Goodreads asked Gaylord Dold:

How do you get inspired to write?

Gaylord Dold Hello and Thanks for the Question:

There are a couple of ways to answer that question. Many years ago, thirty five or so at least, I used to tell everybody I knew that I wanted to be a writer. I did that for two or three years. It got to be like wanting to make love to Marilyn Monroe, an embarrassment. Pretty soon I knew I had to begin writing, if nothing more than to avoid shame. If I didn't begin to write,
I knew I'd have to give it up forever by shutting my mouth. So, the original inspiration to write was the pressure I applied to myself in wanting to change my life.

On the immediate day to day level, I'm inspired to "start" a book by something simple like a mood, time of year, state of the weather, something entirely accidental. I'm a writer who has no idea what is "going to come next" in terms of plot, so I consider writing every day a kind of adventure, much better than working in a cube or in an office. People ask me if my background as a lawyer inspires me with "real tales" of crime and I always truthfully say no. Nothing could be further from the truth. My legal
background is of minimal importance.

Inspiration they say is mostly perspiration. I believe it.

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