Sorry, sorry, I know,
I should have been here yesterday, but I don’t seem to be very organised at the
moment and it slipped my mind! I’ve had
one of those weeks where you run around a lot but don’t actually feel like
you’ve achieved anything, and I also took time out to have some fun – you know,
“filling the well” stuff!
This was totally
necessary because I’m supposed to be writing my next book and the inspiration
was sorely lacking. Whenever this
happens, I usually do one (or all) of four things – go and meet a friend for
something cultural like an art gallery and/or shopping, have a brainstorming
session with my writing buddy, read other people’s books, or go to the
movies. This week I did all four!
Brainstorming came
first, and working with someone else like that is amazingly useful! No matter how much I try and do it by myself,
there are always things that another person will see or contribute that I’d
never have thought of. And just bouncing
ideas off someone else, saying them out loud, I can hear instantly whether
they’re going to work or not. Plus, you
fire each other up and I went home, wanting to write, which was great.
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Photo from RA website
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The outing was to the
Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition, always good fun. I find this annual show of all kinds of weird
and wonderful artwork fascinating in its diversity, and it’s great fun arguing
the merits (or not!) of some of the paintings and sculptures with a
friend. Taste is very obviously
subjective when it comes to art! But
some of it can definitely inspire ideas for writing. This year I fell in love with a bronze frog,
but sadly he was a bit out of my price range ...
Reading other
people’s novels, as well as fact books, helps enormously. Usually I try to choose a different genre to
the one I’m writing myself, so I read a couple of YA books which I really enjoyed.
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But my absolute
favourite way of filling the well and finding some inspiration is going to the
movies. I just love it and frequently
get the urge to go and see something, anything, and I don’t mind if I have to
go by myself. The huge screen, cosy
darkness and the popcorn makes it such a special experience, nothing can beat
it for me when it comes to visual entertainment. I don’t mind watching DVD’s at home, but it’s
just not the same. When you’re in the
cinema it’s as if you’re there, in
the movie with the actors, living their lives, feeling their emotions. Some books give me the same effect, but not
all, whereas with a film, even if you hate it, you can’t help but get engaged
somehow. And if the hero of the film
happens to be your favourite actor ... well, I need say no more! I was well and truly inspired :)
Right, now it’s time
to do some actual writing methinks ...
Please come back on Sunday to hear from Liz - I think she's been out and about even more than I have!
Well, those words resonate - about running about and feeling you've not achieved anything! Thanks for a great post.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gina, glad it's not just me :)
DeleteChristina, glad you are finding inspiration. I do a lot of the same things, reading and movie watching, especially movies like SWATH.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious... did you like it? I've seen it twice already. Still looking for the great story I know is in there somewhere, but also, I do like it as it is or I'd never have gone back a second time.
Or maybe that was just for Chris Hemsworth! ;)
Yes, I loved it, Lori! I wasn't quite satisfied with the ending (I wanted it to be totally HEA of course), but I'm guessing there will be a sequel so it didn't worry me too much. I just liked that it was all so dark and dirty, not at all the pure Snow White we're used to. But yes, the Huntsman did have a lot to do with it as well ... :D
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