Obtained from www.Fanpop.com

By: H3rmonieg

You know, every artist keeps talking abut this thing called Inspiration. Movies depict artists admiring a sunset painted with many colors, or getting an epiphany from some mundane thing, like a Merry Go Round or a Broom Closet. Though I'd like to say the movies were right, I've found that in my experience this isn't even close to the truth. From talking with fellow writers and artists, it seems we all turn to one place to find inspiration for our trade. Art.

Yes, Art! I'm not just talking about paintings you'd find against the marbled walls of fancy museums. I'm mainly referring to the creative works of others. All work is inspired by another's creativity, which is incredibly astounding when you think about it. I'm not special, nor am I any different from any other artist. I depend on the creative works of others to fabricate the worlds imagined from my dreams. However, I'd be lying if I told you that was all it required to write a book, create a sculpture, or compose music. 

Music - Orchestrating Life on a Blank Page

A writer's best friend, and worst nightmare is a blank page. Whenever I start a new chapter, it can't just be as though I continued writing from the previous one. To me, every chapter needs to have it's own mood, set of rules, and goals to accomplish which is different from the chapters surrounding it. Some chapters may be like others, but for the most part, I strive to make each chapter shine as though it were the most important chapter of the book. Before setting off on any writing endeavor, I immerse myself in music which fits the mood I'm trying to embellish. Luckily for me, I've a world full of emotions and stories, all of which have been captured by established and aspiring musicians alike.

In the case of my current project, Platform 21, the concept of the book was inspired by a song from an incredibly unlikely source. Rise Against's 'Satellite' was a song which really spoke to me when I was at a place in my life where writing wasn't the focus. Instead, I was working a stable IT job, enjoying the American Dream. When I heard Satellite, it was as though a story I'd been harboring in my subconscious demanded to come out. So - I listened to those urges and explored the concept. What I found, was incredible, and I can't wait to share it with you. 

But this was just the beginning. The lyrics and emotion behind the song really speaks to the core concept of Platform 21, but it fits the mood of the second book in the Beyond the Veil series, not the first. Even still, writing a book to an uptempo, protest song is very difficult, especially when you are also trying to summon feelings of melancholy, love, and sometimes incredible sadness. One of the great myths about being a hero is that you'll never feel pain, and that everything works out for the best in the end because you did the right thing. The exact opposite is far more true. In thinking about this, I stumbled upon a song which became the most influential inspiration for Platform 21. This Bitter Earth / On the Nature of Daylight by Dinah Washington and Max Richter is an incredibly powerful song which I've used to influence the mood of the book. The lyrics really speak to the challenges the characters are facing, all while the music embodies the message.

In the end, there isn't a single song a person can fathom through several hours of writing, much less several months of writing. I've purchased over eight hours of music which I listen to while sculpting the story behind Platform 21. However, there are those moments, or those chapters, which require a certain kind of help only a specific song can provide. Time and time again, I find myself drawn to a particular artist whose work is monumentally critical to my own. It would be impossible for me to take full credit for the book when I've spent so many hours drawing inspiration from Karliene. She, like me, is a new artist who is working independently to distribute her music. Releasing song after song, each work is superior to the last. This, to me, is a mark of a dedicated and extremely talented artist.

The Setting - East Liverpool, OH

I've already written at length about the great privilege it is for me to set Platform 21 in East Liverpool Ohio. The best piece of advice in writing I've ever received was to get out and see the world. You'd be surprised how many untold stories there are out there. East Liverpool hides a treasure trove of inspiration left untapped. Its story must be shared, and I count it as an extreme privilege to be permitted and encouraged to do so. 

Understanding Emotion

There are many sources and influences which helps me understand and capture the emotion bled out onto the pages of my book. It isn't good enough to say that a character is happy, sad, or frustrated. As an author, you have to envision it and then show the reader the character's emotion. This is harder than it sounds. You can write at length about emotions, but writing too much loses the audience, and writing too little cheats them of the experience. Finding this balance is incredibly difficult. As a writer, you should feel all of these things. I've become lost to the world, sheltered and put away from experiencing the emotions of my characters. This experience is demanding on an artist, and I'm beginning to understand why some writers struggle with writing about the grim realities of our world. It's been difficult on me, but I feel purpose driven to continue.

This purpose brought me to an interesting character on YouTube who has left me incredibly impressed by his ability to convey emotion through his reading of short stories. Cryaotic is a very personal individual who hasn't revealed his identity on his website, however his talents have been noticed by many. His voice sounds an awful lot like the main character of Platform 21, which left me a bit awed. My infatuation with him doesn't end there, as in his reading he attempts to capture the emotion portrayed by the characters. He finds that extra bit of something to put into his work, which is something of a rare talent. 

That Little Something Else

It's difficult for me to explain the extra ingredient which brings it all together. Yes, external inspiration is needed to produce any work of art, but there is something to be said about the artist's own imagination. As much as I'd like to take credit for all the plot twists, and the suspenseful nature of Platform 21, I have to agree with something Stephen King once said about writing. This story I'm working on isn't the result of a storyboard effort, or something I just thought up one day. The story already existed, and it chose me to tell it. This is a responsibility I take seriously.

These characters have a life of their own, and the greatest pleasure of revealing this story through writing has been learning and understanding them. When I get something wrong, they let me know it. When I lose sight of the story, I experience a wicked case of writer's block which doesn't leave me until I get it right. However, I've taken this a step further. Every character I introduce in Platform 21 has their own agenda, purpose, and story. Just like in real life, everyone thinks of themselves as the main character. The same is true in books. The potential for subplots is there if every character and their voice is respected, and explored by the writer.

So, there you have it. Contrary to the title of the blog post, it seems inspiration isn't something you only need a little of if you want to create art. Whether it be music, or dramatic readings of campfire stories, there is always something to take with you when you indulge in any kind of creative work. Please, do me a favor and check out these other artists. Every single one of them is incredibly gifted, and are well deserving of your time and attention.