Writers often talk about being “in the mood” to write. Whether it’s a mood, zone, state of mind or whatever you want to call it, trying to stimulate your creativity is a key part of writing. While there’s no cure for Writer’s Block that I’ve encountered, I have found there are things that help keep me focused on a project, especially when I get some momentum going.
Music
Listening to music, especially classical music or original film scores, always tends to transport me away from where I’m sitting and into the world of my characters. I do have to be careful though, if I end up listening to the scores from Star Wars or Doctor Who I’ll start to write in a style more similar to those stories. So instead I try to listen to music that doesn’t have a distinctive sound to it, even if it is a film score. Steve Jablonsky’s score to the Transformers films and Two Steps From Hell’s positional music are two great examples. Despite being attached to the Transformers franchise, Jablonsky’s score isn’t as iconic as something like the Imperial March from Star Wars. Yet it’s still a great soundtrack that tells a sweeping, action packed story. Whereas Two Steps From Hell are permanently stuck in epic gear. You’ve likely heard their music before as it’s heavily used in film and game trailers, as well as in reality TV shows when they want to artificially build drama.
Walking
I don’t mean just walking around the block, I mean go walking somewhere beautiful. Back in Wellington I loved going to Khandallah Park, or to the Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary back in Wellington. Both were idyllic settings where you could get away from the usual hustle and bustle of the real world. In Melbourne I struggled a bit more, purely because of how built up Melbourne is, but the Yarra River Trail or a walk around Albert Park managed to suffice when I could make it to them. However London is a different beast. I haven’t found anywhere yet that feels like you’re able to get away from the crowds. Even at Battersea Park where I go running most days, there’s still enough people there to make it feel busy. And that sort of thing does suck my creativity dry. And there’s only so long you can sit at home listening to inspiring music before you need a different stimulus. Being able to break it up by swapping your surroundings and working through your ideas is something used in a lot of creative endeavours.
Go to the movies
Admittedly this is something I need to do more of. I find that the way movies are designed to overwhelm your senses through sight and sound can help to spark a creative energy. You realise that this was someone’s idea, someone elses story, and it’s been turned into an amazing piece of cinema. Well you hope it has been anyway, I mean it could be a disaster of a movie… then you’d be thinking about the poor wretch of a writer who has just seen their dream destroyed. But let’s not try to think about that. Having recently seen Prometheus and The Dark Knight Rises, I can assure you that both left me feeling inspired and ready to get to work on my writing.
So what do you use to be inspired, to get your head in a creative space and keep it there?
Walking definitely helps me to write and being alone in nature always sparks off my creativity. I rarely write at my desk – I write on in my head on the move and then simply write everything down when I get hold of a pen and paper!
Capturing ideas is an important part of the creative process and I have to confess that I’m not the best at it. I should have a note pad with me to write ideas down, but usually I try to rely on my memory, which has proven to be a haphazard approach.
lately it’s been sitting outside when it’s cooler…
A visit from my muse. It’s the only thing that works, and works well. It can come out of nowhere and cause an overwhelming need to write. And I just go with the flow for as long as it lasts and wherever it takes me. There’s no resistance, just an easy flow of the keys or the pen. It happens with sketching, too. Grab the colored pencils and go. And it can’t be stopped. I also notice my analytical faculties improve when my muse departs. As if only one side of the brain stays active (or in control) at any given time.
I love the feeling of having to write, needing to get your ideas committed to some form of concrete repository. I find the challenge becomes how to maintain that inspiration or plow onwards regardless.
Great post!
I understand completely. I especially liked when you wrote ‘Writers often talk about being “in the mood” to write.’ Sometimes, we have that ‘eureka’ moment and write something brilliant. At other times, we may have no idea what to write.
I’m planning to do another blog soon on the challenge of writing when you don’t have that eureka energy, despite all your best efforts to recapture it. An author I used to work with gave me some great tips on how to deal with it.
-get good sleep
-have a night and get drunk with someone interesting or fun
-get lost and find your way back
-wander around a library
-sit by a campfire alone
Haha, I love the getting drunk one! I used to have a trick where I’d go out drinking in town and then walk home, a trip of around 90 minutes, at 3am. Some of the stuff I’d dream up with nobody around to listen was great, except that when I got home I was in no state to write anything!
Thanx for the ideas. I really hope I can deal with my ‘writer’s block’ which came too often
A very interesting post!
.the.other.tuesday.
