What Inspires You? by Terri Weldon

When I sat down to write this post I was watching Dr. Who. And it occurred to me that at times my inspiration comes from movies, other books, television programs, sermons, a sentence in a conversation (mine or someone else’s), and most definitely scripture.

Do all these sparks of inspiration turn into a book? Not even close, but they do spark my creative juices. I’ll never write a character like Dr. Who, but while watching the program I might wonder why people are so drawn to him, so devoted, and willing to follow him anywhere. That query sends my mind in two directions: 

1. Can I write a strong hero, perhaps military, whose troops would be willing to follow him anywhere?

2. It would be totally wicked to write a villain with that kind of pull over people. 

I’ve stopped counting the number of times I’ve watched The Fugitive. Trying my best to figure out how the writer wrote a screenplay that draws you from the beginning and refuses to let go. Wouldn’t we all love to have that gift?

When I’m reading my daily Bible I might run across a verse that inspires me or even just a few words. When I do I jot them down in the notes section of my phone. One day I simply listed the book, chapter, and verse and said good scripture for a suspense novel. A word of caution, put in a few more details. There have been times I’ve looked at that verse and wondered why I thought that. 

Since I’ve shared a little bit about how I find inspiration I’m hoping you will do the same. What inspires you? What sparks the creative genius in your brain?

Terri Weldon is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in Oklahoma. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing.

Readers can connect with Terri: Website: www.TerriWeldon.com & Blog: Seriously Write

Vacations and Story Ideas by Terri Weldon

Earlier this month I travelled to the Amana Colonies in Iowa and the Wisconsin Dells in Wisconsin. When I started on my vacation my plans were pure relaxation. No thoughts of writing whatsoever. 

 

Still somehow when I stopped in Amana and toured the area I couldn’t help but think how perfect a small town setting it would make. So I walked down the streets, visited the shops, took way too many pictures, and tucked the idea away in my mind. 

 

A few days later I took a boat ride on the Wisconsin River. There was a gorgeous island that had over 200 acres and provided home to every tree native to Wisconsin. The land belonged to the university and was in a protected status. A beautiful river, a protected island, eagles flying overhead, a type of sandstone found in only four places worldwide. Hmm, a perfect setting for the second book in a suspense series I’m working on. So I took a boatload of pictures (pun intended) and even had my poor sister quizzing the captain of the boat and the guide. We spent the rest the day sightseeing and I picked up all the free literature I could find. 

 

Did the story ideas ruin my vacation? Not at all, if anything it made me have more fun. Do I expect to get a story idea from every vacation? No, forcing the issue would take all joy and relaxation out of my trips. All I’m suggesting is that you keep an open mind, an open eye, and if the story muse whispers in your ear – spend a little time seeing where it leads you. 

 

What about you? Have you ever used a vacation spot in one of your books? Leave a comment and let me know. 

 

Terri Weldon is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in Oklahoma. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing.

Readers can connect with Terri: Website: www.TerriWeldon.com or Blog: Seriously Write

 

 

Bring Someone Into Your Storm by Susan Tuttle

 

Brainstorming. It’s the beginning process of every story. You run across a little sentence, picture, verse, news story…whatever it is that places a thought in your head that won’t release. It bounces around and you start to see characters. You place those characters in a setting. But you still need a plot. Even if you’re a pantser, you’ll need to brainstorm the bones of your story. And that’s one storm you need to bring a friend into.

During the brainstorming process, a friend becomes the board you throw things against to see if they stick. There’s something about taking a thought from your head and voicing it out loud that allows you to see the viability of it. Sometimes an idea will hit a dead end, but those dead ends are as important as a wide-open alley to run down. I liken it to those old maze puzzles we used to play. You’d know where to start, and even could see the finish, but while trying to find your way there you’d sometimes hit a wall. That wall told you to turn around and try another avenue. You might hit a few more walls before you finally make it across the finish line, but once you’re there you’ve blazed a path from start to finish that works.

So how do you brainstorm with another person? Here’s a few things I’ve found to be helpful:

1. Understand that no idea is a bad idea. Laughable, maybe, but laughing together is part of the funJ

2. No matter what the outcome, it's not a waste of time. Sometimes brainstorming sessions will produce nothing more than...well...nothing. You'll toss out idea after idea only to have none useable. And that's okay! To take a twist on a famous Edison quote, you've just found 10,000 ways to not write your story. Put it away and brainstorm again another day.

3. Don't bring your feelings to the table. Realize that someone else might have an idea that is better than yours, so put away your pride. Also understand that your ideas may be legitimately shot down, so put away your sensitivities. Hurt feelings are not allowed. The entire point of a brainstorming session is to find viable ideas. Better to discover the holes in your plot now than fifty-five thousand words into your first draft.

4. Listen to everything but keep your own voice. This is the early stage of your story, and while you may not know everything about the characters you're crafting, you do know your writing style and if the ideas will fit within those parameters.

5. Take notes! In the eye of the brainstorm, ideas will be flowing fast and freely. You'll think you'll remember them - but you won't! I promise. You won't. So have a pen and paper nearby to write down anything that sparks a trail you'll want to follow.

Ultimately, this is an incredibly important part of writing for both pansters and plotters alike. If you've never brainstormed with someone before, I recommend trying it before beginning your next WIP. It's one storm you won't want to miss!

Susan L. Tuttle lives in Michigan where she’s happily married to her best friend and is a homeschooling mom of three. She’s firmly convinced that letters were meant for words, not math, and loves stringing them together into stories that inspire, encourage, and grow women into who God created them to be. Romance, laughter, and cookies are three of her favorite things, though not always in that order. You can connect with Susan at her blog, Steps, Facebook, or Twitter.