Category: Writing Inspirations

Writing Inspirations – family

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Why I love my family (part #1)
(Dad & sis & nefs: Park City 2011)
 The other night, I was needing some information about an upcoming plot point in my NaNo story. I was stuck, so I phoned my father, hoping he could offer me some insight or suggestions. Our conversation went somethinglike this:
(Dad & I. Alaska 2005)
“Dad, here’s where I’m at….. My Girl Reporter is covering a protest at the local lumber mill. She knows it’s probably nothing because protests at lumber mills are a dime a dozen. But this one actually turns into something. You worked at a lumber mill for forty years. I need some kind of scandal.”
“Yes, we had protesters all the time. They were usually about something to do with how cutting down trees is killing the environment.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to write about that. I’m PRO-timber industry.”
“Okay. Let me think about it. The scene you’re writing…..is it a peaceful protest?”
 “It started out that way, but then I got kind of stuck in the chapter and didn’t know what to do, so Girl Reporter suddenly gets hit on the head by a flying boot and is knocked out.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know why. I just needed something to happen and….that’s what happened.”

 “She gets hit by a boot?”
“Yes.”

“Why not a shoe?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why not a two-by-four? At least that’s indicative to a lumber mill.”

“I thought a boot was funnier.”

 “You know, I read a lot of books. True, a lot are fiction, but all of the plots are at least realist. They could all potentially happen. And never have a read a scene with a Girl Reporter getting knocked out by a flying boot for no reason.”

“I know! That’s why it’s funny!”

(Dad & I: Tennessee 2005)
(Dad & Susan: Forks, WA 2008)

(Pops chillin’ at Patrick’s Point: 2004)

Writing Inspirations – family

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Why I love my family (part #1)
(Dad & sis & nefs: Park City 2011)
 The other night, I was needing some information about an upcoming plot point in my NaNo story. I was stuck, so I phoned my father, hoping he could offer me some insight or suggestions. Our conversation went somethinglike this:
(Dad & I. Alaska 2005)
“Dad, here’s where I’m at….. My Girl Reporter is covering a protest at the local lumber mill. She knows it’s probably nothing because protests at lumber mills are a dime a dozen. But this one actually turns into something. You worked at a lumber mill for forty years. I need some kind of scandal.”
“Yes, we had protesters all the time. They were usually about something to do with how cutting down trees is killing the environment.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to write about that. I’m PRO-timber industry.”
“Okay. Let me think about it. The scene you’re writing…..is it a peaceful protest?”
 “It started out that way, but then I got kind of stuck in the chapter and didn’t know what to do, so Girl Reporter suddenly gets hit on the head by a flying boot and is knocked out.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know why. I just needed something to happen and….that’s what happened.”

 “She gets hit by a boot?”
“Yes.”

“Why not a shoe?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why not a two-by-four? At least that’s indicative to a lumber mill.”

“I thought a boot was funnier.”

 “You know, I read a lot of books. True, a lot are fiction, but all of the plots are at least realist. They could all potentially happen. And never have a read a scene with a Girl Reporter getting knocked out by a flying boot for no reason.”

“I know! That’s why it’s funny!”

(Dad & I: Tennessee 2005)
(Dad & Susan: Forks, WA 2008)

(Pops chillin’ at Patrick’s Point: 2004)

Writing Inspirations – the movies, part 1

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Why I love Cactus Flower….
( 1969, screenplay by I.A.L. Diamond, adapted from the stage play by Abe Burrows. 
Starring: Goldie Hawn, Ingrin Burgman & Walter Matthau)

Because of clever dialogue like this……..
“Hey, in there!” (Banging on the door)  “Is something wrong? Hey, I smell gas!”

“Julian……”

“I’m not Julian. Wake up.”

“Julian……kiss me…..”

“Sorry, Julian, whoever you are.”

“What are you doing?”

“Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.”

“You were kissing me.”

“I lost my head.”

“How did you get in here? I don’t remember–“

“You left the gas on.”

“Gas? Oh…..I’m alive? I blew it! I blew it! Oh, boy, I really blew it!

“Take it easy. You’re lucky I broke in.”

“Why did you?”

“I thought you were dying.”

“Well, that was the whole idea.”
“Okay, lady, that’s the last time you catch me saving your life…..and as it happens, you were going about it all wrong. I believe you’re supposed to put your head in the stove.”
“It’s a second-hand stove–there were no directions.”

“Why did you do it? Because of Julian?”

“How do you know about Julian?”

“You called me that while you were kissing me.”

“I wasn’t kissing you, you were kissing me. And by the way…..is that all you did?”

“There wasn’t much time.”

“I’m sorry. I guess I should be grateful. What’s your name?”

“Igor Sullivan.”
“Igor Sullivan. That’s wild.”
“I made it up.”
“How come you picked Igor?”
“Igor’s my own. I made up the Sullivan. It’s a good name for a writer.”
“You’re a writer? You’re the writer! The one who keeps pounding on his typewriter all night. You drive me crazy!”
“Why didn’t you complain? I could’ve met you earlier.”

