inspiration

Writer’s Wisdom 66

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Mind your ideas.

Ideas come from everywhere; from something you heard, saw, remembered, an object, a smell, or from something you read.  Some writers avoid reading the genre in which they are writing their current piece.  The reason, they are weary of borrowing any ideas, without intention.

The other day I read about the lawsuit going on between the estate of  British author Adrian Jacobs and J.K. Rowling.  It alleges plagiarism on Rowling’s part, but of course, not substantiated.  It got me thinking on how many similar ideas float in a writer’s world, and how easy is to be influenced by a similar idea.  I don’t consider this plagiarism, as many people can have the same idea and express it in a completely different way.  This is not a copy.  However, more than ever, we should mind our ideas, since writing has evolved in so many ways due to the internet and the many ways in which you can share your work these days.  Ideas are free, and you are free to write what you want, as long as it does not land you in already claimed territory.

Writer’s Wisdom 64

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From Movie to Book

We have read the book, we loved it, and pray for it to become a movie.  It seems that more and more books, especially for young adults, are making it to the big screen.  I prefer to read a book first, then watch the movie.  Some people become inspired by a movie to read the book.  However it goes, one seems to complement the other – although some book lovers may disagree and say that a book stands for itself – and that is true.  Let’s say that they enhance each other and this relationship between book and movie makes good commercialism.

I have heard best-selling authors being interviewed about their involvement in the process of their book being made into a movie and their opinion is very similar.  Most love it, consider it an honor, and view it as a complete different process.  Some don’t want to be involved much in it, but enjoy having a little bit of input.  But most, if not all, agree that they want the integrity of the characters to remain true to the story – and I think that is what makes one to enhance the other in the relationship of book and movie.

We all enjoy to read a good story – in our heads we visualize it – but when the story becomes alive in the screen and special effects are added, our senses become alive – the icing on the cake.

Writer’s Wisdom 63

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The story that I love …

Who do you write for?  Although books are categorized or targeted for sale to particular groups of readers, such as young adults … I keep hearing best-selling authors saying during interviews that they sat down to write a story that they would love.  Some of them say that they wrote the story for themselves.  This is a very important point since it determines how you approach the writing of a piece. 

If you sit down to write the story that you love, you will be connected with that piece much more that if you think that you are writing for such and such group of readers – a bit of pressure there.  Of course some authors will take advantage of a trend, such as the trend of vampires.  It seems that since Stephenie Meyer wrote Twilight and the sequels and it was a hit with young readers as well as adults, everyone is writing about vampires and werewolves now.  The vampire has been awakened again.  And that is fine.

So next time you sit down to write, ask yourself this question:  “Am I writing the story that I love?”

Writer’s Wisdom 61

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Free Style Poetry

Poetry can take many shapes.  I am not a poet, but sometimes I feel inspired and have to write it down.  The poem does not follow any rules, it just comes out – it just is.  However, many think that you have to be in a certain mood or inspired in a particular way to write a poem.  I disagree.  I find that when I feel a “certain inspiration” – not sure how to describe it – I tend to write just poems.  They don’t follow a specific feeling, they could be as far to one another in that sense, but they do follow a theme – usually.  That is the way it is for me.  Other times, I could write about a love affair and next about taxes.  That is why I don’t call myself a poet – I don’t follow the rules of poetry.  If there would be such a thing, mine would be called “free style poetry.”

Check the Poetry section on this blog – Totally Inspired.

If you have never written a poem and sometimes feel the urge but think that you can’t write poetry, write it down anyway.  Let the inspiration flow, don’t think about it, write free style – embrace your Muse and let it out.

Writer’s Wisdom 60

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Befriending Uncle Sam:  A Writer’s Responsibility

It is the beginning of February and tax season is almost here- in the USA (April).  I have started to prepare my documents and crossing my fingers.  As a freelance writer you might get many assignments and jobs here and there.  Being used to the odd flow of things, record keeping may be a bit relaxed sometimes.  It is important that you keep track of your paid work and develop a system to track your income and the documentation you need for your taxes.  If you come up with a system that you have easy access to while you are working, you can log on any items daily and avoid last-minute rush.

