Can Imagination Exist Without Inspiration?
GUEST POST by Amy Lignor
Throughout mylife, depending on the 'stage' I was in at the time, inspiration came from avariety of sources. Over the years I've been inspired by everything rangingfrom sunsets to puppies to Jane Austen (God bless her); to more intenseinspirations, like my daughter's first smile. At the age of nineteen she stillhas an incredible smile, and when she speaks about me to her friends and saysthat I am the 'coolest' and 'best mom in the world' she makes me lift off theground like I have wings attached to my back. It was the love of books,movies, and the love I have for that incredible smile that led me on anexciting - sometimes frightening - path. And without these things, myimagination could never have 'sparked.'
The baby was the challenge. That came with fear, doubt, and prayers galore thatI wouldn't screw up a human life that I loved this much. When they placedShelby in my arms for the first time I told her: "We're in this together."Without so much as a cry or a shudder, Shelby looked up at me, took in the fullpicture of this odd, sweaty person who was going to be her mother…and proceededto fall asleep. At nineteen she still looks at an oddly sweaty mother -especially after a day of pulling my hair out because this wholeFacebook/Twitter/Big Brother/Cell phone craze is driving me nuts - and sends methat encouraging smile. Of course, now it comes with words like: "I'm so proudof you, Mom." After which, she still goes to sleep. (Although now it's at 1:00am because of those demonic cell phones that allow her friends to text in themiddle of the bloody night.)
The thought for Until Next Time first came to me during the period in myown life where I was a teen who still wasn't quite sure if I was going to makeit. I was bullied about being overweight, I was tired of it all, and I turnedto books and movies for a way out. I didn't have a Harry Potter (which was ashame), but I did have the wonderful John Hughes' movies to tell me that I wasokay. I could be the geek, prom queen, basket case, criminal, or jock -and everything was just fine. In fact, "The Breakfast Club" is something Ipassed down to my own daughter so she'd know that all of the above was allright.
It was during this confusing time period that I remember questioning 'angelic'beings. Why would they possibly want to come down here? What would they end upbecoming if they were one of us? Angels were obviously stronger, but what ifall these human emotions we have just got to them and they went home and said:"Those guys down there are way too messed up!" (I wouldn't have blamedthem).
In Until Next Time, Emily and Matt are a great deal like our belovedchildren - they want freedom. They are angels who've been trained to embark onjourneys to protect, defend, or destroy. But they are also teens 'out of thehouse,' so to speak, for the first time. When I saw the trends moving towardthe 'winged ones' in the literary world, I thought it was time for Emily andMatt to join us. It's not about religion, or belief vs. non-belief, Emily andMatt are all about being young and trying to figure out what the nextstep is going to be; and how to keep their faith in each other while they standin a world that's trying to rip them apart.
My daughter's eyes, and my own teenage ones that stared back at me from themirror long ago, blended together to create the adventures of Emily and Matt.And they inspire me to continue their story each and every day.
In the end, whether it's a child, sunset, or puppy, I hope all writersand readers can take what they see, hear and feel to heart, so they can enjoythe paths they eventually choose. Because without that inspiration, I justdon't believe that imagination would have the slightest chance of survival!
Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy
Click HERE for Amy's Blog The Write Companion,andHERE for Amy's blog and to buy UNTIL NEXT TIME.
Throughout mylife, depending on the 'stage' I was in at the time, inspiration came from avariety of sources. Over the years I've been inspired by everything rangingfrom sunsets to puppies to Jane Austen (God bless her); to more intenseinspirations, like my daughter's first smile. At the age of nineteen she stillhas an incredible smile, and when she speaks about me to her friends and saysthat I am the 'coolest' and 'best mom in the world' she makes me lift off theground like I have wings attached to my back. It was the love of books,movies, and the love I have for that incredible smile that led me on anexciting - sometimes frightening - path. And without these things, myimagination could never have 'sparked.'The baby was the challenge. That came with fear, doubt, and prayers galore thatI wouldn't screw up a human life that I loved this much. When they placedShelby in my arms for the first time I told her: "We're in this together."Without so much as a cry or a shudder, Shelby looked up at me, took in the fullpicture of this odd, sweaty person who was going to be her mother…and proceededto fall asleep. At nineteen she still looks at an oddly sweaty mother -especially after a day of pulling my hair out because this wholeFacebook/Twitter/Big Brother/Cell phone craze is driving me nuts - and sends methat encouraging smile. Of course, now it comes with words like: "I'm so proudof you, Mom." After which, she still goes to sleep. (Although now it's at 1:00am because of those demonic cell phones that allow her friends to text in themiddle of the bloody night.)
The thought for Until Next Time first came to me during the period in myown life where I was a teen who still wasn't quite sure if I was going to makeit. I was bullied about being overweight, I was tired of it all, and I turnedto books and movies for a way out. I didn't have a Harry Potter (which was ashame), but I did have the wonderful John Hughes' movies to tell me that I wasokay. I could be the geek, prom queen, basket case, criminal, or jock -and everything was just fine. In fact, "The Breakfast Club" is something Ipassed down to my own daughter so she'd know that all of the above was allright.
It was during this confusing time period that I remember questioning 'angelic'beings. Why would they possibly want to come down here? What would they end upbecoming if they were one of us? Angels were obviously stronger, but what ifall these human emotions we have just got to them and they went home and said:"Those guys down there are way too messed up!" (I wouldn't have blamedthem).
In Until Next Time, Emily and Matt are a great deal like our belovedchildren - they want freedom. They are angels who've been trained to embark onjourneys to protect, defend, or destroy. But they are also teens 'out of thehouse,' so to speak, for the first time. When I saw the trends moving towardthe 'winged ones' in the literary world, I thought it was time for Emily andMatt to join us. It's not about religion, or belief vs. non-belief, Emily andMatt are all about being young and trying to figure out what the nextstep is going to be; and how to keep their faith in each other while they standin a world that's trying to rip them apart.
My daughter's eyes, and my own teenage ones that stared back at me from themirror long ago, blended together to create the adventures of Emily and Matt.And they inspire me to continue their story each and every day.
In the end, whether it's a child, sunset, or puppy, I hope all writersand readers can take what they see, hear and feel to heart, so they can enjoythe paths they eventually choose. Because without that inspiration, I justdon't believe that imagination would have the slightest chance of survival!
Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy
Click HERE for Amy's Blog The Write Companion,andHERE for Amy's blog and to buy UNTIL NEXT TIME.
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