Inspiration. The thing that sparks and idea and creates a character who keeps you awake at night until you write down what they are whispering to you.
But where does it come from?
It can be anything. A conversation or situation that interests you and gets you wondering what-if (see Jaydee about what-if.)
A thought/scene/situation that springs into your head.
A dream that wakes you up in the middle of the night a-la Stephenie Meyer.
The protagonist voice that pops into your head and speaks to you.
Okay, call the funny farm, she'd gone mad. Well, that's what my family would say. And trust me, I get the looks when I start scribbling on a notepad.
"Oh bloody hell she's writing again."
But you guys know better right? You share these little ticks that build into a story that wants, no, demands you tell it. You wake up in the middle of the night or daydream about other worlds, situations, people and places. And you have to write them down too.
Or you steal, I mean borrow it. Watch the clip for proof :)
So I open the floor to you. Where do you get your inspiration from?
9 comments:
Great post! My ideas come from all kinds of places: tv shows, magazine articles, news stories, something I witness. I mix them together in a blender, add a dash of this and a squirt of that, and voila. New idea!
I have an award for you on my blog.
And trust me, I get the looks when I start scribbling on a notepad.
"Oh bloody hell she's writing again."
I was laughing so hard when I read this. It is sooooo true for me!! The ideas just come at the most random of times, a dentist appointment, a conversation between two people at the vet's office, the title of a song, you name - there's probably inspiration in there somewhere.
And it comes, it needs to be written down, a-la the notepad and crazy looks from the fam!
Great post!
~JD
I think inspiration can strike anytime/anywhere. A couple of my ideas for characters have come from students in my class.
Well, I have an over-active imagination but inspiration seems to strike me most as I'm falling asleep. This means that I have to get out of bed, find my way to my desk and jot down notes (so I don't forget).
I love that so many of us get the "crazy" looks - its great!
It's so organic. The spark can come from anywhere.
For me it's usually as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep. If I don't get the ideas down I'll lie awake all night - or lose them forever.
Great to hear how other writers/aspiring authors get their inspiration! My ideas come to me first thing in the morning over coffee. Great way to start the day! :)
I get inspiration from many areas--people I meet, things I see on tv or read about, other books...LOL. For my current novel, much of my inspriation came from my horses.
Anyone or anything may inspire me. Ideas are everywhere.
Ooh, good post! For me, inspiration just seems to fall out of the ether with some snippet or a character or a scene or something. I know it's a keeper when the words come easily and I can't stop thinking about it. Others, I just tuck into a notebook or type into my notes doc and sometimes two or three mesh together - and I'm ready to go all over again :D
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