I totally love your walking tip. I usually just do music and a really good movie. Gets the creative juices flowing. A good light book that will make me laugh out also kinda hits the spot.
If anything, walking gives you a nice change of scenery and pace. No doubt the actual act of walking gets your blood pumping and probably has some impact on allowing the brain to process information differently too which helps.
Classical music helps me. Sometimes I put a book and pen into my backpack and walk around Manhattan, if the weather is good. I’ve never tried going to the movies, I should.
Good stuff. Congrats on getting Freshly Pressed!
Thanks! I received the email on Friday and thought nothing of it, until today and suddenly I’ve been deluged.
I need to get better at having a book and pen to hand when I go walking to jot stuff down. It’s something I always read about writers doing, but I don’t do it myself… yet anyway.
Reading
I read a newspaper, the buried bits; news weekly magazines, beginning at the back and moving forward; or some type of narrative work I usually skip. I discovered some very fine treasure in this manner.
Drawing/Doodling
I keep Moleskine sketch books. They are just the ticket for doodling. Size does matter; they fit easily into my possibles satchel. I have one with me most of the time. I admit it; I have one on my nightstand accompanied by a black 005 Pigma Micron pen.
Gardening
It seems contra-intuitive that fresh air, weeds, and digging in the soil have the power to lead me on the path to sculpting language. Recently I acquired a poem title; I sometimes begin there, hiding in the clematis arbor. Even on days of just visiting the garden I can write a journal note or an essay, not the darlings they used to be.
Three ways I ‘get creative’, your mileage may vary.
Thanks for sharing. If I could draw anything I know it’d help me on my projects, as being able to visualise things can be a great tool.
Hi Gwynn, Since I live in San Diego, I love sitting on beach, this really inspires me! Love you digital photo and your blog! Thanks for sharing. http://www.segmation.wordpress.com
Glad to be of help.
Wonderful post! Sometimes just sitting in complete silence (if you can find it) makes thoughts louder, and calls upon the Muse.
Silence is such a precious commodity now days. When I’m out walking I’m always aware that I can hear the background noise of everyday life still taking place, even more so in London than back in New Zealand.
The music for the original Bourne movies is also like you describe. Non-iconic, but engaging. Wakes up the mind.
Inception probably fits into the same category too. Epic, engaging, deep, emotive, yet it doesn’t tie you to the film that it originated from.
These are great suggestions. A lot of times, I will read something (a novel, the Bible, another blog) to give me the push I need to want to write something well. Thanks for sharing!
http://stepstochangetheworld.wordpress.com/
Red wine and Viagra.
Haha! Those two things make me picture a frustrated French writer trying to pen a love story!
Movie soundtracks that enhance the scenes they play behind kindle emotions for me, which are transferred to written word. I listen, watch my own ‘scene’ with my mind’s eye, and start pounding the keyboard. The movie itself may be forgetable, but the music remains as an inspiration.
For me, I’ve always felt that film scores are severely underrated for the impact they can have on a scene. I’m glad other people get the same buzz from them as I do.
Walking allows me to get over a mental block.
When I’m writing for a corporate audience in my day job, going for a walk is one of the best ways to approach writing a tricky piece of communication. It gives me time free from distractions in the office to work through problematic communications issues.
sometimes you just feel like pushing it forward, and when you are done, you say …it was so simple.
I jog in the early morning! It is so fresh and inspiring!
I used to be a morning runner, but at some point I switched to being a straight after work person. As soon as I get home I get into my running gear and go straight out the door so that I don’t get distracted. The downside is it means some times I’m not eating dinner until 8.30pm, which probably isn’t the best.
Music, yes. Going outside (walking, sitting, jogging…). Free writing. I love this post
I usually get inspired to write when I found myself in a wonderful place. Near the beach..looking at a full moon at night….the sunset. Those work as stimulus to me. Traveling is so helping. So is watching movies. There are many little things that other people might find meaningless but they mean something to me and ultimately inspire me to write.
One thing I’ve always wanted to try is the whole romantic sounding notion of going to a remote cottage in the countryside somewhere. Just me, my laptop and all the ideas in my head. Unfortunately there’s competing priorities in my life for that sort of spare time.
I usually watch old classic films such as, “An American in Paris”, “Gigi” to newer ones such as “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”, “An Education”, “La Vie En Rose”. Most of those have a musical presence in them. Just like reading where you create your own movie and soundtrack in your head, I’m inspired to begin writing because the image and sound is already there.
