Inspiration for writing fiction is a peculiar entity. It can arise from the most mundane of incidents and events. One has to question what inspired books and movies such as the Butterfly Effect and Beaches, Predator and a Nightmare on Elmstreet, though I am sure the creative minds could relay the process perfectly if asked. Books and plays with linear and predictable plots need inspiration and a time consuming thought process.
When I write I take inspiration from everywhere and everything. Many ideas are written in a small notebook I keep and many are left unused and rejected. In saying that, otherS develop as I take time to consider what I have seen and heard.
For example, in autumn I was walking through a park. A small gust of wind picked up a small pile of leaves and sent them spinning across the grass. Initially I thought they were small brown birds. The idea then struck me. What if they were alive? What if at certain times of the year leaves took form and became dangerous? What if people became afraid in the autumn and hid from falling leaves that sought to dance and slice flesh?
Is this a good idea? Not particularly, but it is an idea.
The biggest problem I have found when writing fantasy fiction is finding new character and place names. I gave used many methods including anagrams of friends names, if you ever read Walls of Shadow try to find which names are anagrams! For one character in Walls of Shadow there is a sword-smith known as Hayman, initially I was stuck for a name for this character. Whilst driving through France I saw a giant man made from hay bales… he was a ‘hay man.’ PRESTO! Problem solved.
Therefore, for inspiration to write all one has to do is look and listen, observe and witness. Time should be taken to analyse what is happening about them and try to contextualise and interpret events. Write down every idea that comes to mind and let it fester and ferment. In time it may be instilled into a find brew or it may be through out with the other sludge. Either way, the creative mind is given a workout and allowed to develop. I am sure even Stephen King had his bad days. I know I do.
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