GREATEST STORY IDEA—LOST!
It’s the middle of the night. Pitch black. The cricket’s chirping fiddle serenade has ceased and the man on the moon has shut his eyes in sleep. After what feels like the deepest sleep you have ever experienced, you sit straight up in the bed with the greatest story idea—ever. Frantically you try to remember the smallest details. Your mind races back to the beginning of the dream to piece together the plot line. Sleep fights the adrenaline as your eyes begin to close. In a haze you convince yourself that you will remember it in the morning.
As the alarm startles you awake and your eyes open and begin to focus, horror sets in because you can’t recall the greatest story idea—ever!
You didn’t write it down.
Keep a notebook or writing pad by your bedside and make notes when the thoughts happen or they will be lost forever.
Wordsmith Six 
I keep a notebook by my bed for this very reason! Sometimes, though, those midnight scribbles turn out to be gibberish-like in the morning.
I bet some are really interesting though!
Depressing to think how many times this has happened to me. Thanks for the reminder.