I’m somewhat fortunate that I played both the piano and bass guitar at high school, and had a music teacher who really encouraged me to not only play music technically correct, but to also try and understand and experience what the composer wanted the listener to feel. It made me want to write my own music at one stage and I still often hum my own little tunes as I play out scenes in my head.
As funny as it may sound, doing work around the house or cooking gives me ideas. These, or looking at photographs and imagining the story behind them.
I do that with ironing! Everyone is shocked that I’m a man who loves to iron, but I find the process of bringing order to the chaos of wrinkles to be very therapeutic.
When I was in Melbourne there was a photographer doing a project along similar lines to what you do. He was getting writers to pen a thousand words to one of his photos to pay tribute to the idea that a picture tells a thousand words.
There are a number of things that inspire me to write, such as interacting with people, watching the news, reading a magazine or blog, listening to a sermon at church or reading the Bible. All this really pmps me up!
(oops, “pumps” me up!)
I’m not a religious person, but I do find the Bible is a rich vein of stories, emotions and human characters to draw on.
those definitely help me get inspired
And a swim does me good too….
God helps me write
You are right, but partially. The stimulation, inspiration or trigger, whatever it may be called, visits a writer’s creative mind only when he/she has been absorbing, communicating, learning, interacting silently with several unknown and some known entities. This mental flux pours out exactly as the rains do- forming clouds, travelling thousands of miles without any wheels or petrol engine, condensation and finally pouring!
This is my personal experience and may not apply in your case. Best wishes.
I agree, especially in the sense that whatever we write does draw on everything we see, touch, smell, hear or experience. Some how our brain sorts it all out and we come up with our ideas.
I really liked this.
Thanks Stephen, I’ve been overwhelmed by the response from everyone!
Movies are always a great inspiration. As an screenwriter and filmmaker, I often need a boost, and watching films is a great help. I guess you can tell that by my name
There’s a magic to movies that’s hard to explain. While we can imagine the worlds we read in books, seeing these stories brought to life adds a new dimension to them.
Ammm :$ I used to [read HAD TO] smoke to be in “the mood” until I quit it few years back. These days I read to awaken the writer in me.
Before computers, I would draw a vertical line down the left hand side of a pad of paper, put my pen in place and the words would just flow. I saw it as a blend of my topic choice and automatic writing from some source within or without myself. The end result was typically better than what I would intentionally write. Now, with computers, I find it helpful to place an image or a logo or a title at the top of the page, turn on a TV program or music, and just let the fingers start. Again, it is sort of a free-flow writing combined with a topical focus. Dave
This post on “What Helps You Write?” comes at a great time for me because focus is what I need at the moment. Each of your recommendations. Might I suggest, performing arts, such as ballet?
I’m happy to have helped. I did do salsa dancing a couple of years back. While I don’t know if it helped my writing, it was a great experience that I never thought I could do. I was convinced I had two left feet, but oddly enough I could actually salsa reasonably well!
Though I’m definitely not flexible enough to do ballet.
I was thinking of the inspiration taken from the music and grace presented during a ballet. I feel more creative after watching the performance.
I’ll be sure to do this. As an ex-aspiring game designer I myself was inspired by video games obviously. For the longest time tht was my goal but now reading and television are my new inspiration.
I love video games too, but unfortunately I often end up using them as a distraction rather than inspiration. Occasionally a game will fire up my imagination – Halo did that, as did Knights of the Old Republic and a few others.
I’ve always struggled with my writing; if not with what to write then with how to write it. I have the mood of how I want it written in my head but what I read afterwards rarely has the same “feeling”.
I’ll be blogging about this issue soon, as it’s been something I’ve grappled with in the past too.
I don’t go to the movies often, but I usually feel very inspired as I’m walking out of the theater. Knowing that my own story could make the same difference to someone else out there is what keeps me going.
I think we often don’t realise how stories influence our lives. That being said, I was recently reading an opinion column were the writer was decrying people who indulge in cosplay. It seemed profoundly wrong to me for this op-ed journalist to be laying into people are simply indulging their imaginations and creativity.
I read. Books whose words I know will jump out and inspire me. How-to books with writing prompts and other exercises. WordPress blogs (such a talented bunch we are
) And then, when all else fails, I close my internet browser that wants all of my attention and teases me with news stories and Facebook status updates, and open up a new word doc and write something. Jane
I really need to read more, but right now the iPad with all my books on is sitting at home while my girlfriend is job hunting. Once that’s out of the way I’ll be able to dive back into some reading.
