Writers write

A great quote that I came across recently was “Writers write, aren’t they lucky?” I came across it on one of the many websites and blogs I check out. I haven’t been doing that so much lately, mostly because I am actually writing myself, but it is helpful to see what others are up to.

When I am writing, it helps me write. This may sounded a bit confused but I find the more I am writing the more writing I want to do and the more I get done. I also tend to forget that until I am back in a good writing rhythm and then I start to regret the time wasted not writing.

So at the moment with my daily plans and consistent writing actually happening, I am writing more when I sit down and I want to sit down and write more often. I am even sitting up, switching on the bedside lamp and picking up paper and pen as ideas flood my thinking in the moment I am drifting off to sleep. I find myself making one sentence notes on hair or clothing styles, ideas to be edited into or out of my manuscript, random words and even short and children’s story ideas.

I find writing very relaxing and my day job at the moment is so hectic I didn’t even take my sneakers off when I reached the office today. At the moment I am fairly emotionally exhausted by the time I get home, but after a little family time, sitting down and letting the words flow onto the paper, or screen, is actually very relaxing and very freeing.

It is quite often at that exhausted point I’m not sure I really want to start anything, and the computer and I start that glaring competition to see who will win but I usually find that it does help. Particularly with a first draft, I am not consciously thinking about how the story is working, or whether what I am writing today fits with yesterday’s scene. It is the words just flowing onto the page. And I find that very relaxing and surprising, I never really know what might appear until the words type themselves across the screen…In many ways it is like watching the story unfold from a distance and that is the main reason I love writing fiction.

Happy Scribbling.

Inspiration

It can come from anywhere and with today’s technology it is easy to record. I carry a note book with me at all times. In face I have several stashed all over – beside the bed, in the car, in my office, beside my favourite chair in the lounge and then of course the one in my handbag. So anytime an idea hits I can record it. It might be anything, a word, a sentence, a name, a scene or a new story idea. Whatever it is I’m ready for it.

I have heard some writers say that you don’t need to do this. That if it’s worth remembering then you will. That doesn’t work for me. Very often in that moment between awake and asleep I have a strange clarity. If I leave it for the morning then I’ve lost it. I need to write it down immediately. But if I have a vivid dream I need to dwell on it, think it through and turn it over in my head before it is clear enough to write down.

With the wonders of modern technology you can record anything at anytime. Now I am the first to admit that I was a little bit slow to come to some of this new fangled stuff, particularly smart phones. I confused the salesman completely when I finally made the plunge when I asked if I could use it to make phone calls. Well, it didn’t seem like an important feature when he went through what it could do, I just had to ask.

Now I’m sold on it. Yes I use it to call people but I also use its other features. Great for notes, I can record voice messages and best of all is the camera.

Inspiration can come from anything, over stuffed antique shop shelves, museums or art galleries, people on the street (although they get a bit funny if you want to take pictures), colours in the garden, patterns of light on the wall, somewhere exotic or even patterns on the cat (mine has a target on her side).

Go out, see the world and its wonders and use those sights in your writing.

Happy scribbling