Week Six: What inspires me?

I think inspiration depends upon my current mood, and what I’m thinking about at the time when that inspiration strikes.

For example, if I was feeling depressed, a story about a happy teenage couple falling into hilarious situations wouldn't appeal to me. But if I was in a more positive mood, the idea would be more appetizing (OK, probably not even then, but I needed an example).

And if I was thinking about something at the time which could connect with the idea and help it along, then I’d be more likely to write about it.

My inspiration can also take the form of genres; more specifically, I get inspired by the current genre I’m into. Say, if I was watching a lot of sci-fi movies, I’d be inspired to write something in that genre, rather than a romance or a historical novel – unless I somehow incorporate either of those into the sci-fi, which is getting into a whole other crazier part of inspiration.

Sometimes I get inspired by my dreams. An image or a scene in one dream which I remember could find its way into one of my stories, or lead to a story all on its own in creating perhaps a weird and wonderful world to work from.

Or I just get a random thought, linked to nothing and not related to anything.

I guess inspiration is just random like that, and it’s our job as writers not to question them; just to take advantage of them. 

Week Five: Letter to the World

There are many reasons why a writer publishes their work.

The most obvious is for the money, which can be seen as either greedy – or simply just work. Another obvious one is for the praise; a writer wishes to be recognized for their skills, to become immortal, or to be judged.

But some writers do so because they feel that they are not only expressing themselves and giving the world a part of themselves, but because they want the world to hear what they have to say. They have something to say, and use writing in order to convey that message to the readers who are willing to listen.

This message could be personal, and only apply to a select few. Or it could apply to everyone, and be a universal message that has the potential to change the world, if people let it.

Maybe that’s what some writers want to do; change the world and make it a better place. And if they are able to write well enough and catch the attention of the millions which make up this planet, they could make the world a better place. In this way, a story is a writer’s letter to the world, but it all depends on whether people are willing to listen.

Think about how many fans are utterly dedicated (wrongfully so, in my opinion, but it’s a good example) to Twilight. Now imagine that same dedication going into a story which encourages people to help the environment.

Yeah. 

Week Four: Social and Political Views

Out of all the writers who make their debut each year either online or in Waterstones, there’s always at least one who tries to shove their social and political views down your throat.

And we all know how annoying this is. They’re abusing their freedom of speech, making us realize why Hitler band such an act.

But this doesn’t mean a writer can’t write about the social and political views of their time. They just have to do it in a way which only informs readers of the issues, and not try and forcibly make the readers agree with them.

It isn’t entirely necessary for a writer to write about what’s going on at the time; it’s not their firm duty to do so, and there’s many other non-fiction writers doing this for them. But sometimes these issues will come out in their writing self-consciously, and many writers don’t know this – at least, I don’t half the time.

For example, Emily Dickinson wrote a lot about the American Civil War in her poetry. Whether or not she meant for these implications to show from the start is unknown, but she most likely did; the imagery in the poems is too obvious for it to be accidental or coincidental.

So perhaps it depends on the writer. Some writers will choose to include these issues of the time, while others won’t – and sometimes these issues will work their way in self-consciously. I think it doesn’t matter – so long as the issues aren’t shoved down my throat.