One source of books I’ve found incredibly useful is history books. Antony Beevor’s books focussed around the Second World War have an amazing ability to capture the gritty, human element of the conflict and share those stories in a moving way.
Bummer about our iPad but I’ll definitely check out Beevor. Good idea, and thanks for the suggestion!
What helps me write? Sometimes just a picture, sometimes ants, sometimes watching a doctumentary and sometime generally just getting lost in my own thoughts.
Sir David Attenborough documentaries are like heroin to me! The way he articulates himself and his absolute enthusiasm and wonder for the natural world are captivating. I also do a rather good David Attenborough impersonation too!
david attenbrough is one inspirational man. I watched the documentary about bugs and how the redback spider catches its prey… i never put my feet under chairs now.
Read, write, & run. Works every time … well most of the time … OK some of the time. I think I’ll try what you suggest. Best, Jon
Good luck!
Hi Gwynn – I totally agree with taking long walks, that’s actually what I do when the Muse is feeling scatterbrained or just refusing to cooperate. A long stroll on a greenway trail is usually the cure.
Appreciating life in all its beauty tends to release those creative juices for me. I feel free to write my own stories, knowing that the world itself is a story being told.
This is very true. Where ever you look there’s a story of some sort being played out. Right now there’s one of the poor mouse trapped in our living room…
Ahaha, now that’s a story to be told!
Sometimes reading someone else’s words inspires me. It doesn’t matter–a travel brochure, a picture book, a magazine article, a novel, it’s how the words flow.
Happy Pages,
CricketMuse
reading a john ashbery poem
Just sitting alone in a room n lost in translation sets my mood …
Ut oh. I don’t see any comments. It must mean all the commentators are dead. I suppose they won’t be writing anymore. You say, “While there’s no cure for Writer’s Block that I’ve encountered, “… hmm, how could that possibly be: Any casual serial killing requires one to compose signature clues to leave and a modus operandi. Walking “somewhere beautiful” is just silly. If you walk in a park and encounter an annoying pigeon, what is there to do but strangle it to death, boil and pluck the feathers,cook it over a camp fire, and mug any passerby who has an onion or other appropriate spice. But, of course, that would be wrong, so walking in a park would give you no ideas to use in a story. Going to the movies, however, is a good idea. Look for someone who has tears streaking down her face — ask her what she is crying about and how it relates to her life and offer to end it. If you survive the encounter it is great material for writing. Having a waterproof pen and paper is very helpful for writing when you run into a storm or war zone. Whatever pain that may overcome you, you should always keep writing and remember to keep your will up to date with who will get the rights to your copyright if ever you should get published. If you’re an atheist, don’t bother — it won’t matter to you, Although, you could put it here for people to laugh at after you’re gone forever, and don’t forget to whistle a happy tune before you go. I’m not right anymore so I don’t write any more,,, um, much… hmm, I suppose I’ve written something here, maybe. I think I’ll take a walk … I have a pen and a knife and a hunger… Not what you think. Stop thinking already — it’s not attractive…
Classical music, and frankly, most music really helps me to focus and concentrate. I find relaxation music very easy to write to. Also, when I have a writer’s block, I read. It somehow helps to pass the time and also get the creative juice flowing.
http://www.rifatmursalin.com
These are all wonderful ideas. I find that almost any task that can be done with out focusing my whole mind will spark some creativity. Washing dishes, vacuuming the floor or doing laundry.
Listening to music (mostly Mozart, or classics) get me in the “mood” to write. But some days not even that helps. Loved your post.
I recall a study from years ago that suggested students who listened to Mozart in exams achieved better results… could be onto a winner by listening to Wolfgang!
I used to listen to classic music before exams or when I was studing. It helped.
I was just thinking about this the other day. I love this
Glad to have been of assistance.
These are true. Thanks to you for the reminder!
My pleasure, and thanks for reading and commenting.
Thank-you for posting!
somebody suggested to me you should take a book of one of your favourite authors and then copy the text until you find the urge to write your own again. I’ve not done this myself, but if I read my favourite author, then I start writing again
I think I’ve heard the same thing before too. I can see the thinking behind it, once you capture their flow of writing you might be able to kick-start your own work again.
Photographs help me get some ideas started sometimes. Whether it’s the smirk of someone’s smile or it’s the way I loved someone’s hair and want to tie it in to a character. It also completely helps to have visual references to keep me on track when I’m writing about a different time or location.
