Goodreads
Goodreads asked J.S. Gilmore:

How do you get inspired to write?

J.S. Gilmore Inspiration comes from many things, however, I have found that when listening to people tell stories of their past or day to day experiences, (mostly from my family) I find that I start picturing how their situation could work in other contexts. Life lessons are especially inspiring for me. That's mostly due to the book I'm currently working on.
Staying inspired is a tough one for me. I was lucky to have been discovered by a teacher in Orlando, Florida that introduced my book, Secret Teddy Society, to his class. Receiving notes from his students helps to keep me motivated.
It's true that daily life drudgery distracts from the creative force and makes it hard to sit and write. Finding a quiet place to work is hard sometimes but essential. I am one that gets easily distracted. For me, just getting started in a new chapter helps with inspiration because I get lost in the scene. It might not matter if you keep any of what you write, it's simply starting the chapter and giving yourself a direction, a vision of where you want to go.
Get into the habit of thinking about your story even when you're not working on it. That being said, make sure you write down your moments of inspired thought--you will forget them if you don't. You know how many times I've said, "That's a perfect direction for the book. I'll remember that." NOPE!!! Write it on something: a napkin, an old invoice or receipt, your hand, anything. You'll thank me later. And, you're welcome, by the way.

Good Luck.

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more