The Writers' Network! discussion

Yes, I have a few select authors that inspire me. I also gather inspiration from the people I talk to on here and in real life. Like a few people from DA (Devil's Advocate)have inspired a few new characters. XD

I too find inspiration chatting to people online. The story in Strange Love - Short Stories and Twisted Tales that most people like best was inspired by a late night chat on twitter that started off about auto-tweeting porn bots and led on to snowmen being the new vampires (twice as pale and ten times as scared of sunlight)and swerved on to Object Sexuality and a woman who married the Berlin Wall ;~)

Hmmm..

Well, people tell me (for better or for worse) that I really focus on writing the way people talk. I think I learned that from Sam Clemens, so I would have to count Mark Twain as an inspiration. Sometimes I actually have to reign myself in a bit -- when I'm voicing a character that has a thick accent, there are times when I need to make sure people can read what I'm writing! I wrote a short story for a horror writing contest awhile back that was set during the battle of Trenton at the time of the American revolution (with zombies thrown in). The story included a character with an extremely thick American southern drawl. He was a both the most unhinged and most level-headed character in the story, all at the same time. It was fun :)

I think we can all agree that any writing will influence us. Of late, John Green's works have been influential to me, because that's all I've read.

To me inspiration comes from my own life and my family. :) And sometimes from my dreams and mostly from nature (::

I definately agree that dreams can provide inspiration, too. Maybe it's strange, but the protagonist for my novel is actually named after a character I met in a dream. Never encountered anybody that "real" in a dream before that I did not already know in real life...have to wonder where my subconscious gets material sometimes. I just took his name though. The protagonist is an American junior high student, while the dream-namesake was actually an 18th-century British army officer. Go figure.

Dreams are a huge inspiration. I try to keep a journal on my bed side table. So I can write down a few lines or scenes from that nights dream. Though my handwriting is junk. I usually spend a few hours trying to decipher what I put on paper. Thank God for computers. :)

Not a novel, but an experience. I was in the crypt of Repton Church (Derbyshire,UK)where St Wystan was interred in the 9th century. He was removed a bit later by King Cnut to Evesham for the pilgrimage trade.

It was easy to imagine how the area would have coped with Viking invasions and I felt an incredible sense of connection. From these imaginings came the character of Thorkild, a Norse raider, who features in my novel NORTHMAN.

I've mused on the question: 'what is reality?' for many years in a kind of slack manner and Thorkild gave me the opportunity to write a supernatural thriller that explores the nature of reality, eternal love and ancient evil within the umbrella of a timeslip/romance/
horror/thriller.

Without a chance visit to Repton Church crypt, I doubt that the book would have been written.

Thanks, William :)

You never know where you're going to get inspiration from.

William wrote: "Actually, something Emily said reminded me that Ancient Greek myths and literature are major influences for me, those guys really knew what they were doing!"

Me too actually. And if you are stuck for story ideas, there are many good archetypes/storylines waiting to be plundered in the bible ;~)

Music mainly, but as I live in New Zealand there are loads of mountains and forests to explore that spark ideas.

most of my inspiration comes from my own life, be it the people closest to me, things I see online or people passing by me on the street.

in terms of other artists, i have a "favorites" shelf above where I write, where I can grab a book and open up a random page.

I get inspiration from most things really. I suppose the writer who's had the biggest inspiration recently is W. Somerset Maughm.

Sarah wrote: "Music mainly, but as I live in New Zealand there are loads of mountains and forests to explore that spark ideas."

I'm coming to New Zealand in August and can't wait!

Sarah wrote: "Music mainly, but as I live in New Zealand there are loads of mountains and forests to explore that spark ideas."

Music is one of my main sourced of inspiration, too.

I have found inspiration in music. Mostly Mumford and Sons, The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, Imagine Dragons, Fun, and One Republic. Of course I steal problems from my friends at random, but I consider that recycling. I'm amazed they still speak to me, but they all seem to want me to use their difficulties. Who am I to turn them down?

I saw the movie for Perks of Being a Wallflower very shortly before I began writing my novel, and read the original book after I wrote the first draft. While I would never want to write something derivative, and I wouldn't compare my book to Perks stylistically at all, I definitely wrote my novel with the energy I got from Perks. I wanted to write something "like that," so meaningful, so helpful to young people.

I agree with music being an inspiration, at least for me. The last series I wrote, I listened to one CD over and over again anytime I was working on the story.

I was listening to a group called Deadmau5 the entire time i wrote the series. Its dub-step music, which is a spin-off of techno. It inspired the robots lol

Susan, I didn't discover the joys of being inspired to music until I listened to Starf**kers by Nine Inch Nails. It helped piece together a brutal and violent scene in my novel. It brought out my greatest fears but I needed to explore that fear in order to write the chapter. It wasn't about me, it was about the characters, and it needed to be done. Music can be very powerful to aid creativity!

Tamora Pierce was/is a huge inspiration for me. Alanna was my hero when I was a young girl and I truly believe that Pierce is a large part of the reason that I always grew up knowing that women had a place in fantasy literature.

Music is definitely a great source of inspiration! I tend to find inspiration from movie soundtracks. Does anybody else do this? Something like Gladiator for example. It's so epic that I can't help being inspired!

Do you know what...the Magneto theme from first class is AWESOME (I think it's the Magneto theme anyway?) but I have never thought of trying the whole soundtrack while writing. I'll give it a go now!

I need to start listening to Nine Inch Nails again soon. I have to start working on my third book to the Dark Deception series. That would probably help out a lot.

Hi Susan. Definitely listen to NIM. You might be surprised what your imagination will conjure up. All the best on your third book.

I'm kinda partial to Megadeth myself. Energizes my brain and helps me get into a fast and inspirational writing zone. That's just me.

Not familiar with Overkill to be honest. Sounds like someone I'd listen to though.

I've realized that I have to have a playlist for each book/main character. I tried to write the other day listening to a different type of music and it just wouldn't happen until I played the right playlist. For me, its not even always about the particular song--it's the type of music in most cases.

Im going to have to try the idea of making different playlists to write. Im thinking of making one that is all heavy metal like garage days Metallica and maybe throw in some Marilyn Manson. I think i have writers block with the last dark deception book. Its called the exorcism and i cant seem to get into a dark enough place in my mind to write the story. Im just too damn happy lol.

I've come up with a "playlist" but it is by theme more than by genre... anyone else?