Category: On Writing

Total 29 Posts

Inspiration

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She stood awhile waiting at the edge, watching for him, and praying it wasn’t too late.” – Mistress of the Seas (in progress)

Writers often work in solitude. It’s a given. A mug of coffee, a loving pet by your side, and a vision of a story floating on the recesses of your mind. Where does it come from?

When I look over my earlier writings, I chose what interests me. Angels among us is something I’ve come to believe. Since childhood when I first learned of guardian angels, I felt the existence of ethereal beings deemed by a Creator to assist and work among us. A de javu experience in the ancient ruins of Mexico City and experiences in meditations convinced me of the notion of reincarnation then led to writing about lovers who came together after a lifetime centuries earlier. Ghosts are believed real by many of us. Believing in the possibility led to my writing about it in two young adult books and a short story. The journey and adventures of American pioneers led to my writing about a headstrong couple in Wildflowers, a book set along the Oregon Trail during the 1840’s.

Yet, there is more here. Characters call to me from their world, tell me their problems, and lead to the writing of their stories. It sounds strange, but once I start to write a story down, it generally takes form if I am willing to allow it to. When I tell people that I write fiction, they sometimes tell me that they could write a book. I challenge them to do so. It’s never easy, but it takes more than imagination, it takes endurance, perseverance, and being open.

A photograph, a work of art, the lyrics of a song, a story passed down through generations, a discovery on a trip, other works of other authors can generate ideas. I also believe in a Creator, much greater than I, who benefits all life and instills in us the power to create. I am forever grateful to that Creator.

Weather to Write

Spring ushers in warmer weather, albeit mercurial at times, but generally a reprieve from harsher wintry days. I started Spring cleaning with my closets. Whether to save, donate, or toss a few things from the wardrobe perplexed me, but it gets done, and thrift stores appreciate my efforts. This is the time to scour the drawers, too, for items no longer useful.

While I am at it, this is a good time to take out those notepads, rough drafts, and look at how to spruce up my writing. I am also committing to a Spring writing challenge: NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in April. I have notebooks, outlines, and former drafts to work with. The challenge is flexible in that you can set your own word counts and what you want to do with the writing. I’ve had a few drafts and revisions to choose from. Although the warmer weather and sunshine beckon, I cocoon within my writer’ space awhile to type as much as I can in the allotted time I choose to give myself for the task. Easily distracted by the sweet birdsong in my yard, the demands of a growing puppy, binge watching a favorite series, or the temptation of doing something else, it remains a challenge, but one that is doable. It is not whether to write, but weather need not be right for writing.

Photo by Guilherme Rossi from Pexels

Writing Through It

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” – Charles Dickens

Dickens might have been talking about present times with a pandemic, political and civil unrest, and violence in society. Are we in the worst of times? Have we passed through our season of darkness? Will the Spring be our season of hope?

I’m still figuring out the “best” part, but if you think of all those front line workers including family and friends who worked in hospitals, health care services, or grocery stores, it brought out the best in humanity. There are so many more who volunteer their time in the service of others. They represent the best too.

When you realize how important others are in your life, a great deal matters. Friendship, family, and even beloved pets stood out for me as important.

As a writer, I believe going through tough times can be both an obstacle or an opportunity. If you write through it, you can get through it.

I took the time, when I could, to write a memoir of 50,000 words as part of a summer writing challenge. I “escaped” to my writer’s den each day during the month of August and wrote until I met my goal. Next month, I write again for the National Novel Writing Month challenge. I set up a daily goal or time to write, and just do it.

So, for anyone who is anguishing these days, write through it.

Happy Writing!