Ten Ways to Grab Writing Inspiration

Unless you just started writing five minutes ago, you know what it’s like to lose inspiration. There are tons of reasons this can happen. Good news, though! There are tons of ways to get that inspiration back.

The most important thing to remember is that you are not controlled by inspiration. Sure, feelings of inspiration come and go, and we don’t have control over that. But those are just feelings. The secret sauce is that you control inspiration. It’s in your fingertips when you type without abandon. It’s in your heart and your passions and dreams. It’s in that awkward high school memory. Open your eyes and watch the world around you. What do you have to say about it all?

But sometimes it’s a little harder than that to get myself going, so I have a whole arsenal of ways I reach out and grab inspiration.

1. Remember what made you fall in love with your idea in the first place. Take that idea out for dinner. Whisper sweet nothings to it. Light some candles. And then maybe stop there so it doesn't get weird...

2. Keep an updated Brag Book. This book is a place for boastful words about YOU. Yeah, okay, you’re humble and your favorite food is humble pie. No one will see it but you! And if you want, you can put a disclaimer that says, “I promise I’m not as full of myself as I seem.”

Every writer has highs and lows. The lows make us want to give up some days. You’re not a perfect writer? So what! Raise of hands, who is? JK Rowling, we see you. You can put your hand down now. When you feel like you suck, open your Brag Book and BAM. Proof you don’t.

3. Read about writing. Oh, look, you’re doing it now! It never fails that when I read tips from other writers, it gets me fired up. It’s just something about learning (or being reminded of what we already know) that lights the fire of a book nerd. Yay, learning!

4. Set measurable and attainable goals, both big and small. When I meet small goals, it fuels me and takes me one step closer to meeting the bigger goals.

An example of a goal that won’t fuel you: “I want to get super rich from my multi-book deal!”

Why is that no good? Because there’s no check box next to “super rich”. Who says what “super rich is”? JK Rowling, put your hand down.

A better example: “I will work on this book until I land an agent or until I reach 300 rejections.”

That’s better because you either will land an agent or you will get that three hundredth rejection letter, and you’ll know you accomplished what you set out to do.

5. Share your work. You can do this all sorts of ways! Beta readers, critique partners, public readings, querying, etc. Feedback and rejections ignite my passion for my work like nothing else. When I know what I need to work on, I have something to work on. Sounds simple. But if you never share, you might reach that point where you think your work is perfect, and you become stagnant. No matter where you are, please don’t become stagnant.

PS. Sharing is scary. Waiting is nerve-wracking. And feedback won't always be sunshine and roses.

6. People-watch. Go outside and sit on a bench. Or set up in a coffee shop and pretend you’re not eavesdropping. Listen to what people talk about. Watch the way they interact. What do they wear? Why do you think that is? Imagine their background. Play with thoughts of their future. People are interesting.

7. Read. Appreciate other authors’ hard work and send an email or tweet telling them so! Who knows? Someday someone could do that for you and make your day.

8. Read some more. There are two types of books. Books by authors more talented than you (JK Rowling, sit down), and books by authors you feel share about the same level of talent as you. The more talented will inspire you to dig deeper into the craft. Authors as talented as you will inspire you because they are proof you can make it–they are hope for us embodied.

9. Dream big. Dream bigger than is realistic. What would you do if you became a published author? Could you finally quit that day job you hate? Could you buy your dream home or travel the world? Could you touch just one heart, and know all your hard work was worth it?

10. Take a break to live. Take a break to dance and eat good food and talk to your family. Take a break to write something new. Take a break to write something bad. Take a long break from your work so you can go back to it with fresh eyes. If you never do this, you'll write yourself dry.

I don’t think any of these are new ideas. This also isn't a complete list. These are just the things that help inspire me, and I hope will inspire you, too. Go out and grab that inspiration and suck it dry for all it’s worth. But first! Tell us what inspires you.

Tons of high fives,
Jessie
@Je55ieMullin5   

YA or MG - Does it matter?

Hello writers and readers! 

As this is my (Kate) first blog for YAtopia, I wanted to centre it around me. That’s right, me me me me! And, although I read almost anything, when it comes to writing I’m a middle grade monster. (However, I plan to challenge myself during NaNoWriMo with a YA novel, but more on this in November.)

                                       

For those unfamiliar, we’re talking 8-12 year olds. The bit before YA and the bit after first chapter books. Yes, it’s a tricky group to define but in my eyes these are kids who are getting ready to grow up, who are about to experience a lot of first times. Yet still so preciously innocent, still hand-holders. So writing for these guys is a big responsibility. It’s all about balance.

Because of the huge divide in potential reading abilities, there’s a definite split: lower MG (Spiderwick Chronicles) and upper MG (The first Harry P’s, Percy Jackson). Word count and voice are the best ways to spot the difference but something as simple as the cover art is a good indicator too. My writing voice leans toward upper. However, what I’m seeing more and more these days, is YA themes in MG books, and I’ve got to say, I don't like it.