I often see people on public transport who seem like they’d have interesting stories to tell purely through their expressions or what they wear. I haven’t been game to take photos of them yet though.
I like to walk to help me think as well. When i am stuck i often take my dog for walks around my town. For some reason, one thing that works with me is just going to see friends, or having a conversation about nothing to someone. because not only does it stop me thinking about being stuck, it also gives me ideas- after i speak to them, i end up thinking ‘What would they do in that situation?’ It works.
Walking is probably the best method for me. It really clears my head so that my mind can drift in any direction I need it to go.
Congrats on the Freshly Pressed!
This is lovely (as is the picture). And for me? All of these, as well as reading (particularly poetry). The imagery/storytelling that comes up during that process often helps to kickstart my brain.
Thank you very much! The photo was taken purely by chance at St Fagan’s in Cardiff. We were talking up to the castle and ahead of us were a couple holding hands. Thankfully by the time we reached this vine tunnel, they were at the other end and I lucked in with one of my four shots coming out well.
For me the music definately works. I try for something without lyrics but at times listening to Celtic Thunder will do the trick. You get ideas from lyrics. I can see an expression on someone’s face in my mind by what the words were and then I’m off to putting that expression on my character’s face.
There’s nothing like seeing a scene in your head and being able to reenact it on the page.
Getting in the mood can be difficult at times. But stopping the story in my head or the event I’m researching can oft times be harder yet. Therefore I just grab paper and pen and jot until there is no more.
If you find that you get up and when you sit down again, that the ideas are gone or that you’ve lost the flow, here’s a handy trick. Leave a sentence you know the words to, unfinished. The next time you sit down, reread the last paragraph or two and by the time you reach that unfinished sentence, you’ll know what you were thinking last time and the flow will be back.
I have the same issue with music that has words in it. I often find hearing lyrics distracts me from what I want to write. Though in saying that, if I’m out walking and have my headphones on, the opposite can be true, where music with lyrics gets me thinking of new ideas.
Stopping something in motion is difficult work. Unfortunately I’m forced to do it through having my writing desk in my bedroom, which is good to keep me away from distractions, but bad when my girlfriend wants to go to sleep.
Great post; writer’s block is a tricky thing, for sure. I find that to help me get back into my groove, I have to get out of my own head. Overthinking tends to start me on the course of writer’s block! For me, that’s usually going for a run where I have to concentrate at least partially on what I’m physically doing (for safety’s sake). It helps distract me from the less important nuances I can place too much focus on, and open up my mind for creative thoughts. Congrats on FP!
I have a mixed bag when running. Sometimes it works wonders, but other times I’m too focussed on keeping my timing right or figuring out training plans (as I’m trying to get back into long distance running after an illness related setback).
You never know when inspiration will strike, so keeping something close and handy to write down your ideas is crucial. It doesn’t matter if it’s your computer, iPad, or even a plain old notepad–write it down as soon as you think of it or you’ll lose it forever!
Since I’ve always been a nightowl, I used to think I did my best writing at night, but the truth is that mornings are usually the best time – and some recent brain-science studies back this up: In the first hours after waking up your brainwaves are in more of an ‘Alpha’ state… perfect for creative pursuits. Oddly enough another thing that encourages this state is: Taking a shower. Seriously. How many times have you had a creative/mental breakthrough just come to you while you’re in the shower? …it is no accident. I often now put on headphones and listen to brainwave ‘entrainment’ CDs when I write. I know it sounds hokey and new-agey (I am neither of those) but I can’t argue with the results.
…of course a little caffeine helps too ; )
Apologies about the delay in approving comments. I’ve actually been head down working on a brand new manuscript this afternoon/evening. Whacked through a three page outline and the first 2,700 words. Had a spectacular eureka moment I think!
my best stories come from that place where your brain is not quite asleep but not awake yet either, just before I fully awake from a nights sleep. strange I know. I should keep a pen and paper on my nightstand because later in the day I can’t always remember the complete details.
Whenever I’ve gone to a course on creativity (I should point out this is creativity for corporate types), they always mention this exact thing. Apparently the time just after you wake up is when you mind is at its most creative during your waking hours. So it’s good practice to have a pen and paper at the ready.
I like using Two Steps from Hell as well. I also like to use E.S. Posthumus. Another Epic score artist.
