll see you next week.