Inspiration
Tuesday we talked about intimidation. It was the first in my opening series of ‘The Five ‘I’ of Story Creation.
When people find out I'm a writer they’re immediately intrigued. They want to know how a book appears.
It’s not a magical process, although chocolate is magical and often part of the process. (Thank you ancient South American civilization of the Aztecs for being the people who decided to eat from random trees. I'm sorry you’re more famous for snorting cocaine as a relegious ritual.)
What starts a book is inspiration coupled with a drive to make the inspiration a lasting reality.
What is Inspiration?
Inspiration is anything that makes you excited. Whether that's confronting a problem with a solution, or a topic that you’re passionate about - inspiration is that moment where your creativity finds a topic and then flies with that topic.
For me, I love ancient and modern history. Its been a hobby of mine since I was a teen.
Most teens don't have much of a travel budget and so my best course of action were trips to the local library. (This was in the age of dial up internet, so it was quicker to drive to a location with books than look online for information.)
Questions for Inspiration:
What makes you excited?
What makes you mad?
What needs changing?
What's a need you have that you don't see in the areas where you spend time?
What’s a topic that you're an expert in that people find interesting?
I'll answer these questions for myself to give you an idea about why these questions are important.
What makes you excited?
– writing and helping people
What makes you mad?
– Poorly written or poorly researched successes that are horrendously boring or just disappointing
What needs changing? Or what do you miss?
– I want to change the perception of writing and entertainment. I miss well told stories that are fun and exciting without agnst.
What's a need you have that you don't see in the areas where you spend time?
– I need to see better writing... it will make me less cranky.
What’s a topic that you're an expert in that people find interesting?
– I have a background in history, archaeology, mythology, psychology and criminal justice.
I hope you see a pattern... your interests and passions are going to dictate where your writing is going to lead.
You are going to find inspiration in these things - and with a little focus you'll be able to combine them into amazing works.
More on that Tuesday!
Don’t let intimidation win - let inspiration lead you.
Your stories are amazing!
Chronic Writer