Pulling inspiration

Inspiration comes from many different places for everyone. It can be from a song you heard on the radio, a single picture you've seen or a dream you had. I've gathered inspiration from all of those places before, building around a landscape I come across as I'm driving during a road trip or a scene that forms in my head that goes with the pacing and beat of a song on the radio. Inspiration can be found in most anything, and yet at the same time can be hard to find as you're staring at the screen of your computer or the blank page loaded in your typewriter. 

I've found that inspiration often strikes me as I'm laying in bed trying to fall asleep for the night. I'll start thinking on some thread of my story, and soon I'm weaving together new plot lines or building on those I've already put into place. This is great from the stand point of creating my stories, though it can at times lead me into a lack of sleep if I don't remind myself to shut it off and let myself rest as well. It can be very easy to also find those ideas aren't as clear anymore in the morning, and you have to walk your way back through your thoughts to get them pulled together. 

Sleep has often given me another means of inspiration as well, one that is even harder to grasp ahold of in the morning. I can have very involved dreams, and sometimes I remember them as clear as a bell when I wake up and other times it's just the sense that I've had some strange adventure while I was asleep. I've pulled elements from my dreams out before to use in stories, an example being in Gabriel where a certain creature that makes an appearance was one I had dreamt about leading up to my work on that novel. 

I will often have music playing while I'm writing as well, and each book I work on usually has a playlist where I've dumped music into it that seems to fit to me. It's rarely one song or band, but the string of them together that can bring out something in a character I hadn't noticed. I'll do this while I'm driving and listening to the radio even, where as the songs change I allow the feel of them each to build on something as a whole. 

Really, inspiration can be found almost anywhere, but I find it to be the hardest to come by while sitting in my apartment and trying to force it. I actually write more when I'm out than I do at home. Whether I'm sitting waiting for a class to start at school or on my lunch break in the middle of night at work, I find myself able to sit and get the words out better. I think a part of it is the distraction of other things I could do around my apartment. Also, it may be the fact that my apartment doesn't lend itself to much outside my own world. Perhaps someday when I have a house of my own I'll find a space within it that suits my writing, one that isn't also my living room or dining area. 

I would suggest that if you're having trouble on a scene and you find that you've been staring at the blank page for far too long, simply get up and get out of the space you're in. You don't have to particularly go find a coffee shop to write in as the hopeful writers are often portrayed as doing, you don't even have to take the work with you. Go for a walk or a drive out somewhere away from your norm, and let your mind wander and lead you to a potential solution. It doesn't always work, but I doubt will it hurt much to get out and take that breath of fresh air either. 

Until next time...

My writing over the years

I can't claim that my writing experiences are going to be different or the same as somebody else's. However, having toiled with writing for quite a long time now I've found that different things work better for me than other suggestions I've received or tried over the years.

My first real memory of something I wrote was a country song. Yes, I was probably only seven or so and I was trying my hand at country music. It's a bit ridiculous, and I don't really remember what the song was even about. The only real clear memory I have of this attempt at greatness was my mom saying perhaps the man in the song should be drinking something like orange juice instead of beer. That was probably good advice for a seven year old, especially since I most likely didn't even understand fully what beer was other than something adults drank, but at the time I just felt like she was trying to change my creative endeavor. 

I wrote through middle and high school, the stories ranging from frilly teen romance to horror and then one simply ridiculous story about a group of guy's saving the world. That one really lacked much plot, but I've found the characters have stuck with me despite that little fact. I didn't do much writing in college besides what was needed in class, at least not as far as story attempts went. It was only after I'd been out of my first run of college for a few years that I sat down to really write a story again. It wasn't as easy as I had remembered, but after a while something started to take shape. 

When I say that Gabriel is a personal story for me it's not because I have a lot of experience with horror within my life. It's the characters for me that are personal as they each feel like a part of me, they're something I created and molded. I have a lot I could say about them, but I also prefer not to give much away about the plot here for those who haven't read it. It's not fun to have things spoiled for you. 

My new story has a couple of those old characters of mine, though they've changed a lot over the years as I've worked on developing them into real characters that aren't flat and have their own purposes. I was afraid I wouldn't find a home for them but as I started working on the plot for what will be not only my next book, but a series of books, I discovered that they belonged there in that world. They are very different then when I first created them, but the personalities they started with have grown with them. 

Over a period of time is how I feel things work best for me when I develop a story now. I'll come up with the plot, know the basics and as I write I think of more things that would better or further the story. Not all of them make it in due to not really fitting the story or for not helping in furthering the plot or characters. I'm not an outliner who plans each point ahead, but I always know where my story is going. Where my attempts at writing will take me, I'm not sure, but it's something I love so I know I'll keep trying my hand at it. 

Next Monday I'll try to post a little about where some of my inspiration comes from when I'm feeling stuck. 

Take care :)

Published and Excited

Having just published my first book I am extremely excited. I hadn't originally thought about self-publishing through an ebook format until it was suggested to me by my aunt. I've always been more of a physical book person, I love the feel of owning that physical item and having it up on my shelves. I'd be lying to say that a part of me wasn't sad I can't throw a copy of my book up there right now as well.

However, the e-publishing was a far more reasonable option for me. And I'm just as proud of it as I would have been if they'd been in print. It would be great to do print copies one day, and I hope that I can. Right now though I'm just so happy that I did something I've always dreamed of doing. I've created something near and dear to me, and then worked up the guts to present it to the world for whoever wishes to read it. There will probably be some people who don't like it, some criticism thrown my way and I'm fine with that.

A) I know well enough you can't please everyone all the time and;

B) Good criticism can always help make you a better writer for the future.

So, here I am, dancing around my living room over the fact that you can see my book up for sale on Amazon.com. I'm sincerely hoping you all enjoy.

Gabriel

My first book is officially available now on Amazon.com. It's currently only available for the Kindle as part of their Kindle prime that allows prime members to borrow the book for free for the time. You can find the book here: Gabriel

Feel free to pick it up or get a sample.

More information:

Gabriel

Summary from Amazon.com:

Things have started to go wrong in Edenspointe. At the start of the winter months a man was found dying in the snow. When he wakes he doesn't remember how he got there or who had injured him and left him for dead. All he does remember is his name: Gabriel. 
Now a group of four friends which includes the town sheriff, Leo, have to figure out what to do with him. It doesn't help that shortly after his appearance the town has a number of incidents that range from strange animal sightings to a murder. None of them know if Gabriel is somehow responsible or not, and as things go from bad to worse they find themselves stuck in the middle of a fight they should have no part in. 

Just who is Gabriel, and what ties does he have to the haunting figures tracking their way through the small town?

Hello

I'm starting this blog as I work on finalizing the format on what will be my first published book: Gabriel.

Gabriel is a supernatural thriller that takes place in the Colorado mountains during the months of winter. Just who is Gabriel and what is going on in the small town after his appearance there you'll have to read to find out.

I'll be posting my musings on here as well as updates on current and future works. I'll also post links to my Amazon page that will list my books as I release more.

I sincerely hope that you'll give me a try, and hopefully you'll love my work. I'll introduce you more to the worlds that I create as time goes on, but for now I simply want to say:

Welcome, and thank you for your interest and support!