Inspiration

As writers, we’re always on the look-out for this, this flash – or ‘Pow’ as my friend Bella puts it – that will set off that spark which will ignite a new story. We don’t know where it comes from or what, if anything, it will bring. But when it comes, there’s this desperate need to grab what it brings with both hands and scribble it down.

I’m sat here listening to The Beach Boys ‘Pet Sounds’ album. My all-time favourite. In fact, I have 4 separate single album versions of it, a 4-disc box-set and enough outtakes to sink the Titanic. It’s music I find easy to listen to and it relaxes my mind. But does it provide the ‘Inspiration’? It physically hurts me to admit it, but no, it doesn’t.

What did this week was driving into work on Tuesday and on came Tina Turner and Private Dancer. An idea well, the seed of an idea came into my head and I desperately kept hold of it until I got into work and then I typed down what I could remember. A cup of coffee later to settle the beating heart and there’s the idea for a story, about a situation I very much doubt I would ever have come up with without that moment.

Yesterday, I got to the section in Sue Moorcroft’s book ‘Love Writing’ where she’s talking about Genre’s, in particular Mills and Boon’s Medical line. I’d never considered even trying to come up with a story for this line. BANG. Inspiration strikes and now I have the complete outline of a story that would fit this line.

Have I done anything more on the two ideas above? Nope. If you read my previous post then you know I was taking a short break after finishing my second book prior to starting a new edit. I’ve finally gotten around to starting that edit, so until such a time as that book is as ready as I can make it so I can send it off to the RNA New Writer’s Scheme, they have to stay virtually untouched. I say ‘virtually because even though the edit is going well, I’ve found myself going back to those outlines and adding and deleting parts. What I’ll end up with and which I’ll choose to start properly once I’m ready is anybody’s guess.

But I don’t mind that. It’s exciting as a new story should be.

So, today I’ll leave you with the question: what’s your ‘Inspiration’?

Every fortnight, Mick will be chatting about his experience as a male author in the romantic genre.  Mick is a forty-something member of the Romantic Novelists Association, New Writers Scheme. He lives in Northamptonshire and is the proud keeper of a cat bent on world domination.When he’s not trying to write books, Mick has a deep-seated love of reading that he’s brought from his teens to the current day with no signs of waning. He’s also mad on the music of the Beach Boys and enjoys the theatre and humouring his Manchester United supporting wife. Mick can be followed on Twitter

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Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.