Thanks for the tip. *runs off to iTunes to search up E.S. Posthumus*
If you have ever watched the show “Cold Case” , you have heard his music.
Depending on my mood at the time of writing, I also like to use Juno Reactor. It’s more on the electronica side, but it also has some inspirational qualities for me. They have done a lot of the scores for the “Matrix” trilogies.
Going for bike rides is what I do when I’m stuck in the figurative, muddy bog of writer’s block– I like riding through everything, while at the same time it feels like I’m just skirting around the edges. That’s a great way to feel when you need to get back to writing– because that’s what writing is… kind of just skirting around the edges of something. Apologies if I’m being too obscure.
Also epic classical music totally helps. Gets you right into the writey mood I find. Don’t we all love the writey mood. It’s so writey and nice.
Books are a great inspiration for me. Mainly classics including authors like Dostojevsky, Camus, Exupery, Sartre…those are my favourite. They are kind of philosophers and this is what I like about their writings. But your ways are great too! Also use them.
and btw, a very neat post.
A couple of months ago I read War of the Worlds to inspire me. Now i’m reading Paradise Lost to go in a completely different direction.
great philosophical stuff indeed.
though I have not read those yet.. but I am planning to read Paradise Lost for a long time. the problem is that it is quite difficult to find it in local bookshops. anyway, i approve ur choices. 
Penguin does an edition of it I believe as part of their ‘Classics’ series. If you’ve got an iPad, it’s available on iBooks as a free download – though it’s still all in 17th Century English, which makes for tough reading at times.
Finding a beautiful place helps me as well, although admittedly I sometimes have to settle for simply envisioning a beautiful place. Great ideas!
Thanks for the Transformers music recommendation. I downloaded some iTune tracks from “Transformers: Dark of the Moon – The Score.” Great writing music.
Not a problem. I’d recommend avoiding Revenge of the Fallen, as that score isn’t as strong. However the first movie has a very good score, with The All Spark and The Arrival being two of my favourites.
Nice post. I’ve found that any kind of aerobic exercise (walking, swimming, making love) might work as well. Music is ok, though I prefer 10min of yoga, meditation, anything that allows you to stop thinking and take some distance from your own mind for a while.
I’ve never really seen the attraction of meditation, if only because I never seem to have a problem hearing my own thoughts… it’s choosing the right time to voice them that’s usually the problem.
This was a lovely post and I enjoyed reading about what makes you inspired to write. Would you mind if I emulated your post on my own blog, discussing what puts me in the mood much as you have done here?
Absolutely, go for it! Feel free to post a link here to it when you’re done, as I’m sure others will be interested in other ways to get in the writing mood.
Absolutely! I shall also link back to this post in mine, since it has truly been the inspiration for me to start writing! Thank you!
Here’s the post I’ve composed. Thank you again for inspiring me to write this!
http://thewritingwolf.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/midnight-musings-what-helps-you-write/
My pleasure, just glad to have helped.
I really like how your entire post is open-ended, thus getting you a lot of comments in the process. I also like your post overall. I use Pink Floyd to get inspired, not only with writing but with just about anything I do. Music is a powerful weapon.
I made sure I had an open ending for the blog because I’m as eager to learn what inspires other people as I am to share my own experiences. I’ve been overwhelmed with the response too!
Great post! Everything I do gives me ideas….my friends are always laughing at me because I’m always taking pictures saying, “It’s for the blog!” lol Congrats on being FP!
I know the feeling! I only started taking more of an interest in photography a couple of years ago due to having to do a bit while working. Now whenever I go somewhere interesting I take hundreds of photos trying to find that perfect shot!
That’s the way to work it! Keep up the great work!
I would have never thought that this would work given that ideas are supposed to be fairly spontaneous but…having a deadline. Very occasionally I will think of some great idea out of the blue, but the two ideas that actually became short stories came to me because I was part of a a writing course at university and we had been set the task of writing something of a few thousand words within a week or two. As soon as I’m aware of such a deadline and what genre of fiction I want to write, it’s a matter of days before an idea pops into my mind and I feel compelled to write it all down all in one go (lots of editing follows, writing until 3 in the morning has its drawbacks).
I really miss the class because I’ve lost the driving force behind my writing. I do have ideas, but the deadline was also a good way to force myself to get those ideas on paper in the first place.
When I was at university I always struggled to do anything until the deadline was looming over me, so I definitely understand this one. I’d spend the weeks leading up to an essay reading and digesting all the information I needed and figuring out my structure in my head, then I’d launch myself into writing it a couple of days before hand. Had a fair few 3am finishes because of this, but I did some of my best work because of it.
