The original post can be found here on Westveil Books.
As an author, trying to narrow down what exactly inspires me feels like an unanswerable question because the range of possibilities is so vast! We’re all influenced by our surroundings or what media we take in, whether we realize it or not.
So, what inspires me? I’ll answer this two-fold. What inspires me when I’m plotting out a new book, and what inspires me to keep writing.
For plots, I simply pay attention. I look around my surroundings as so many interesting things happen in the world. The world is a never-ending source of inspiration. I’ve discussed before that I keep extensive paper files for book research, and that applies to book ideas too. As I peruse various news outlets each morning, if I come across a particularly intriguing story that catches my attention and gets the creative gears moving, I print the story off and into my “Book Ideas” folder it goes. Now don’t think I take these stories and turn them directly into books. Where’s the fun in that? Nah, it usually acts as a steppingstone to a different “what if” scenario, or I jot down notes on how I can use a detail or angle from the periodical in a future novel.
After decades of doing this, my file is overflowing with ideas. Will every single idea make its way into a book? Heck no! But it’s my very own curated box of inspiration, and that’s pretty great.
Another source of plot inspiration happens when I’m sleeping. I will wake up in the middle of the night with an idea that was bouncing around in my head while I slept. This happens if I’ve been poking around the aforementioned inspiration file, but it actually also happens when I’m working on a book! Typically, it’s during the plotting phase of a new book and I can’t shut my mind off. In the early days of this happening, I made the rookie mistake of “oh I’ll remember this in the morning, no need to write it down” and I’d roll back over and fall asleep. Learn from my mistakes and write the dang idea down. Whether you keep a small notepad next to your bed and scrawl the idea out, or you text yourself a nearly nonsensical text – find something that works. (Bonus side effect: with the idea out of your head, you’ll sleep well the rest of the night.)
As for what inspires me to keep writing. It’s super cliché but hear me out. My biggest inspiration is my readers. There’s nothing quite like putting a well-crafted mystery into their hands. The positive feedback and wonderful support inspire me to continue to writing Mauzzy & Me mysteries (I’m looking at you, Makinsey Hardcastle, Micky Collins, Ann Harmon, and Emily Lilley and Audrey DeWild and all the insightful regulars in their Book & Cover Thursday Murder Book Club www.thebookandcover.com).
I invest so much time and effort into researching and laying out a book before I ever start writing, so knowing I have these dedicated readers patiently waiting to dive into the next Mauzzy & Me book gives me the energy boost I need on the more trickier of writing days.
There will always be ebbs and flows during the writing process, and when I’m ebbing, knowing my readers are out there supporting me is my own personal “rising tide” that lifts me up when I’m about ready to throw in the towel.
One such example actually has to do with my newest release, Lucky Secrets. Long story short, I had an entirely different book, plot, title, everything completely researched and plotted out. Until I had to accept the fact that the main character, Sara Donovan, wasn’t emotionally ready for such a dark set of challenges. I felt like giving up because I had to start over. But then I saw the comments on social media, I spoke to my Thursday Murder Book Club, and I realized that the readers are invested in the Mauzzy & Me Mystery series regardless of timeline, and I wanted to give them the best that I had.
After two long brainstorming sessions with my daughter, and the knowledge that I had an army of supportive readers behind me, I could begin to see the new plot for what would become Lucky Secrets.
And I can’t wait for you to read it.
Thank you Westveil Publishing and Goddess Fish Promotions for allowing me to share my rambling thoughts on inspiration and the importance of amazing supportive readers!