Writing Inspirations – the movies, part 1

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Why I love Cactus Flower….
( 1969, screenplay by I.A.L. Diamond, adapted from the stage play by Abe Burrows. 
Starring: Goldie Hawn, Ingrin Burgman & Walter Matthau)

Because of clever dialogue like this……..
“Hey, in there!” (Banging on the door)  “Is something wrong? Hey, I smell gas!”

“Julian……”

“I’m not Julian. Wake up.”

“Julian……kiss me…..”

“Sorry, Julian, whoever you are.”

“What are you doing?”

“Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.”

“You were kissing me.”

“I lost my head.”

“How did you get in here? I don’t remember–“

“You left the gas on.”

“Gas? Oh…..I’m alive? I blew it! I blew it! Oh, boy, I really blew it!

“Take it easy. You’re lucky I broke in.”

“Why did you?”

“I thought you were dying.”

“Well, that was the whole idea.”
“Okay, lady, that’s the last time you catch me saving your life…..and as it happens, you were going about it all wrong. I believe you’re supposed to put your head in the stove.”
“It’s a second-hand stove–there were no directions.”

“Why did you do it? Because of Julian?”

“How do you know about Julian?”

“You called me that while you were kissing me.”

“I wasn’t kissing you, you were kissing me. And by the way…..is that all you did?”

“There wasn’t much time.”

“I’m sorry. I guess I should be grateful. What’s your name?”

“Igor Sullivan.”
“Igor Sullivan. That’s wild.”
“I made it up.”
“How come you picked Igor?”
“Igor’s my own. I made up the Sullivan. It’s a good name for a writer.”
“You’re a writer? You’re the writer! The one who keeps pounding on his typewriter all night. You drive me crazy!”
“Why didn’t you complain? I could’ve met you earlier.”

Writing Inspirations – food

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Why I love food
(via: tumblr)
Last night, i was so busy NaNo-ing (yes, i’m using it as a verb now) that i completely forgot to eat dinner. i don’t usually eat a proper breakfast either, so by late morning today, i was screaming-starving, generally lethargic and feeling overall uninspired about everything. 
(As a writer in the mist of an important project, this is bad news.)
And then…..my little work group decided to go out for lunch. No, i did not eat a purple cupcake for lunch, but what i did have fueled both body and mind. 
(PS: We tried a new burger place around the corner that had some major killer sweet potato fries.)
And now, thanks to the jolly sustenance, i am so excited to get home, slide in front of my laptop, and see what fun-ness my characters can get themselves into!

Writing Inspirations – food

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Why I love food
(via: tumblr)
Last night, i was so busy NaNo-ing (yes, i’m using it as a verb now) that i completely forgot to eat dinner. i don’t usually eat a proper breakfast either, so by late morning today, i was screaming-starving, generally lethargic and feeling overall uninspired about everything. 
(As a writer in the mist of an important project, this is bad news.)
And then…..my little work group decided to go out for lunch. No, i did not eat a purple cupcake for lunch, but what i did have fueled both body and mind. 
(PS: We tried a new burger place around the corner that had some major killer sweet potato fries.)
And now, thanks to the jolly sustenance, i am so excited to get home, slide in front of my laptop, and see what fun-ness my characters can get themselves into!

Writing Inspirations – Running

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Why I love running….
For obvious reasons (naughty NaNo) I’ve been living almost exclusively in my head lately. Even as busy as work gets, my head is still wrapped around my story…..ever plotting away. 
I’m a pretty consistent (though not over-enthusiastic) exerciser. First thing I do when I get home is pull on the workout clothes. Last week (for that above, obvious reason), my daily workouts were down to zero. I planned on this, because I needed to really focus on word-count. And since I’m all nice and ahead now, last night, the running shoes came out from the back of the closet, and I hit the trail.
Let me tell you why I love running so much (when I don’t hate it). 
1) It feels good, physically and mentally. And I’m all about things that make me feel good. The knowledge that my muscles are working properly, and with my ponytail slapping rhythmically against my neck. That’s “good” to the extreme. 

2)  For me, there’s a sense of accomplishment when I make it to “that tree,” or across “that bridge.” It’s a way of pushing myself toward something that takes great effort. And even if it’s in the form of a side cramp or breathing too hard, the rewards always come. 
3) Most of the time, when I allow myself to get into “the zone,” there is nothing more I can focus on than simply staying upright. I have to stop planning, over-thinking, and making lists in my head. Because…..my lungs are burning, my legs are aching and all I want to do is dive off the path and on to that nice, soft grass for a rest. But those few (semi-painful, albeit) moments with a clear head can do wonders when it’s time to think again.
4) Thinking. I do some of my best thinking when I run. The only problem with that is–by the time I’m home–I sometimes forget the brilliance I’ve just conjured up. My iPod shuffle doesn’t  have one of those voice-activated recorder thing. Maybe I need to invest in one. Merry Christmas to Mary, maybe?
Yes, I woke up a little sore this morning, and yes, while planning my day, the LAST thing I want to do is go for a run tonight. But I know that will change. I guess I can always pray for rain….. 

