Inspiration to Write

 My online writing group does a Random Word exercise each week. The person responsible for a month sends a new word each week. She can close her eyes and point to a word in a book or make up the word or use a word that ends up being related to the others in that month. Yesterday, I sent the word for this week.

 

 One of the women wrote to me saying she would love to have a full writing prompt, because, she said, a word along does not inspire her. 

I got to thinking about what can inspire us to write, and I looked back in my files to see if I had ever addressed the topic previously. Surprisingly, I had written several posts on this topic. The following is one I liked and perhaps you will, too. 

 A Jack London website mentions that he wrote fifty books in a sixteen-year period. Many of his books were based on his own experiences on the sea and in the wilderness. He's famous for his quote on finding inspiration. He said, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." His quote impressed me. He didn't sit inside a warm, toasty house waiting for inspiration to strike. He created his own inspiration, or so it seems.

Perhaps too many writers sit in front of the computer each morning and wait for inspiration to come floating by, then drop down into their lap. Oh, if only it could be that easy. Where do we find inspiration for our stories, poems, essays and other writing? It is rarely found in your desk chair in front of your laptop.

I once had a friend comment that she couldn't understand how I could be a writer. You're such a social person and writers are introverts and often recluses. That was her personal interpretation of a writer. She went on to say she thought I'd be lonely spending so much time alone writing. I never consider writing time as being lonely. After all, I'm with the people I'm writing about and thinking about the ones I'm writing for. I can't say I've ever felt lonesome while writing.

Yes, I truly am a social person. I like being where the action is--with my friends, at meetings or conferences, with family, at sporting events. Besides the joy of being with others, that is often when I find inspiration to write. Something I see or hear will trigger an idea. There have been times when I've grabbed a piece of paper and jotted down a few words to jog my memory later on.

I imagine Jack London spent time with others who, like him, led an adventurous life. They must certainly have been an inspiration to him and I'm guessing that many of his characters were based on people he'd actually met or observed somewhere.

People-watching in a coffeehouse, at a sporting event or in an airport can inspire a writer over and over. Think of all the people you see in situations like that, all the little slices of life you witness. Sitting in a pub listening to the tales others at the table are telling can be inspiring to a writer, too. We often rely on our own memories to help get us in the writing mode, but the memories of others can also be an inspiration.

If you want to write a baseball story, where is the best place to get inspired and find background? Needless to say, it's a ballpark. Looking to write a story about the life of a monk? Visit an abbey. Where are you going to find inspiration for an article on learning to be a chef? Maybe at a culinary school.

In other words, don't sit at home and research the topic on google. Get out there and find your inspiration. Nobody is going to come along and drop it into your lap. It's up to you.

NOTE: put inspiration to write in the search box at the top of this page, and other articles I've written on the topic will pop up. 

Writing Perspective

Which side of the writing line are you looking from? You're probably going to answer that you're a writer, so your view is as a writer. In many instances, that is true.

But what if you turned things around and looked at your own writing from the reader's view? After all, your readers are the ones you're hoping to reach, the ones you want to hook with that opening paragraph. 

One thing you might strive for is to bring emotion of some kind to your reader. Fine, but if you write with no emotion, your reader won't 'get it' either. We need to feel what we write. If you're writing a story about a hero who has multiple brick walls set up in front of him, you want your reader to be cheering him to go on. If you write a story with a sad ending, you hope your readers will finish with a lump in the throat or a tear in their eye. Write so that readers feel something as they read your words. 

What about writers who truly enjoy writing long descriptions? They might love them, but do their readers? Consider how the reader will feel if you spend one entire page describing a place where the characters are having a picnic.

How about writers who write in far too much detail? Readers get tired of reading about a woman making a sandwich, step by painful step. Writers sometimes create too many details instead of giving the reader the benefit of the doubt, that they know how to make a sandwich. 'Mary made herself a ham and cheese sandwich.' is enough. You don't want to bore your reader.

I would suggest that, as a part of your editing process, you try to look at what you've written from the readers' point of view. Do it after you've done your normal editing and revision that has left you satisfied. Then, try to step into the shoes of a reader as you go through the process again. 

I'm reading a book right now in which the author jumps around constantly from character to character within a chapter, and it's driving me crazy. To the point that I may give up on the book before I'm halfway through reading it. I don't think the author gave much thought to his readers. Even so, his book was published, but I think it could have been a better book if he'd given a bit more thought to his readers. 

As our poster for today says, 'Sometimes, all you need to do is look at things from a different perspective.'

 

Editing Polishes Your Writing

 

Look at these shelves of books. Every one of the authors who wrote them spent a good deal of time editing their manuscripts.  Rare as a red rose in the snow is the book that stands ready to be published on its first writing.

Let it never be said that writing is easy. Anyone who has tried it will attest to that. I'm a person who likes to get a project done and then move on to the next one. I could do that when making a quilt or sewing a dress for a little daughter but not so with my writing projects. Those must be revisited many times before I can call them finished. Don't forget to let the project simmer a few days or more before you do the editing. That's key to the process.

