Inspiration is like magic. It comes fleetingly, then is gone when you feel you need it most. And because of that, we can’t depend on it. But when you do find it, seize the spark and let it burn as long as it can to refuel your creativity.
For me, sparks of inspiration are usually random and sudden, never quite happening the same way twice, and always producing different results.
The inspiration for one novel I’m writing came from two of my best friends and Anne of Green Gables. One friend was writing a book about a girl in 19th century America, and the other was writing an Anne of Green Gables fan story. That very day after reading some of both stories, the colorful setting and endearing characters inspired me to begin my own story.
Some time afterwards, during winter, I sat on my bed and looked out the window. The sunny glint of the snow outside beckoned to me and suddenly I realized I needed to write a story featuring snow – and an evil queen. 😉 Having recently watched and loved Lord of the Rings prompted me to write it as a fantasy.
I’m still amazed how such a small spark of inspiration – a quiet nudge to write something about snow – could flame into the 180-page and counting epic fantasy that means so much to me today.
I’m still working on both and would never have come up with them if I hadn’t seized that tiny spark. So whenever you feel an urge to write something, please take advantage of it. You never know what will grow from it.
Whether it’s something as subliminal as snow or the simple act of a fall leaf fluttering to the cold earth, whether it’s a relentless theme that you know you need to turn into a story, or a life changing event that happened to you, anything can become inspiration.
And when inspiration meets determination, good things happen.
Where have you found inspiration in the past?
(Featured image via Pexels.)
Saraina Whitney 