Cold, Cold, Cold

Cold, cold, cold. A good portion of the U.S. is really feeling cold this week. The reason I’m writing about the cold this week is that at these lower temperatures, it can really be hard to think let alone feel any sort of inspiration. It just got me thinking about how writers search out inspiration for books.

I can’t speak for everyone, but I know for me personally, my inspiration is music. Other influences can be places I go or people I see around me. I get inspired by other authors I read, even in reading other languages– sometimes some of the Latin based languages can describe a room (or something else that may seem mundane) and make it sound like a work of art.

Being back on the east coast, I remember how I felt before moving to the desert. It rains more and that can get tiring. Winter isn’t lush and green, it is gray and gloomy. All of these things can affect a mood. The main difference now is that I’ve lived somewhere where the sun shines some 360 days of the year. Surprisingly, even the shining sun can be tiring. And while winter can be gloomy, an overheated summer can be stifling. Bottom line, each side has its advantages and disadvantages. This being said, it helps to understand both sides as it allows us to know what we may or may not be missing. I know this isn’t always possible though.

So the point of today’s ramblings? Find inspiration in everything around you–it can be done if you look closely. You don’t need paradise for every work. Sometimes a gloomy mood makes a perfect scene. Be flexible and open and happy writing this week.