Goodreads asked Emily Bain Murphy:

How do you get inspired to write?

Emily Bain Murphy It might seem counter-intuitive, but if I read another author's work that I really love (beautifully crafted sentences, a mind-blowing plot, emotionally engaging characters), I can draw a lot of inspiration from that. Sometimes a book is so good that it just makes me want to throw in the towel--but more often than not I use it as motivation. The bar is set and it gives me something to hope and reach for.

When I'm writing a scene or starting to envision a new project, I love to find a photograph or a series of images that capture a moment or mood. Secret Pinterest boards are such a great resource for that. It can also be helpful to switch up where I'm writing day-to-day, whether it's a different coffee shop or even just a different room of the house. The two places that consistently inspire me the most are actually polar opposites of one another: the insane rush and energy of New York City, and this gorgeous, still cabin on a lake in the woods of northern Wisconsin.

But most days, inspiration just looks like opening my computer next to a deep mug of hot coffee... and a really good pastry.

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