Where do you get inspired?

boswellbaxter · Post by **boswellbaxter** » Fri October 10th, 2008, 5:05 pm

I thought it would be interesting to know where the authors on the forum (that includes bloggers and anyone else who writes) get their inspiration. I, for instance, find that some of my best ideas come when I'm in the shower--maybe because there are no distractions there, no background noise, and no need to rush (unless I'm getting ready to leave the house).

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Fri October 10th, 2008, 11:19 pm

Walking.

But I have gotten a few story ideas by reading tombstones.

donroc · Post by **donroc** » Sat October 11th, 2008, 12:14 am

I am inspired by anomalies when I read Histories. If an historical character behaves diffrently from the norm, I want to know why. Detecting is the best part of research for me, especially when my hunches are proven to be true.

Other times, ideas come to me when I read about events that have not appeared in historical fiction.

Alaric · Post by **Alaric** » Sat October 11th, 2008, 3:55 am

Shower, falling asleep, staring at nothing on the bus ... they come anywhere!

xiaotien · Post by **xiaotien** » Sat October 11th, 2008, 4:23 am

staring into the waves of the ocean.

driving long distances in the car.

doing cardio at the gym.

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Sat October 11th, 2008, 2:43 pm

[quote=""boswellbaxter""]I thought it would be interesting to know where the authors on the forum (that includes bloggers and anyone else who writes) get their inspiration. I, for instance, find that some of my best ideas come when I'm in the shower--maybe because there are no distractions there, no background noise, and no need to rush (unless I'm getting ready to leave the house).[/quote]

Supposedly contact with water is good for creative inspiration. I have a friend who fills the sink and soaks her hands and wrists if she's in need of inspiration.
Mine will come from listening to music lyrics away from the PC, from walking, from doing mundane jobs around the home that don't engage the brain and from reading stuff in research books. 'So Henry II was kicked on the thigh by a Templar's horse.' I start imaginging the scene and then build it from there. Or I'll see a picture - like the Maciejowski bible and find myself being drawn into the scene and making up a new scenario round it. What are they saying? Why is he/she doing such and such?

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Sat October 11th, 2008, 2:50 pm

hmm that is interesting about filling up the sink. I may actually try it if I'm experiencing writers block! But I will agree sometimes I get ideas in the shower.

Julianne Douglas · Post by **Julianne Douglas** » Sun October 12th, 2008, 5:44 pm

Shower works for me, too, although with the water shortage here in CA, it's not terribly practical! My ideas usually come when I'm actively writing. I find it hard to just "think" about a story. I have to be putting words down on paper in order for ideas to start flowing and elements of the plot to fit together.

Rowan · Post by **Rowan** » Mon October 13th, 2008, 3:53 pm

I've lost my writing mojo so whatever inspires me goes nowhere.

boswellbaxter · Post by **boswellbaxter** » Mon October 13th, 2008, 4:19 pm

[quote=""Rowan""]I've lost my writing mojo so whatever inspires me goes nowhere.

[/quote]

It can come back. I lost mine after I had my children, moved back south, and went to law school. Then in 2001 it came back with a bang.