May IWSG: What Inspires You

 

It's a good thing the first Wednesday in May is on the 3rd instead of the 4th, so I don't have to make this post about Star Wars instead of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Learn more about them on their website and Facebook page.

Our hosts this month are Joylene Nowell Butler, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Meka James, Diane Burton, Victoria Marie Lees, and M. Louise Barbour.

Here's our question for May: When you are working on a story, what inspires you?

Since every story is inspired by something different, there's no simple answer. Some stories are inspired by my desire to read a story with an element that doesn't seem to be done very often, like a cozy mystery with a multiracial heroine. The Beatles inspired both my science fiction Catalyst Chronicles series (the rock musician being cloned is based on John Lennon) and my fantasy Season Avatars series (a quartet of characters whose joint work is stronger than their individual efforts). Other stories may be inspired by a theme for an anthology or by a combination of things. (My first published short story, "A Reptile at the Reunion," was inspired by an invitation to a college reunion and the question, "Say...Aren't You Dead?" which was the inspiration for the issue of a magazine I briefly subscribed to back in the late 90s/early 00s.) Ultimately, every story inspiration comes out of something personal, which is part of the reason I have no interest in using AI in my writing.

What inspires you? Feel free to share in the comments.

 

IWSG: The Art Behind the Story

January sure seemed like a long month, didn't it? Here's hoping February will be better. Let's get the month off to a good start with the Insecure Writer's Support Group. You can learn more about them on their website, Facebook page, or Twitter feed. Our hosts for February are Lee Lowery, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Jennifer Hawes (no link available), Cathrina Constantine, and Tyrean Martinson.

Our question for this month is Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?

I've been wracking my brain for a while, and all I could come up with is a writing assignment from seventh or eighth grade. I don't remember the details very well, but the photo was of a dark hallway. I wrote a story about walking through my school at night, and I think my dog made an appearance at the end (I think I was looking for her, though I don't remember why she would have been at school.) Since I graduated from school, I assumed I finished the assignment.

Most of my story inspiration these days comes from either anthologies or exploring established characters and worlds. Occasionally, I do find photos that deserve to inspire stories or be book covers. One of them was posted to Twitter in December; I saw it on my Facebook feed. It's a pair of brides, one in a purple/gray dress, the other in white, each facing outward while holding swords one-handed and clasping their free hands behind their backs. If you haven't seen the photo, check it out at the link; it's gorgeous. Since this photo was part of their actual wedding, I won't share it here. It would make a great book cover, however. You can follow the pair on Twitter at Bisexuals of the Blade. Perhaps someday that photo will inspire me to write a story about a pair of bisexual women in a similar pose but with different weapons. (I already know who they would be, though I'm not sure if that scene fits their story.)

Have you found art more inspiring than I have? If so, feel free to discuss it in the comments.

Words of Wisdom

Some people ask me if I get depressed, if I lose confidence in what I am and whether I get upset with those terrible people. Well, I do. for a moment. But I am really too busy, I don’t have time to be depressed, lose my confidence, or think ill of anybody, for long. I just don’t have the time.

-- Yoko Ono, from a speech called "A Quiet Revolution" given at Oxford University on March 10, 2010

(You can read the whole speech here.)

I know there are a lot of people out there who do get depressed and lose their confidence. I see this discussed fairly often on writer blogs, though of course lack of self-confidence isn't restricted to writers. But I agree with Yoko. I work full time and have a toddler; I'm always busy, sometimes busier than I'd like to be. There's lots that needs to be done at work and at home, so I just do it. When you're busy mentally juggling half a dozen things, you don't have time for negative thinking. But negative thinking can keep you from accomplishing things -- if you let it.

Another quote I like is from drummer Mark Schulman: “There are always going to be better drummers out there, but that doesn’t mean I’ve ever doubted my ability to do this.”

The same applies to writing. Don't worry about what other writers are doing; focus on making your work the best it can be!

Passings

Two people passed away this week. Although only one wrote a book, both of them can be inspirational to writers.

The first one is Estelle Getty, more famously known as Sophia on the Golden Girls. Although she started acting at a young age, it took her decades (about forty years, from the article I read the other day on CNN) to achieve breakthrough success. She also auditioned a couple of times for the Golden Girls, but initially they passed on her because she looked too young for the part. Only after she asked a makeup artist to make her look older did she land the part. Perseverance does pay off.

The other person who passed away was much younger. Professor Randy Pausch, who gave his famous "Last Lecture" after being diagnosed with an incurable cancer, was only 47. But he focused on achieving your childhood dreams and seeing the world as a Tigger instead of an Eeyore. I saw part of a TV special about him, but I haven't read his book yet. I think it might be time to pick it up. Who couldn't use a little inspiration?