Saturday, June 6, 2009

Inspire This

Everyone needs inspiration from time to time. Sometimes the spark comes from within, other times it’s something external that kicks us in the arse.

I don’t know about you, but when something inspires me, I want to tackle it, put it in a box, and wrap the whole thing up with a few layers of duct tape. That way, I can mete it out when I need it, in just the right amount to get me moving. (Can’t be wasting any motivation mojo!)

Here are two recent blog posts, each inspiring in their own way:

Nathan Bransford: Stepping up Your Game

Stephen Parrish: My First Rejection

 

What has inspired you lately?


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5 comments:

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Thanks for the links...I can see why you recommended them.

The blog; Hey, There's a Dead Guy in the Living Room; had this really funny post a couple of days ago about writer's block: http://tinyurl.com/koatjm
I found it oddly inspirational.

Also, I'm nerdy, so I get inspired watching the Biography channel when they focus on a famous writer or artist and show their challenges and successes.

Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder

Amy Sue Nathan said...

I'm inspired by all the writers I know who push ahead no matter what. I think that's why I read writing blogs - to connect and to see what makes other writers keep going. I think that some posts can have the opposite effect too -- even in wonderful blogs, unfortunately. I'm in the throes of trying to erase the memory of a list I read last night - that zapped me of some enthusiasm for my WIP. That's why I'm reading blogs early Saturday morning!

Alan Orloff said...

Elizabeth: I try not to read stuff about writer's block--don't want to get any ideas!

Amy Sue: Thanks for your comment. It got me thinking about what things or events or habits might quash my inspiration or motivation. Maybe that should be a topic for another blog post!

Merry Monteleone said...

You know, it's funny - on a normal day, Amy's comment would be almost exactly mine - I get a lot of inspiration from blogging and talking with other writers, in different places on their journey.

The last few weeks, not so much... I've just been unmotivated or unable to get the words down, so that I'm opening my doc and just sitting there with the words swimming and nothing popping.

Finally, today, I made myself work. Really work, didn't care how good or bad, I just got in there and wrote - that was inspiring. It's the best I've felt in a while.

Alan Orloff said...

I agree Merry. Sometimes the only cure for a lull in motivation is to get your butt back in the chair and pound some keys.

You can always fix the gibberish in a later draft!