Life + Being a Writer = Inspiration

Hello lovelies!

We are officially back in business. The writerly crew decided to take a bit of a summer break. **Stay tuned we just may have a contest in the works this fall** I don't know about you but I've had a blast this summer. Spent almost a month in the UK & Ireland. But did I get much writing done?

Here's the thing, I'm a strong proponent of the:

Butt + Chair = Words on the Page

BUT, I'm even more into:

Life + Being a Writer = Inspiration

Here's a post for all those writers out there who are feeling the "I'm just not being prolific/productive enough summer blues." Sometimes there will be moments when the Butt in Chair equation just isn't working.

Here's what you do. LIVE.

Think back to the first time you put pen to paper seriously. Those great moments in our characters' lives when they've lost someone or something. Those moments where they've surpassed the odds, or lost it all. Those are the moments of our lives that we draw from. That crappy break-up. Channel the ridiculous amounts of tears shed. Or that amazing bungee jumping experience--definitely workable for an adrenaline pumping scene.

My point is, even if you're not writing, you're experiencing, and if you're experiencing, you're creating writing fodder.

Use it. Own it. Do it.

Now, go get your butt in that chair.

~Liz

Losing Focus

            When I originally started this post, it was going to be all about what albums I’ve found most inspirational when writing a story. Not surprisingly I found that Nine Inch Nails was probably my top band that I listened to. However as I delved into them more, hopeing to find the one most inspirational song, I found something more with these lyrics:

‘I’m becoming less defined as days go by. Fading away, and well you might say, I’m losing focus. Kind of drifting into the abstract….” (Only, off of the With Teeth album in 2005)

            When I heard this, my jaw dropped—literally.  It was like coming out of a hypnotic trance and discovering the world for the first time again. Thankfully though, I didn’t have a lot of people in front of me with snickering little smiles pointing in my directions.  What I realized is this. I’ve been struggling with writing because I couldn’t focus on just one thing. My focus has been on an entire series.

            Will this new discovery make is it so that I can get my normal 1 to 7k words written a day? Probably not instantly, no. It’s sort of a case of use it or lose it. Its going to take me some time, but with a little nagging help from some great CP’s (you know who you are), soon, hopefully very freakin soon, there will be a new story written for everyone’s enjoyment.

 

            If anyone else has had this issue, I’d love to know how you got past it.

 

            Ps, in case anyone still wants to know, here’s a list of my top albums I write to.

1.    Nine Inch Nails:  Live-All that Could Have Been

2.    Seether: Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces.

3.    30 Seconds to Mar: A Beautiful Lie

4.    Evanesance: Open Door

5.    CellDweller: Wish Upon A Blackstar

6.    Linkin Park: A thousand Suns

7.    Muse: Blackholes and Revelations

8.    Marilyn Manson: Born Villian

9.    Green Day: Dookie

10. My Chemical Romance: Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge

 

Auzy

 

           

Pinterest and Inspiration

I love Pinterest. Despite the fact that I'm on a diet and most of the delicious recipes on there, I can't eat, I still love it and spend a fair bit of time procrastinating and repinning.
But here's the thing. I'm *sorta* being productive.

 Inspiration--for me at least--comes from anywhere, and for my new WIP, which I'm starting next month, I've been compiling a playlist that accurately convey's my characters mood, and also...a pinterest board. 

My board contains things that might not show up in the book--like this volcanic eruption and sunset from a church. 

And it has scenes of coastlines, which will play heavily in the story I'm telling.

And of course, there is clothes, like this gorgeous and over the top gown, and the etheral beauty of the wind-blown dress. 

 Mostly, though, I'm not picky. As long as it pushes my creativy, I'm happy and will repin it. So even as I'm sitting in the car wasting time on Pinterest, I can hold up my phone and wave it in Mike's face and say, I'm being productive, babe!!

Do you use Pinterest? If so, feel free to follow me