Movies inspire me hugely, too. They leave me with that excited, slightly breathless feeling of really powerful/fun entertainment.
Music is also incredibly handy for setting a mood and tone; I also love Two Steps From Hell, and soundtracks in general – Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman’s work is hugely inspiring to me, and it probably reflects in the melodrama of some of the stories I write. Predictably, if I have to write anything even remotely action-y, I go for epic or rock pieces.
I agree with you on the walking front – beautiful scenery really does it for me – but, most of all, I find that consuming the kind of media I aim to write – reading books or comics, watching movies – really makes me want to try my hand at it, without wanting to emulate the plot or characters. Reading a lot tends to help me hugely to write.
I love both Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman, but often I find their music too often invokes images of someone else’s story. That being said, you can find some brilliantly emotive pieces from them that can stand on their own.
Travel and life experiences in general really inspire me. Real life stuff. I really get inspired by people I meet, things I see and hear, etc. There’s nothing better.
Travel is a good one. I’m fortunate to have traveled a reasonable amount, especially over the last few months, and I’m always looking for new places to go. For me it’s the history and the stories behind the places I visit that really captivate me when traveling, and often you’ll realise one of them could easily be re-imagined for your own work.
I’d love to read something inspired soundtracks from Dr. Who. Creates great visuals.
Lovely ideas on inspiring creativity. Congrats on the FP.
Cheers,
iRuniBreathe
As you may have guessed, I’m also a Doctor Who fan (and blogger on whatculture.com). Murray Gold’s scores are absolutely fantastic and I’ve listened to them more times than I can remember. The only catch I find is that they’re so good at capturing the spirit of Doctor Who that all I want to write is Doctor Who when I listen to them!
I love Steve Jablonsky’s Transformers scores. I write to them all the time. Great post!
I’ve noticed Jablonsky’s Transformer score is appearing in a lot of other places now too, TV and film companies are making good use of it for promotions and the like.
to me, writing is about to feel what others feel, and to understand what the World thinks, and to be truthful to my own feelings, but not forget to stretch the imagination.
This one ties back very much into the old adage of only “writing what you know” which is very true. You can’t capture a story if you don’t know it intimately yourself.
Strong emotions help me write both music and poems. I usually write only when I feel a strong need to do so. I have to be in that kind of a mood.
Writing against the backdrop of strong emotions for me has always been a way of dealing with the emotion. It helps you work through exactly what you’re feeling and hopefully produce something great as well.
Yeah, it helps to figure out a way to relax the mind so that the creativity can come out. I usually know I’m there when I have the feeling that I HAVE to write this idea down or else. Great post. Thanks!
Very enjoyable read as I’ve been facing some hard times trying to get into the “zone” recently. I would have to agree with all three points but especially the “go to the movies” advice. Anytime I go to the theatre and watch a film I feel rejuvenated (if it’s a good film of course).
There are a lot of places in Wellington that seem to inspire. Walking around Karori park used to work for me, when I lived on the edge of it. The waterfront is always good, at least for me. Music – definitely, it sets a mood.
I used to run around Oriental Bay nearly every day when I lived in Wellington, come rain or shine. Actually, it was much more fun in a howling southerly with the rain trying to strip away your face. We’re fortunate in New Zealand (and I appreciate this even more so after Melbourne and London) with how we can just escape like that at a moments notice.
I find I write often on a spontaneous whim and take it from there it justs seems to flow naturally. The photo on this blog is awesome really unique picture. love it.
The picture was just pure luck, the result of me snapping away a few shots in a hurry and hoping to get one that was good. A little bit of editing to get the contrast and brightness right always helps too.
Usually, rainy days get me too emotional (weirdly enough) that the words keep flowing. A good movie or book can also stimulate the creative juices to flow. Oh, and that walking thing, I never even noticed that til now, But that is actually true!
As I reply it’s been pouring outside with the occasional thunder clap! Even better is that I can hear the rain on the roof! Years of apartment living and I never realised how much I missed that sound as it is a great mood setter.
I knew it wasn’t only me!
I always get to write good stuff whenever the rain is pouring. 
for me its sitting on my big black lounger with Embi (my laptop’s pet name) and browsing social media with my dashboard open in another tab.
