Goodreads asked William P. Simmons:

How do you get inspired to write?

William P. Simmons Inspirations to write are as varied as the daily tiny and huge events that form a life. Sometimes, anger, anguish, deep sadness, and yearning move you to the paper. Sometimes it's a sudden flash of an image, a feeling, a concept. Often it isn't inspiration at all but MAKING yourself imagine, produce, and rewrite...rewrite...rewrite. A memory, a fear or regret or guilt visiting you like an unwelcome family member. Sometimes I'm watching a film or reading and an idea is delivered from someone else's vision and translated through mine. And once in awhile there IS no choice. The darkness compels you. The darkness without and the darkness within. I've learned I had better follow those instincts, those warnings to create or in some manner my life suffers for it. What inspires me to write...? Who assumes there is a choice?!

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