Newer writers might wonder if editing their work means only checking for typos, punctuation, misspelled words and proper capitalization. That part is proofreading. While all those things should be looked at, there are others to be added to the list to do actual editing.

A.  repetition:  This is bigger than you think. When I critique in my online writers group, one of the things that jump out in someone else's story is repeating words or ideas. If you use the same word in two consecutive sentences or, gasp, even three, you risk boring your reader. It may sound foolish but it's true. Same with ideas that are repeated even though you may use different words. Most readers will pick up on the fact that you're telling them the same thing twice. Writing book authors will tell you not to do it, they'll say you must respect your reader's intelligence.

B. sentence length:  When you look at your first draft, pay attention to how long or short your sentences are. Too many lengthy ones make the reader wear out and maybe even give up reading. Alternate short sentences with long ones, and I don't mean exactly every other one. Do consider tossing in a short sentence between a couple of long ones. Occasionally, a writer will use several very short sentences together for emphasis, and that's fine. There are exceptions to every rule or method. Think about those many short sentences in early reading books. As an adult, they'd irritate you if all the sentences were only a few words each.

C. clarity: When I write a story, especially a memoir piece, I know exactly what the situation was, I know the backstory, I know the setting. Readers do not know these things so you must be certain you write in such a way that all those things are clear. As you journey through the editing process, ask yourself if things are as clear as they should be. This is one thing that having another person go through the manuscript is invaluable. Anything not clear will jump out at them immediately. A good case for editing on your own, then asking someone else to do another edit.

D. unnecessary words:  Once upon a time, I was dubbed the Queen of Unnecessary words. I awarded myself this honor (or dishonor) early in my writing world. In the first online critique group I belonged to, using too many unnecessary words was the item marked most by those who critted my work. The moderator of the group did not use the finesse others did when pointing it out. She acted like a mother who had been disobeyed and read me the riot act more than once. It was good for me as the importance of not using words like just, very, that is, why, who is, which was and others (depending on where they land in your sentence) appeared very clear. By getting rid of these redundant or superfluous words, your remaining sentence will be much stronger. We use a lot of those unnecessary words when we speak to one another, but in our writing, we need to be more concise.

E. passive verbs: Watch carefully for overuse of passive verbs--those that show no action--words like was, is, are. They're used by a lazy writer. Make it a habit to find active verbs, words that show us what someone is doing. Jump, run, batted, smashed, darted are words that bring the reader an instant mental picture. They are also far more interesting. I once pointed out in a critique that the writer had used a passive verb in every sentence in a lengthy paragraph. Boring! Practice using active verbs and it becomes a habit.

These are only some of the things to look for when you do an edit. Plot changes deserve another special editing process. Doing the ones I've listed will strengthen your writing, will make it more interesting to the reader, and make it more likely to be published.  

Writing is a step-by-step process. If anyone ever tells you it happens easily, don't believe them. Capture the publishing prize by working through the process until you deem the work ready to market.

Book Review: A Little Burglary in Bibury

Christina Hamlett's newest book in her series of Cozy Mysteries is titled 'A Little Burglary in Bibury'. It's number six and brings the reader, once again, into the lives of Rochelle (Rocky) Reid and her now-fiance, Jon Tapping.  

Cozy mysteries are not violent nor are they filled with explicit sex scenes or cursing. Nevertheless, they offer a good story for mystery lovers. 

In the earlier books, we have followed the romance of these two and their involvement in many a mystery. Rocky seems to be drawn to helping solve crimes, and Jon is her back-up and rescuer in many cases. 

The pair live in London, but the mysteries involved happen around the UK, in both England and Scotland. The reader is treated to a taste of armchair travel with each book in the series set in a different place. 

In 'A Little Burglary in Bibury', Rocky is deep into wedding plans but confused about many of the decisions she must make. Marrying the son of Lord and Lady Tapping requires a special wedding and reception. Her friend, Cybbie, suggests they make a weekend trip to a small village called Bibury. Cybbie's aunt is a master baker, she says, and would love to make the wedding cake. Despite misgivings, Rocky agrees, and her concern proves valid. 

Shortly after arriving, the local bakery, a rival of Cybbie's autnt, is burgled and the owner found dead. Of course, Rocky finds herself becoming involved in finding out who broke in, who killed the bakery owner, and why it happened. 

Soon after, Jon joins her in Bibury, to help her turn down Aunt Eugenie's offer to make the wedding cake. Before they can deliver the bad news to Cybbie's aunt, the mystery at the village bakery draws them in. 

Many new characters are involved, plus some of the ones the reader has met in the earlier books. Despite being number six in the series, the book can be read on its own with plenty of backstory to bring the reader into the tale being told. 

Besides local color of the village and its hotel and restaurants, the reader is treated to the description of culinary treats at Aunt Eugenie's home, the rival bakery, and a few appealing restaurants. 

Christina Hamlett is the author of 52 books, 276 stage plays, and 'squillions' of articles and interviews. She is also a gourmet chef, thus the inclusion of culinary treats in her books. She draws her readers in effortlessly with a good mystery story and a bit of humor. 

