Tag Archives: inspiration

Inspiring writing reminder

Posted on January 3, 2012 | 24 Comments

“I wonder how old we are when we stop thinking like kids?”  – This Kid Reviews Books  (Quote used with permission. Thanks, Erik!)

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Posted in Mostly About Reading, Writing

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Day 24: NaNoWriMo & PiBoIdMo

Posted on November 25, 2010 | Leave a comment

Wednesday, Day 24 of NaNoWriMo was a good day.  Today it rained and then snowed a little more, so I didn’t hang the laundry out to dry – which I prefer, but it takes more time to do.  That just meant I had more time to do the ‘writerly‘ things I enjoy.   So, I got Valley Sunshine all printed off on my cantankerous duplicating machine, collated into 63 copies, stapled, stuffed into previously prepared envelopes, sealed ‘em up ready to go … but not in time for today’s mail.  My sister stopped in and offered to take them with her to mail in the morning, so I kept the local ones to go here and she took the rest.  Yay!  They will all be on their way tomorrow!

With Valley Sunshine done I was able to start my NaNo writing earlier in the evening.  Today I wrote 2849 words, taking my total to 32178.  Now I have the challenge 65% completed!  That is encouraging to me.  With only 6 writing days left in the challenge I have to write almost 3000 words each day to win.  Sadly, according to my stats on my NaNo page, at this rate I will finish on Dec 8.  Okayyy, NOT acceptable!

I’m still getting ideas for PiBoIdMo.  This afternoon I told my sister that I had yet to come up with an idea for it today, and she said “snowflake”.  (It was snowing at the time.)  I said, it has to be something different, I’m sure that’s been done to death.  Then an idea instantly dropped into my mind, a storyline to do with snowflakes but something different.  TaDa!  Idea #36 which I wrote down and added to later as the story evolved.  Then on Twitter I read something that gave me another idea, although it may be rather distorted.  Some of my ideas are lame, some are crazy mixed-up ones, some have amounted to nothing more than a title as yet, but a few just might make it.

I’ve been really enjoying all this writing.  It’s amazing that the month is nearly over already.  NaNoWriMo has allowed me to see what my mind, given the chance, can create with words – beyond what I have ever attempted before.  PiBoIdMo has been fun and very inspirational for me.  I am hoping that some of the people I have ‘met’ through it will be people I can stay in touch with somehow.  You know, ‘writerly’ types.  ;)

Another bonus for me is that I have discovered the blogs and websites of some very talented people who love to write.  Some have been published and some are still on the long journey to reach that goal.

If you are a creative person, have you had a chance to enjoy the company of like-minded creatives?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  :)

 

 

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Day 17: NaNoWriMo & PiBoIdMo

Posted on November 18, 2010 | Leave a comment

Wednesday, Day 17 of NaNoWriMo and I am more behind than before.  I only got 1141 words written before midnight.  Inspiration was not happening until late, so I ran out of day, but it is actually better than I thought I would do.  I’m up to 45%.  Yay!  My story has taken another turn, though.  It’s like rabbit trails, I’m chasing down another one, all the while wondering what does this have to do with the main plot (do I even have a plot?) of my story?  My total word count is now 22477 and I’m still not to the halfway point – short by 2523 – although in days I am past halfway.  Yikes!  The challenge ends in less than two weeks!

On the other hand, PiBoIdMo is coming along very well.  Today (remember I’m writing Wednesday’s post even though it will post on Thursday) I came up with two ideas, which puts my total to 28.  I only need two more to complete that challenge, but as I said before, I’ll keep going with that.

The great thing about PiBoIdMo is that I have discovered a community (neighbourhood) of writers.  They write children’s books, where my interest lies.  One writer posts prompts to inspire us, and today the one she shared really did give me an idea.  Then later another writer shared something so cute, a funny photo she took of a little lizard – and I had another idea!  This idea, though, really took off for me and I feel good about it.  I think it would  make a great picture book with some humour in it.  Of course, I feel I would have to give credit by mentioning the above inspiring writer as the one who gave me the fun idea. (She said she has an idea for him too.)

I don’t know how many of my Picture Book Ideas will make good stories, but when the challenge is over I will have to go through them all and seriously work on them to see what I can do to make them book worthy.

