Taking a Stroll Down Inspiration Lane

Inspiration is a key ingredient of writers.

We find inspiration in every moment, in every word, and in every feeling. Writers can find inspiration for their stories just about any and everywhere. If you ask any writer or author where they get their inspiration, you will get a whole host of fun and interesting ideas.

Some ideas include:

Take a walk: Nature provides an unlimited source of inspiration. My poem, Autumn Song was inspired by a picture I took on a walk with some friends along Point Defiance Park a few years back. Wind Journey was inspired as I walked around my sister’s university campus.

Take a trip: to the zoo, the park, the beach, (Hawaii) anywhere there are lots of sights, sounds and smells (yes, I said smells. J )

The Coffee Shop: You will find lots of fun and unique characters in a coffee shop. Tully's has a delightful Macha Green Tea Latte, so my sisters and I often go. Next to our table I noticed an older gentleman sketching in a notepad from a fashion magazine. Then I saw him look around then begin to sketch the environment of the coffee shop. It was really neat to watch. I also got a poem out of it! 

Magazines and newspapers: Magazines usually have a lot of beautiful pictures that inspire the writer’s soul. Newspapers are a fun way to create a story out of headlines and want adds J

Other books and authors: are also a great source of inspiration.

Daily life/events: What’s the saying, ‘write what you know’ who knows your life, your family, your kids, your friends, co-workers better than you do? Some of my poems and stories were inspired things children said or did in my classroom or things other teachers said happened in their classrooms. 'When Baby Has A Bad Day,' was inspired by, yes a baby in my classroom who was having a really bad day!

Pictures: Old photos, paintings, illustrations, doodles and more offer a wonderful source of inspiration for writers. My flash fiction piece, ‘The Dark Side’ was inspired by a picture of the moon I took some years ago.

Inspiration is everywhere for the taking and for the giving J What will inspire you today?

PiBoIdMo is here!

I love November! So much happens in this month for writers.

1. National Novel Writing Month
2. National Picture Book Month
3. Picture Book Idea Month
4. Thanksgiving with the family! :D (had to add that one in or my family would never forgive me!)

This year I have been slacking on my writing and I look forward to the challenge of creating 30 picture book ideas this month as well as writing a picture book draft (12x12 challenge). On my Family-Ship Experience blog, I will feature awesome picture books both new and old to celebrate National Picture Book Month.

If you are looking for a fun writing challenge this month, check out Tara Lazar's PiBoIdMo challenge if you write picture books or the NaNoWriMo site if you write novel length stories.