I'm a lover of rules (probably an important fact to bear in mind with me) so I have strict guidelines that I adhere to. And, as a grown-up who buys for this age group, I think every MG author should make sure they’re setting similar boundaries to avoid poisoning these pristine little minds.

.

Swearing: Leave it out. If it’s absolutely, 100%, unbelievably necessary then stick with B class words and the smallest smattering. These kids will learn the A class soon enough.

Death: Yeah, it’s life, I know, but kids should only have to deal with this subject as and when. It depends on the genre of the book, of course, but personally I avoid it. If you’ve got to put it in, touch on it delicately, no gory or intricate details.

Sex: Obviously not. A peck on the lips, the touch of an arm. That’s it though. All in good time.

Drugs and alcohol: Definitely not the kids but, maybe in a contemporary novel, the main child character could be viewing an addiction or user secondhand. Best not to spell out exactly what's going on. 

Happy ending: Always. Pamper to this age group’s dreams, keep the mystery of the rainbow ending alive. Don’t destroy it.

                                       

Generally the dark, edgy, risque themes are not needed at this age: they can come in YA books, when a child's mind is ready to deal with them. Life throws enough at youngsters, nasty realities are abundant. I think, let them escape from all this in a book. Tell a fun, happy, inspirational story that leaves them hopeful and with their youth intact. I implore you to love these kids as I do, don’t make them grow up before they’re ready.

So, until next time, happy words!


www.katejfoster.weebly.com
@winellroad

How watching too much TV can be a good thing...

I'm the first to admit that I probably watch far too many TV shows than I should. This consumption of visual entertainment definitely eats into my writing time and often keeps me up way past my bedtime, consequently eating into my reading time, but I like to justify all those hours spent watching my favorite shows as research.

For the last three weeks, I have been addicted to White Collar. I stumbled upon this series looking up Matt Bomer in the wake of The Normal Heart. The premise of the story piqued my interest and also, Matt Bomer. (Oh look, an excuse to post a picture of this beautiful man...)

Matt Bomer as Neal Caffrey in White Collar

Within the first ten minutes, I was hooked, and needless to say I have spent many long nights over the past couple of weeks devouring all five seasons of the show. Yes, the plot is clever and the show balances episodic crime solving with over-arcing personal storylines very well, but that alone wouldn't have been enough to sustain my interest. The reason I'm watching and have become so invested in the show is because of the characters and their on-screen chemistry. It's rare that the starring relationship of a show should be one between two straight men. Sure there are romantic side stories, but the main relationship and the one viewers are invested in is between con-artist Neal Caffrey and FBI agent Peter Burke.

So, having never studied creative writing or attended any formal writing courses, I'm going to learn as much as I can wherever I can, which most definitely includes TV. There is a critical difference in writing a novel and writing for TV. The most obvious being that a TV show requires a script with scant description and tons of dialogue, whereas novels should be the perfect balance of exposition, description and dialogue. That said, good writing in TV can still be a major education particularly in how to write snappy, engaging dialogue in the voice of the individual character.

But that's not the main reason I watch TV. In fact, it's not even the premise or plot that often gets me hitting that 'next episode' button until 4AM but rather the characters. Like White Collar, all my favorite shows are the ones that allow me to fall hook, line and sinker for the characters, characters that amuse, frustrate, intrigue, delight and enthrall me. By watching these shows and dissecting the characters I fall in love with (or in hate with, thank you Joffrey), I'm discovering a lot about characterization, about how to create flawed, but lovable characters and place them in situations that challenge them. This might seem obvious, but it's easy to forget these things when you're writing an 85k word science fiction novel and getting tangled up in plot and world-building.

Never again will I sit idly staring at the moving pictures on the screen hoping to absorb the nuances of character development via osmosis. I've decided to take action, doing character studies of those characters - be they protagonist or antagonist - that really speak to me. Here are the things I try to look for while creating my character profiles:

1. Basic personality descriptors in episode 1
2. What does the character want?
3. Greatest strength
4. Greatest weakness
5. Major incident that has influenced/caused their greatest strength & weakness
6. Childhood influences of current emotional/psychological state
7. Relationship with parents/siblings if any
8. Relationship with friends/lovers 
9. Defense mechanism
10. Default emotional response to stress/not getting what they want
11. Hobbies/interests that show stress response or emotions not otherwise displayed or reveal different aspect of personality
12. Personality descriptors in last episode (or season finale)
13. Chart the change in the character noting plot points or critical moments that caused this change

I've already learned a lot by becoming a more active watcher of TV shows and I'm sure I'll learn a lot more as I start studying and deconstructing the likes of Neal Caffrey, Dean Winchester, Kate Beckett, Vanessa Ives, and Damon Salvatore. And these are all things I can actively apply in my writing to create complex, nuanced characters that will hopefully enthrall readers as much as they enthrall me on the screen. That, or I've found a pretty good way of making myself feel better about all the TV I watch ;)

Character Worksheets

Whether you're a pantser or a plotter, one thing I recommend either before you draft or when you revise, is working with a character worksheet.

It's not only important to know all the superficial basics (hair color, favorite song, house they live in, etc), it's absolutely VITAL that you know your character's heart and soul. You need to know what drives them, what inspires them, what haunts them. And this is where character worksheets can come in.


