How to awaken your creative muse?
Okay, so you know you want to write but you aren’t sure what you want to write about. You like to read romance and cozy mystery but you don’t want to write that kind of story. What do you do? How do you know what awakens your creative muse? It can be different for everyone but it is often similar. Usually it’s something that triggers an idea.
For me, my first book came from nowhere and everywhere. It is based on a mashup of other people’s experiences that I had once been a part of - turned sideways.
Below are a few things I do to get my creative juices flowing, maybe they’ll help you too.
*Read the newspaper or newsfeed for stories that peak your interest. Take the basic story and give it a few twists and turns or combine two stories and see where it leads. (Truman Capote was inspired by a newspaper story to write ‘In Cold Blood.’)
*Go to the beach, mall or coffee shop and watch people. I love doing this at the airport with a flying partner. See that woman over there? Why do you think she’s flying to Orlando wearing a winter coat? Why is she alone? Is she meeting someone in Florida? Why does she keep checking her phone? Is she running from something? And so on. Sometimes our stories go wild and crazy and sometimes they are sad but they are always a good exercise in creativity.
*Read the obits (especially in small town newspapers). Pay attention to the names (some are very unusual). Using bits and pieces of life gleaned in the obit, you can build a story.
Inspiration is everywhere. In songs, commercials on TV, on walks around your neighborhood. Take a few ideas and sketch an outline for a story. Do several at a time until you feel a passion rising about a story or a character. Yes, sometimes it’s the character that guides the story. That’s fodder for another blog. Write until you find yourself lost in the words and passionate about the plot and characters.
How will you know if this is ‘the one’? You’ll know. Your muse will be on your shoulder whispering in your ear. Write it all down, every word. (That’s what editing is for) If it turns out to be a best seller - good for you! If not, it was good practice. You’ll just need to pick up the pen and try again. Your muse will be waiting.