Since writing of any kind originates in a writer’s mind, experiences impact EVERYTHING. But when you sit down and try to draw from your memory bank, you may come up empty handed. You know the ideas and creativity are there somewhere, but why do they suddenly disappear when you need them the most?
As I mentioned in my Daily Writing post, I try to keep a tiny notebook on me at all times. When I don’t have that, I jot things down in the notes section of my phone (smart phones aren’t totally a bad thing). When a landscape forces me to stop walking, when a person’s style catches my eye, or when an intriguing event happens to or around me, I jot it down.* For example:
Clouds carved like scales, golden light-shining through the cracks with deep blue in the steeper areas;
A book so cheaply published it has the wrong summary on its back
When I need a little help developing a character or scene, I can just look through these little bits I have written down for instant help. Also, taking the time to notice someone/something and write down specific details only boosts descriptive skills.
Dreams are another great source of material, usable or not. When I took a class on psychology in high school, one project had me write down my dreams in a “Dream Journal” as soon as I woke up in the morning. The week that I did this, I remembered much more of my dreams than I normally did, though some of the things I wrote down still completely escaped my memory. The best thing about this is there is a bunch of scenes, locations, and possibly characters created all without you having to try!
Overall, inspiration is bursting from your experiences. All you have to do it document it and save it for when you need it later!
*blurbs do not need to be in complete sentences
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