Inspiration

...comes from many sources. One of my favorite inspirations is songs. Sometimes it's the lyrics alone. Could be the melody or the singer(s) or simply the mood of the piece, too. Recently my Muse Bait has been The Highwaymen---Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristopherson. Namely the song entitled 'Highwayman.' Struck my fancy. I love the progression of the Highwayman through the verses---his many incarnations, how the spirit survives the death of the incarnation...It's cool. And yeah, who wouldn't love listening to these men sing? I mean, you have to admire anyone who's voice comes from their toes, like Waylon Jennings' and Johnny Cash's. And in the midst of searching YouTube for more Highwaymen songs, it occurred to me. The heroine in the new WIP the Muse gifted me with this past weekend...how droll and unexpected would it be for her to like the Highwaymen's music? The notion still tickles me. Can't wait to incorporate that bit of silliness. :D

Now that I've digressed a wee bit...Inspiration...someone said you can't wait for it to hit on its own, you have to go after it with a club. So true. That's why I often turn to music for inspiration---either as a laxative for Museal Constipation or just to spark an idea to start writing. People watching works, too. Closing the ol' eyeballs and letting the mind wander works, too. Another favorite of mine is asking myself "What If" situational questions. "What if the bridesmaid never becomes the bride," for example. Taking a simple, every day occurrence and setting it on its ear is fun, too. Writing prompts are good ones, too. You never know what will come from one.

Speaking of writing prompts...What song(s) have inspired you? What have you seen people do that's caught your fancy and blossomed into an idea? Where has your mind taken you? What every day occurrence can you take and set on it's ear? My answers are below, in order of the questions asked.

1. Song: The Long Goodbye...It's been tickling my brain cell for years. One of these days, I'm going to put it on repeat and listen to it until whatever it's evoking within me comes out.

2. People Watching: People shopping at a home improvement store, in my case, Lowes.

3. Mind Wandering: Saturday last, the Muse gifted me with a heroine, hero and a situation and a very good view of the entire story. Now I just hafta figure out how to get it out of the brain and onto paper (or in this case, into the computer!).

4. Everyday Occurrence On Its Ear: People going about their daily business, piling into elevators to be whisked up to whatever floor they work upon, but when the elevator doors open, they don't wind up where they think they will...Hmmm...

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If you wait for inspiration to write; you’re not a writer, you’re a waiter. – Dan Poynter

Ever tried and failed? No matter. Try again and fail better. – Samuel Beckett

Best advice on writing I’ve ever received. Finish. – Peter Mayle

Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way. - E.L. Doctorow

He is able who thinks he is able. - Buddha

You must want to enough. Enough to take all the rejections, enough to pay the price of disappointment and discouragement while you are learning. Like any other artist you must learn your craft—then you can add all the genius you like. - Phyllis A. Whitney