I worked on Valley Sunshine awhile today which is one reason I didn’t get as much written for NaNo, but VS has to get completed and mailed out.  Yesterday!

Do you ever get yourself overbooked with writing projects?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  :)

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Inspiration is where you find it

Posted on January 29, 2010 | 10 Comments

Where do you find inspiration to write?

Today Donna asked a similar question in her blog (link in my blogroll at right) and my reply came in poetic form.   I had fun writing the poem so now I am posting it here so maybe you can get a chuckle out of it, too.   I hope you enjoy it. :)    And, btw, where DO you find inspiration to write?

Inspiration Is Where You Find It

My deadline’s coming up too fast
I cannot think, my muse flew past
and I am left bereft and dry -
so much I cannot even cry!

What shall I do, where can I look?
I’ll scrub a floor, or should I cook?
How can I find what isn’t there? …
I know! I’ll sort my underwear!

But that will lead to “need to shop”
Dainties I’ll buy until I drop.
What then? will I inspired now be? …
Or maybe I should just have tea.

But look, it’s such a lovely day
to go a-walking while I pray
that out there I will find my clue
for what to write, then start anew.

How sweet the breeze that calms my mind,
as Nature’s beauty brings a kind
of peace to me that takes away
the stress of having naught to say.

I listen now and breathe it in
I listen more … such peace within.
Fresh new ideas start to stir
Great words and thoughts all in a blur.

So fast they come, so fast I write
I really must be quite a sight
As I now quickly write words down
Out on the street in my nightgown.

What can I say? The need arose
to find my muse where’er she goes
Today she took a Nature walk
And I’m again a laughingstock.

Pacing, mumbling, brow in furrows
Thoughts now scrambling from deep burrows.
Neighbours knowing, gathering ’round
“I am writing, don’t make a sound!

Don’t interrupt, I’m on a roll!
This will be good, it’s from my soul!
Then who stands here you soon will see
is more than I appear to be.

Inspiration is elusive,
doesn’t mean I am reclusive.”
(At least I am not standing here
In my, still-tagged, new underwear!)

Good thing that I just stayed at home …
Now, .. what was that word ..??
mumble … mumble …
scribble … scribble …

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  :)

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Posted in Preambles to Writing

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What do you write when you’ve nothing to write?

Posted on January 17, 2010 | 4 Comments

Are you a person who writes a little every day?  If you are or even if you are not … what do you write when you have nothing to write about?

I was in a chat room this evening ‘listening’ to what the guest speaker had to say, and she basically said to keep writing because when inspiration hits you’d better be ready for it!   That got me thinking and wondering …

What do writers write when they can think of nothing to write?  What do writers say when they can’t find any words?  What inspires a writer when nothing is inspirational?

So, I am putting these questions out to you –

What do you write about when you have nothing to write about?

How do you get inspired?  Do you ‘brainstorm’?  Do you just start writing words and connecting words that lead to connecting words until you have a theme developing?  Or .. what DO you write??

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! :)

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What or who inspires you?

Posted on January 12, 2010 | 6 Comments

Do you have a circle of writing friends?  Do you have people around you who stimulate your ‘muse’?, cause you to see things in a different way?, evoke new ideas for stories?

As yet I have not found a local writers’ group, but now I don’t know if that is something I can manage or not.  What I did find this past week was two online writers’ groups, both of which I joined.   Both have a chat room.  One group meets on Tuesday evenings but they will meet if available any time someone wants to chat – which they did for me Sunday.  The other group meets on Wednesday evenings and again on Sunday evenings for a Q & A forum with a special guest.  I couldn’t get in there last night so I went to the first website I mentioned and had the fun of taking part in chat with newbies like myself, and up-and-coming writers, and well established authors – some who have one book or several books published, and some who won awards for their writing.  There also were agents and editors there that evening.  What an amazing world is the world of writing and publishing!  I sat here quietly impressed, and in awe at the fantastic ideas, and tips, and experiences of those sharing.

I have to keep reminding myself that everyone had to start at the beginning.  Each writer had to find her/his voice.  We are not all cut from the same pattern, so for me to compare myself to others is foolhardy, I’ll never get anywhere doing that.  I am me and I can only do what I can do.  What influences me comes from where I am at the time and who and what is around me.

SO, my question is … what – or who – inspires you?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! :)

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