This is the basic one I start off with:

What misconception does your protagonist have about himself or the world?

What is he lacking mentally, emotionally, or spiritually, as a result? 

How is the interior Lie reflected in the character’s exterior world?Is the Lie making his life miserable when the story opens?

If not, will the Inciting Event and/or the First Plot Point begin to make him uncomfortable as a result of his Lie?

What are the symptoms of your character’s Lie?


I then go on to explore the character's WOUND and their WANT.  This is to establish what has wounded them in the past that motivates them to fight for what they want in the future.




Character worksheets can go on to cover a whole host of others, and it's up to you how much you want to do, but the more you work at it, the stronger your character becomes.  So, get at it and get to know your characters - mind, body and soul!

What's in a name?

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet...”

Right?

Well, no offense, Mr. Shakespeare, but I’m not so sure.

Don’t worry, I’m not about to start dissecting Shakespeare’s sentiment... I wouldn’t dare. Also, I realize that this is more of a metaphor for a rather tumultuous social situation going down in fair Verona. BUT if I were to ask this question in a more literal sense, I might have to disagree. You see, I believe there is a lot in a character’s name. Christening my characters is one of those things I spend days/weeks/months agonizing over while I’m drafting. I can’t just insert any old Tom, Dick or Harry and be done with it. I can’t do it.

Lately on my Twitter feed I’ve seen a lot of folks put out calls for name suggestions. Sometimes the suggestions are loved. Other times the tweeter needs to elaborate on their character’s traits, because honestly, Rosie is probably not the right fit for an evil demon overlord who sucks the souls out of little children. Just like Balthazar doesn’t seem to quite capture the essence of an 8 year-old boy who collects bugs and comic books. You know? Or maybe you don’t? Maybe you disagree? I’m curious what you think, which is why I’m writing this.

I want to know how you pick your character’s names? Are you a regular visitor to baby naming sites? Do you prefer to splice names together and come up with something totally original and exotic? Will any name do for your darlings, so long as their story is solid? Maybe you like to leave it up to fate and consult a random name generator?

I don’t usually settle on a name until revisions (thank you, Search and Replace Function). I always find myself second-naming my characters, too. Bonus if I can inject repetition in there without it sounding too wordy. I like to keep my names original, but I don’t splice because I’m super conscious of uncertainty in pronunciation. And I always, always avoid names that already belong to beloved characters.   

That’s how I do it, how do you do it? Let me know in the comments below.

Louise XO.      

Introducing New YAtopia Citizens!

In a sudden redirection of circumstances, I became the host of this introduction blog post. And yes I might be introducing myself later on, but that's not important. What's important is welcoming the newest citizens of YAtopia, those valuable people that have committed a few snippets of their time and knowledge for blog posts to send out into the literary world.

Without further adieu.....

Jessie Mullins

Jessie Mullins is author of Period Fairy (periodfairy.blogspot.com), a blog about, um, periods. She also writes for Whole Magazine, and is delighted to now write beside the talented contributors of this fine blog! Jessie is so obsessed with YA novels, she wrote one (and is seeking representation). When Jessie isn’t writing, you might find her snuggled somewhere in Michigan next to her husband, hanging out with teens at youth group, or getting such good deals at thrifts stores it hurts. You can find her on Twitter @Je55ieMullin5.

Kate Foster  

Kate is a picture book and middle grade writer, a beta reader, and an editor and proofreader in training. Originally from Kent in England, she emigrated with her husband and three sons to the Gold Coast in Australia in 2014. She's a member of SCBWI, the Society of Authors, Women Writers, Women's Books writing group and the Gold Coast Writers Association. She'd like to go on and say she's a supermodel, supermum, superwife, incredible cook and all-round perfect human, but that would involve some lying. Her links are Twitter @winellroad and website www.katejfoster.weebly.com.

 Louise Gornall

Louise is a graduate of Garstang Community Academy, currently studying for a BA (Hons) in English language and literature with special emphasis on creative writing. She writes books that often involve characters fleeing for their lives/fighting/falling in love. She's a YA aficionado, Brit bird, film nerd, identical twin, and junk food enthusiast. Rumour has it she's also the pink Power Ranger. She's represented by Mandy Hubbard of D4EO. 

Aren't these gals fabulous? I can't wait to read their posts and connect with them!

Oh, yeah, and there's also a new blog assistant.

Me.

E.G. Moore

E. G. Moore is a poet, freelance writer, and storyteller. She is a long distance member of For Pete’s Sake Writers Group in Washington and is a Rocky Mountain Chapter SCBWI member. She loves writing stories that send her young readers on adventures they can't experience in real life. She’s excited to be the new blog assistant for YAtopia. When she’s not telling “Mommy Made stories” to her two daughters or nagging her husband to edit her latest manuscript, she can be found off-roading in her suped-up ATV, swimming, or in a long, plot-refreshing bubble bath. She tweets @egmoorewriter, posts on facebook.com/emilygmoorewriter, and blogs at www.emilygmoorewriter.blogspot.com.