Shaun David Hutchinson
I think the more appropriate question is how am I NOT inspired to write? Everything inspires me. I keep my eyes and ears and mind open to the things that are happening around me. I read books and watch TV & movies and explore the world around me. Everything is inspiration if you're open to it.
Here's an example: I was in a movie theater a couple of years ago, and I was watching those ridiculous advertisements they put up while you wait for the 30 minutes of previews they now show prior to the movie. One of those ads was for life insurance. The tagline simply said, "We insure your dreams," and I immediately thought of a story about a world in which you can insure your hopes and dreams. For just the price of your soul, you can relive your life as many times as you want to ensure that you get to live the life you've always wanted. I haven't gotten around to writing that story yet.
A story I did get around to writing was the story I wrote for the GRIM anthology. I struggled for the longest time with it. I knew I was going to retell the story of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, and I knew I was going to place it on a generation ship looking for a new planet to call home, but I hadn't yet cracked the mindset of my protagonist, a lonely robot named Pip. One day I was driving, and I'd downloaded a Beatles album to listen to. I've never been a huge fan of The Beatles, but I figured I owed it myself to give them a chance. The song, "Oh, Darling!" came on, and immediately grabbed me. I listened to it about five times as I was driving, and something about the longing in Paul McCartney's voice told me exactly who Pip was and what she wanted. She was in love. Desperately in love. Almost obsessively so. And she'd do anything to save the boy she loved. The story practically wrote itself from there.
So I would only say that if you're not inspired to write, then you probably need to open your ears and listen to what the world is trying to tell you. All the inspiration you need is right there.
Here's an example: I was in a movie theater a couple of years ago, and I was watching those ridiculous advertisements they put up while you wait for the 30 minutes of previews they now show prior to the movie. One of those ads was for life insurance. The tagline simply said, "We insure your dreams," and I immediately thought of a story about a world in which you can insure your hopes and dreams. For just the price of your soul, you can relive your life as many times as you want to ensure that you get to live the life you've always wanted. I haven't gotten around to writing that story yet.
A story I did get around to writing was the story I wrote for the GRIM anthology. I struggled for the longest time with it. I knew I was going to retell the story of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, and I knew I was going to place it on a generation ship looking for a new planet to call home, but I hadn't yet cracked the mindset of my protagonist, a lonely robot named Pip. One day I was driving, and I'd downloaded a Beatles album to listen to. I've never been a huge fan of The Beatles, but I figured I owed it myself to give them a chance. The song, "Oh, Darling!" came on, and immediately grabbed me. I listened to it about five times as I was driving, and something about the longing in Paul McCartney's voice told me exactly who Pip was and what she wanted. She was in love. Desperately in love. Almost obsessively so. And she'd do anything to save the boy she loved. The story practically wrote itself from there.
So I would only say that if you're not inspired to write, then you probably need to open your ears and listen to what the world is trying to tell you. All the inspiration you need is right there.
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