Horray! I’m not the only person who names my electronic appliances. My laptop is called Larry. Drives my girlfriend through the roof that I have to name everything, but the rule is I can only name things I own. Wilfred the Washing Machine may have been pushing the bounds of sanity though…
I love absolute quiet to write at home but a coffee in any Costa and the conversation that drifts over the steaming and hissing, offer many an inspiration. PS That photo HAS to be at Kenwood – yes? Well on an early winter’s morning when the lake has a touch of thin ice, that’s a very peaceful place to write – I know because I’ve been there …
I love my coffee runs. While I don’t often sit and listen to others, I used to do it where I could talk with the baristas and listen to the customers. People can have such interesting little dramas in their lives, or you can find out amazing commercial secrets when people don’t realise you’re listening.
The photo was at St Fagan’s Castle in Cardiff http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/2241/ Ironically they have a similar photo on their homepage, though they weren’t as lucky as I was to have a loving couple walking at the other end of the photo.
At some stage I want to find a remote countryside place and do some writing on my own. Haven’t done it yet because when I have time off work, I have more traveling and sight seeing to do. But it is in my longer term plan.
Ha Ha well be very careful in your choice … I moved from London to out here in the hills of West Wales thinking it would give me peace for writing and I’m surrounded by dairy farms and huge tractors which surpass any noise i had in North London by miles! Give me traffic and sirens any day …
My girlfriend’s family has a bach up north of Napier in New Zealand, was always tempted to go there for a week to write. Except for the cockroaches, state highway virtually through the backyard and DIY water supply.
Reading a great book (and a great blog!) inspires me.
Excellent post (just heading back to my writing now…)
I often trawl through blogs looking for writing tips and ideas, just to get a feel for what other people use. It’s the whole reason I thought I’d start sharing some of my experiences on here too.
For me it’s walking. I talk to myself whilst I walk and I can invent a whole conversation that I need to write down when I get home. In the case of my walking holiday in Ireland I wrote a whole book it was so inspiring.
I find it easy to write something about I actually experience…my mind has to be “quiet” to be able to do so. Music soothes, helps.
I read thru a lot of the comments, and they are all splendid suggestions. But it sounds as if your primary concern is “how to sustain the momentum” once the first flush of inspiration has subsided. From reading many famous published authors’ accounts, some of them stand out in my memory:
1.”Write Everyday”
2.Write on a regular schedule as if it’s your job. Say, write from 8 AM to noon, take a walk, come back to your desk and work until dusk, etc.
3.”Read Voraciously”. Read all of the masters of fiction, all the classics.
4.”Write even when you don’t feel like it.”
5.Stop the day’s writing while you still have ideas that can be used to pick up the thread tomorrow. Leave yourself some leftovers.
6. Do not plumb the depths of an emotionally-charged experience. Leave some of its influence in your bones for multiple works.
Thanks for your comment, and definitely there was an element about that in what I posted. Though I was speaking more generally about writing and coming up with ideas, while touching on the issue of writers block. Whereas today I’m going to post about the issue of maintaining momentum and my own struggles with it.
I write when I fee like writing, Sometimes too much thinking can be a good reason to write. I love writing, A way of life.
Over analysing my work is something I’m very guilty of. Even with my current project I’m having to fight the urge to go back and start editing and altering it already and I’m only 5,000 words in!
Creative block can be frustrating. I tend to write down all my thoughts on the topic at the time, and if I can’t reshuffle them into a satisfactory result within half an hour, I’ll walk away and do something else for an hour or two, before having a fresh attack on it.
If a second reshuffle doesn’t work, then change topic, and come back to that one some other time when the ‘mood” may have changed.
My thoughts ……………
Being extremely angry. Thats when I do my best writing.
Check out my blog? Give me some lovely critique?
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Great advice Gwynn! At some point I will be able to stop testing blogging platforms and start writing something.
I try to take myself out of my element. It’s the best place to find inspiration when you’re forced to focus on things outside of your comfort zone. Thanks for sharing
Freewriting helps me. It’s like a warm up exercise that I do before I actually start my writing task.
I keep hearing about this freewriting, but what does it actually entail?
Freewriting is writing without judgement. During freewriting, you shouldn’t think about if what you’re writing is grammatically correct, if it’s interesting enough, if it’s coherent, etc. Criticizing your work during the early stages of your writing process robs you from expressing “first thoughts” or thoughts that are truly genuine and aren’t restructured to fit the norms of expression that we have been socialized to learn. If you want to learn more about freewriting, I recommend reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg, and Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg.
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