Writing Inspiration

Driving in my car before dawn on my way to work jump starts my creative process. Also staring at the Blank Screen of Death and knowing I have a deadline...

Inspiration

I'm one of those who believes a big difference between new writers and pro writers is that new writers believe in inspiration, and pro writers consider it a dirty word.

I find I'm a lot more creative when I've been reading a lot of books, probably because my imagination is already working hard to interpret what I'm reading into mental images. Since that part of my brain is already jump-started, it's a lot easier for me to come up with inventive things on my own.

Otherwise, I find inspiration in quirky little everyday things. Someone will make a comment that sends my creativity into overdrive, or I'll get inspired by the weather ("it was a dark and stormy night" anyone?), or I might even see someone with an interesting hairdo and think, wow, that person needs to be in my story.

I'm very A.D.D. There isn't one single activity I can latch on to and inspire myself with, it's just random things that set me off.

Sassee, the Ninja Bunny who needs Ritalin

I simply think of the end result and from whence it came. I'm braindead and am editing this because I'm not sure it makes sense now! You should know what I mean though!!

Books, movies, TV shows, music...

Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern books and the movie DragonHeart inspired the series I'm working on now.

Kadea said:

Yes, but "inspiration" means different things to different people...

To me it also means, what are you doing when the ideas hit you...

Click to expand...

That's sort of the point. A pro usually sitting down writing when the idea hits. If you wait for ideas, you'll probably never be a pro. A pro sits down and writes, and the ideas wait for him.

I'm motivated by my VISA bill and a desire to eat regularly.

In an airport, on a train, as a passenger in a car, listening to a sermon at church, reading these posts....

Anywhere and everywhere.

I light incense and/or smoke my narguila pipe. If all else fails, take a long walk or kill myself with exercise, but my knees have made that a little prohibitive lately.