How do I find my inspiration as an author?
That is the question I get asked by friends and acquaintances the majority of the time. When I get asked this question, I just get so tongue-tied because it’s not an easy question for me to answer on the spot. Today, I’m going to answer that question in this blog.
Let’s talk about inspiration.
There are so many misconceptions to me about inspiration. I’ll discuss about my experiences when inspiration arrives. Normally, when I’m looking for a new story idea, inspiration will hit out of the blue. It could be something I see on the news, reading an article, or even watching a TV show. That’s one-way inspiration will come.
It is for me, sitting at my computer and looking at a blank screen. Writing is a process and it can be a long daunting process. People don’t realize it is a habit of sitting in my chair, at my desk, and working on a project.
When I start a new project, I find that process very daunting because I’m looking at a blank screen. I am not waiting for inspiration to hit; what I want is a spark to light up my imagination to catch it on fire. That requires work. I don’t think people understand that.
How do I create the Spark of imagination?
Currently, I’m editing book one. Now, I feel it’s time for me to start outlining book two in the series. My mind is ready to start cultivating my imagination into thinking in different ways. A gardener prepares the soil by cultivating it for the plants. That’s what I’m doing for my mind. The plot and the storylines I’ve created in book one will continue into book two.
Staring at a blank screen can be very intimidating, and it’s difficult to start from scratch again. My outlining process is making a list of subplots that took place in book one that will carry over into book two.
I’m not sitting in my chair, hoping, and praying the gods of inspiration will shoot down a lightning bolt to strike my head. The key. Cultivating my imagination by asking myself questions about the story that I want to write.
What if questions?
What if questions are the seeds for the garden. These questions allow me to grow my story and determine what is essential and why. It will fill in the blanks when outlining my manuscript.
These questions help to spark my imagination to think about the story when I am away from my computer. My creative juices will start boiling slowly. This process is preparing my mind to start outlining in a few weeks by making the pieces and placing them in certain places in my outline.
Burst of Inspiration
This is where I think people get confused about inspiration. When suddenly, I receive a burst of inspiration for a story I’ve been working on. What they don’t realize is I’ve been putting in the work to get my creative juices flowing.
Today, I received a burst of inspiration for book 3 when I was on my way to the store. I wasn’t expecting it. Just happened. Why? I’m cultivating my mind, forming the pieces for book 2, and my creative juices are activated. That produced the idea for book 3.
The Sparks for my Imagination.
So why am I laying out all the groundwork before I even outline or begin to write my first draft? The sparks of my imagination. I want them throughout the writing process. When I outline, write, and edit, I need those ideas to make my novel unique.
How do you find your inspiration? Do you outline? Or do you just jump right in? Let me know in the comments. Thank you for reading.
Alexandra Mars 