Think of all the benefits that an organized system will get you.  Number one is having more time to dedicate to your writing and a clear mind to tend to your muse.

Writer’s Wisdom 58

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Love Thy Critics

Accepting criticism about your work is a hard thing to do.  After putting your sweat and ink into a labor of passion – a written piece from the heart, no one likes for it to be pull apart and criticized.  A writer is as proud of his/her piece as a first time mom (assuming here that the mom wants her baby, of course).  Hearing comments that your pride and joy is less than perfect will annoy or upset many writers, if not all.

Learn to look at constructive criticism in a positive light; as a tool to make you grow and get better at your craft.  Once you learn to do that, it will be easier to accept and your feelings won’t be hurt as much.  You will learn to perfect your work, resulting in satisfaction and a sense of achieving a well written piece.  Criticism comes from the human reason, and everyone has different points of view.  Learn to take it from where it comes, and analyze it as objectively as you can.  If you see truth in it, listen to the advice; it will only benefit you.  You should strive to become the best writer you can be.

Writer’s Wisdom 55

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When deadlines kill inspiration

Some people work better under pressure, others don’t.  A freelance writer has to learn to juggle many projects at once, many deadlines, and the unexpected.  It is part of the bread and butter.  All this pressure may hinder your muse, especially when you are writing a novel.   If this is the case, sometimes a little schedule shuffling helps.

If you wake up refreshed and ready to work, why not write your novel in the early hours of the morning, and take care of the rest later?  Think of it as warm up for deadline projects.

After working all day in all kinds of requests, you may feel tired, needing a break, and certainly not in the mood to get inspired.  Soon, you find yourself thinking – “I will work on it tomorrow.”  But tomorrow comes, and the next day, and the next …  A week goes by and you have not written a chapter.  Then, you end up feeling guilty and stressed out.  Sounds familiar?  We all have been there, but time can be our best or worst enemy.  Just switching things around a bit to take advantage on your state of mind for inspiration can help.

Writer’s Wisdom 48

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The Role of Music in Writing

Music can inspire you, influence you, and help your mood while writing a piece.  Despite your taste in music or writing style, you can use music to create a mood in a scene or a chapter of a novel.  Are you writing poetry or a Love affair?  Try some romantic music.  How about a dangerous scene?  Try some fast hard rock.  Keep your pen and your feet dancing – and your muse shaking.

Writer’s Wisdom 47

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Making a writing list

Ever ran out of material to write?  Or experienced writer’s block?  You are not alone, most writers have.  There are many ways to attack writer’s block (see other postings here), but now, I will talk about a simple and easy way to have material at hand – always.  It is called a writing list.

What is it?  It is a list of ideas or themes, as simple as that.

How do I make such a list?  Well, there is a simple and fast way to do it, anytime and anywhere.  Even when you are waiting for a doctor’s appointment.  This is how to do it.

Pen and paper in hand, for a minute or two (look at your watch), start writing every word, theme or idea that crosses your mind.  It has to be fast, do not think about it, just write anything that comes to mind.  When the time is up, look at your list and number it.  Everything in that list can be turn into an article, a poem, a novel, a piece of writing.  When you ran out of ideas, take your list out and look at number one in your list.  Write about it.  And so on.

You can repeat this process any day, at any time, and anywhere.  I assure you that you will always have material for your writings.

Writer’s Wisdom 46

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Poetry and mood

I am no poet, but when the mood strikes I have to write it.  I find that my mood influences my writing, sometimes, with an overflow that cannot be stopped.  Sometimes, a piece will lead to another, and another, like a well with no bottom.

Music also inspires my mood.  So what is playing translates into my writing.  It permeates the piece.  When combining both, the gates of inspiration are open, and a river of words, flow effortlessly.

You cannot depend on your mood to write.  Although there are instances when your mood makes your writing flow easily, those instances are few.  You must sit down and write, moody or not.