Chasing Down Ideas by Courtney Walsh

I used to think I had to wait for inspiration to strike in order to sit down and start writing, but when you get your first deadline, that all goes out the window.

Ideas are out there, but they don’t always ping like a light bulb over your head. Sometimes you have to work for them. You can stare at your computer screen, waiting for that jolt of creative electricity…or you can try these five tried and true ways to spark creativity and get the ideas flowing.

1. Do something mundane. When your brain is actively engaged, focused on one thing, it can overload and become nearly impossible to have a breakthrough. If you clean a toilet, do some laundry or perform any other mundane task, your mind can disengage, allowing new ideas to filter in. 

2. Do a little role-play. If your characters aren’t cooperating, have a conversation with them. Or make them have a conversation with each other. Out loud. There’s something about speaking the words aloud that help you hear how the dialogue will really sound. If you let yourself act the scene out, you’ll stumble upon natural reactions and it can help your story take off. (They might even surprise you!) 

3. Brainstorm with a buddy. Nobody said you had to come up with all the ideas on your own! Find a friend who loves to read or a fellow writer and take an afternoon to help each other brainstorm. Think of the three most obvious paths your story could take and throw them away. Think of three more and throw those away. Eventually, you’ll stumble upon an idea that resonates and you’ll be off and running, healthy dose of inspiration in hand. 

4. Change your view. I write in the same chair almost every single day. I love it. It’s cozy. I know where to put my coffee. However, there are many times when it’s just too much, and I feel like the walls are closing in on me. If I pick up my laptop and head to my local Barnes and Noble or coffee shop, instantly, my attitude shifts. There’s something about getting out in the world that makes ideas more accessible. It’s hard to be creative staring at the same four walls every day. 

5. Forget about it for a little while. It’s so tempting to sit there and force an idea, but creativity isn’t something that can be forced. It needs to be coaxed. And sometimes the best way to do that is to forget about it all together. Pretend you don’t have that nagging reminder echoing in your mind telling you to hurry up and figure it out. Go for a walk. Have lunch with a friend. Go window shopping or maybe read a book by an author you love. Creativity is a little like love that way…it comes along when you least expect it, aren’t looking for it and aren’t sure you completely recognize it.

Next time you’re stumped, give one of these ideas a try. They’re bound to shake loose the ideas that are already in your mind, just waiting to be discovered. 

Have you tried any of these ideas in the past? Which one do you think would work best for you?

~~~~~

Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theater director, and playwright. Just Look Up is her sixth novel and is, as she says, "her most personal." Her debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. She has written two additional books in the Sweethaven series, as well two books in the Paper Hearts series, two craft books and several full-length musicals. Courtney lives in Illinois where she and her husband own a performing and visual arts studio. They have three children.

Lessons for the Journey by Courtney Walsh

One of the many great things about belonging to a community of Christian writers is that people are willing to mentor and help others who are traveling on the road to publication. We don’t have to go it alone. Today, author Courtney Walsh is here to share some things learned on her own journey. Enjoy! ~ Dawn

Lessons for the Journey

by Courtney Walsh

At first glance, it seemed like my writing journey was going exactly as I’d planned. In the fall of 2008, I attended my first ACFW conference. By December, I’d signed with the agent of my dreams. By the following spring, I had a three-book deal writing books that combined my love of Small Town, USA, with powerful stories about forgiveness and a happy little twist of scrapbooking all into one neatly designed package.

I was on my way. Living the dream. Everything was coming up roses.

How naïve of me to think that this was the hardest part of my journey.

For some of us, we wait years for our first manuscript to be sold. For others, we agonize for months over whether or not an agent will represent us. For still others, we get to watch on the sidelines as God uses the things we want most (a career in writing) as a teaching tool.

And we all know that sometimes, being a student can be difficult.

My first book, A Sweethaven Summer, was finally released in February of this year.

And boy, was it a learning experience. I’ve discovered there are three things every writer should know as they set off on their journey, and if these are embraced, they can separate you from the masses.

Lesson One: Be eager to learn.

As writers, this is absolutely imperative at every single point of our careers. Whether we’re just starting out or we have twenty-five books in print, learning—and a desire to learn—keeps what we do from getting boring. It keeps us from getting stale. More importantly, it makes us easier to work with.

Lesson Two: Be flexible.

Throughout this journey, my publisher has gone through some major transitions. As a result, I’ve worked with three different editors (all wonderful) and my release dates have been changed more than once. My own plans have gone awry more times than I can count, and through it all, I’ve been reminded time and again, to stay flexible. You cannot worry about things that are out of your control. Expect change. It will happen whether you want it to or not. Turns out, getting the book deal is only the beginning…

Lesson Three: Be willing to work.         

I sometimes say if I’d known how much work this was going to be, I may not have had the courage to go forward. In some ways, I think God blessed me by revealing things in steps and only as I needed to know them. From editing, to marketing, to connecting with readers, to making sure every bio online is actually about you…a writer never really stops working. The bottom line—no one cares more about your career than you do. No one else has the same kind of passion to see your book succeed. So you have to channel that passion into hard work.

If you aren’t willing to put in the time at each step of the publication process, you can’t expect great results.

I believe wholeheartedly that writing is a rewarding, wonderful endeavor, but that’s not to say it’s going to be easy. Regardless of where you are on your journey, allow it draw you closer to the One who gave you the desire in the first place. Whatever you’re believing for—an agent, a contract, a certain number of copies sold—hand it over to Him. And continue to look for the lessons in the journey. 

Courtney Walsh is a published author, scrapbooking designer, theatre director and playwright. Her debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer, will be released in February, 2012 by Guideposts/Summerside, followed by two additional novels in the series. She has also written two papercrafting books, Scrapbooking Your Faith and The Busy Scrapper and is currently working on her third, The Scrapcrafter’s Idea Book (F&W Publications, August, 2012.) Courtney has been a contributing editor for Memory Makers Magazine and Children’s Ministry Magazine and is a frequent contributor to Group Publishing curriculum, newsletters and other publications. She has also written several full-length musicals, including her most recent, The Great American Tall Tales and Hercules for Christian Youth Theatre, Chicago. Courtney is a member of ACFW and is the current PR Manager for Webster’s Pages, a scrapbooking company. 

To learn more about Courtney and her books, please visit:

Her blog at: www.courtneywalsh.typepad.com

Her website at: www.courtneywalshwrites.com