During last night’s run, while in my good thinking mode, I mentally wrote a new scene while my iPod blasted this song.
(And let’s just say…they’re not sittin’ in church…) 

Writing Inspirations – Running

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Why I love running….
For obvious reasons (naughty NaNo) I’ve been living almost exclusively in my head lately. Even as busy as work gets, my head is still wrapped around my story…..ever plotting away. 
I’m a pretty consistent (though not over-enthusiastic) exerciser. First thing I do when I get home is pull on the workout clothes. Last week (for that above, obvious reason), my daily workouts were down to zero. I planned on this, because I needed to really focus on word-count. And since I’m all nice and ahead now, last night, the running shoes came out from the back of the closet, and I hit the trail.
Let me tell you why I love running so much (when I don’t hate it). 
1) It feels good, physically and mentally. And I’m all about things that make me feel good. The knowledge that my muscles are working properly, and with my ponytail slapping rhythmically against my neck. That’s “good” to the extreme. 

2)  For me, there’s a sense of accomplishment when I make it to “that tree,” or across “that bridge.” It’s a way of pushing myself toward something that takes great effort. And even if it’s in the form of a side cramp or breathing too hard, the rewards always come. 
3) Most of the time, when I allow myself to get into “the zone,” there is nothing more I can focus on than simply staying upright. I have to stop planning, over-thinking, and making lists in my head. Because…..my lungs are burning, my legs are aching and all I want to do is dive off the path and on to that nice, soft grass for a rest. But those few (semi-painful, albeit) moments with a clear head can do wonders when it’s time to think again.
4) Thinking. I do some of my best thinking when I run. The only problem with that is–by the time I’m home–I sometimes forget the brilliance I’ve just conjured up. My iPod shuffle doesn’t  have one of those voice-activated recorder thing. Maybe I need to invest in one. Merry Christmas to Mary, maybe?
Yes, I woke up a little sore this morning, and yes, while planning my day, the LAST thing I want to do is go for a run tonight. But I know that will change. I guess I can always pray for rain….. 

During last night’s run, while in my good thinking mode, I mentally wrote a new scene while my iPod blasted this song.
(And let’s just say…they’re not sittin’ in church…) 

Writing Inspirations – music

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NaNo project official theme song:

Maybe (Love Isn’t Funny) – Emma Bunton

Music has always played and huge, HUGE part in not only my writing process, but my story lines, scene moods and even character developments. 

Last week, as I was getting deeper into NaNo, it worried me a little that I had yet to make a soundtrack for my story–which is odd, I usually have a complete CD with 20+ songs (and usually homemade ghetto cover art) before I’ve started–even if I don’t know exactly where my story will be going. I choose songs I hope might lead me in some kind of direction. And you know what…it always works. 
Someday, when my books are turned into movies…no worries, Hollywood Executives, the soundtracks are already done! 

So anyway, I was writing last night (ha-ha, of course I was writing last night), and at a very particular scene which really could’ve used a superfabulous song to capture the moment and my main character’s emotions. One of the themes I’m exploring in this story is a kind of “Frenzy Romance:” 

Happens quickly….then it’s gone….then it happens again….oh but now where did he go?….things were just getting good…. 

You know, that kind of fun stuff. 

When last night, out of the blue (the way most things like this usually happen for me) the perfect song popped into my head…not only perfect for this scene, but for my lovely story in general.

 

Currently, Emma Bunton’s (previously known as “Baby Spice”) Maybe is running through my head on a constant loop. And now that I’ve written a little more since this musical breakthrough, I am certain it is running through my MC’s head too. She’s just cool like that.

Writing Inspirations – music

Leave a comment
NaNo project official theme song:

Maybe (Love Isn’t Funny) – Emma Bunton

Music has always played and huge, HUGE part in not only my writing process, but my story lines, scene moods and even character developments. 

Last week, as I was getting deeper into NaNo, it worried me a little that I had yet to make a soundtrack for my story–which is odd, I usually have a complete CD with 20+ songs (and usually homemade ghetto cover art) before I’ve started–even if I don’t know exactly where my story will be going. I choose songs I hope might lead me in some kind of direction. And you know what…it always works. 
Someday, when my books are turned into movies…no worries, Hollywood Executives, the soundtracks are already done! 

So anyway, I was writing last night (ha-ha, of course I was writing last night), and at a very particular scene which really could’ve used a superfabulous song to capture the moment and my main character’s emotions. One of the themes I’m exploring in this story is a kind of “Frenzy Romance:” 

Happens quickly….then it’s gone….then it happens again….oh but now where did he go?….things were just getting good…. 

You know, that kind of fun stuff. 

When last night, out of the blue (the way most things like this usually happen for me) the perfect song popped into my head…not only perfect for this scene, but for my lovely story in general.

 

Currently, Emma Bunton’s (previously known as “Baby Spice”) Maybe is running through my head on a constant loop. And now that I’ve written a little more since this musical breakthrough, I am certain it is running through my MC’s head too. She’s just cool like that.