Buy this newest book about Rocky and Jon and their adventures at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other online sellers which you can find via a search engine. 

A List of the books in this series:

Book 1:  A Little Larceny in Lynmouth

Book 2:  A Little Scandal in St. Andrews

Book 3:  A Little Drama in Dunster

Book 4:  A Little Poison in Paisely

Book 5:  A Little Tumble in Tintagel

Book 6:  A Little Burglary in Bibury

Writers Should Be Readers, Too

I made a visit to my local library today. Whenever I enter, I feel a sense of peace and joy. In fact, the library feels like my second home and has since I learned to read all those years ago. 

When I started writing, I learned the importance of also being a reader. Yes, a writer should read many books about the craft, but it's also important to read what others have written. Novels. How-To books, History, Home Decor, Travel and more. With our writer's mind, we note more in the books we read than others might. 

Even if subconsciously, we take note of the way dialogue is presented, the method the author uses to bring a character to life, how the writer creates tension, the use of sensory details, the beauty of language and so much more. Perhaps, as writers, we are more aware of these kinds of things. If not, we should be. 

If you're a mystery writer, should you only read mystery books? Should a romance writer immerse herself in nothing but romantic books? Should a travel writer ignore books that bring history to life? Of course not! No matter the genre we write, we should be wide read, expanding our horizons. We'll still pick up bits and pieces about our craft as we read.

More than once, when I have read an especially lovely sentence of paragraph, I stop and read it again to savor those beautiful words. My admiration for the writer goes up a notch or two, and I wish I could write like that. 

Read not only books but newspapers and magazines, online newsletters. You learn, you enjoy, and you also pick up tips on how to write, even if that is not your original purpose. It's a very nice side-effect. 

As writers, I hope we don't fall into the trap of watching tv and movies but seldom pick up a book to read. Some of each is fine. Find a balance that works for you. Be a writer and be a reader. 
 

Writers and Achievement

Today's poster gives us food for thought. Consider the number of years you have been writing. Is it 5, 10, 15- 30? Are you the same writer today that you were when you were a newbie writer filled with dreams and desires to be the best writer ever? 

I hope you're a better writer now than when you started. No matter what we pursue, we should grow as our experience increases. Athletes are much the same. The more they pursue their sport, the better most become at it. Of course, they have coaches to help them make progress. Writers are on their own, although we do have workshops and conferences to attend to help us become better writers.

It's something we probably don't think about too often. How many times have you actually asked yourself "Am I a better writer now than when I started writing?' In your heart, you know the answer, but you don't give it a great deal of thought. 

An interesting exercise for you to consider is to go back through your files to some of your earliest writing efforts. Read through each one entirely. I did this recently when I was looking for something and ran across a folder with some of my very earliest writing. What a surprise it was. I realized immediately that I have made a lot of progress in my writing life since those early days. A few stories appeared to have potential, but I knew they needed to be rewritten using the knowledge I've gained over these many years. In fact, I'm quite enthused about one in particular. 

Take some time to consider what you have achieved in your writing life. You should be a better writer on this end of the spectrum. As our poster says, be proud of what you have achieved. 

 

Are You a Last-Minute Writer?

 Today's poster made me laugh. I think there are two groups of people. Those who plan way ahead and get things done early and those who wait until the last minute. If a poll was taken, I wonder which group would be the largest. 

There are things that are best done at the last minute, well, maybe not the very last but close. When company is coming, you don't want to dust and clean floors a week ahead. You'd only need to do it all over again the day before your company is due. If you're going to serve a cake on Sunday, don't make it the preceding Sunday. Not gonna taste very fresh.

My son was a last-minute kind of student. He always got it done but seldom ahead of time. There are people who work best under pressure. They might have to stay up late the night before an assignment is due, but that's their choice.

What about writers? Yes, there are two groups of these people, as well. One group notes a deadline to submit a piece of writing and has it ready way ahead of that date. Others wait until the last minute and get their submission written and sent. Pros and cons to both.

The writers who work well ahead of deadlines have one real benefit. There is more time for editing and revision, so they are going to be sending a polished piece of writing. They also don't have the Worry Pixie riding on their shoulder. Some contests take only X number of entries, so the early bird can rest assured that theirs will be among that number. Those who work ahead have peace of mind.

What about those last-minute writers? They run just the opposite of the other group. That Worry Pixie has a permanent spot on their shoulder. They probably get the piece ready by the deadline, but there is little time left for editing and revision, so they are probably not sending their best work. They could be the 1012th entry for a contest that accepts only 1000 entries. There are writers who find they do their best writing when under pressure. 

Each writer probably learns which way works best for them. If working ahead is best, he/she should stay with that method. If doing a slam-bang job at the last-minute produces results, then go for it. We're all different. Some of us like the peace of mind that working ahead allows, while others thrive on doing a bang-up job at the last minute. 

It's your choice as to which way you choose to work, which way produces the best results for you, which way brings satisfaction and good results.