What Really Inspires You to Write?
By stibigirl
@stibigirl (291)
United States
February 15, 2007 2:05pm CST
I was wondering about all the other writers out there, where do you get your ideas? What inspires you? I am not looking for the simple answers, I am looking for what really gets under your skin and causes you to sit down and write out a heartfelt poem or short story.
I am personally write about film, it inspires me to see the art of film and how so many different stories can be told over and over again in different ways. I am always looking for a actor or director that can bend the rules of film and make me pay attention to the bigger meaning behind the film. I also am facinated by horror and write a lot of my own short stories for my own amusement (scared to publish those anywhere), and my inspiration for those comes not only from film, but from reading books, and newspaper articles on horrific things.
5 people like this
32 responses
@maictorek (83)
• Philippines
20 Feb 07
hiding behind a persona and a pen name inspires me to write. it gives me the freedom to truly express what i feel, without fear of criticism or rejection from whoever will read it.
1 person likes this
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I don't know that I could ever think of not being me when I write. I guess since I want credit for it, I would like it to have my name on it. I know that some people in life will not like what I have to say, but I will still be saying it.
@freak369 (5113)
• United States
17 Feb 07
Mood swings! When I am in a great mood I can sit and write for a long time, when I am sad, it's not as much but it's deep and stuff that I read the next day and shake my head at LOL. I write over at Epinions and those are product reviews of online sites, consumer goods and editorials so depending on the mood I'm in, that's what I write about. As far as my own personal wirting, that's a different story. I was working on another book and my hard drive failed so I lost a lot of what was saved on it. Since then, the beginning of january, I haven't had the desire to work on it because I keep thinking of all the material I did have that got destroyed.
At least I can say that I have a good use for my mood swings when they strike!
1 person likes this
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I actually had something similar happen to one of my screenplays, it is gone now and I have not the heart to piece it back together from what is in my head.
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
16 Feb 07
Life inspires me to write. The reason so many stories are told over and over again is because the stories happen to each one of us in our lives at one time or another and for each person it is new again and wondrous because then the moment belongs to them now. I write articles and short stories about anything and I do publish mine through Helium.com and through Associate Contenet http://www.associatedcontent.com/join.html?refer=44261 that is my link to associated content right there. They will publish your short stories and articles and pay you for them.
@pendragon (3350)
• United States
16 Feb 07
I am constantly writing in my head, non-stop, when I sit and write something out, it's merely an observation of what I have been seeing/hearing in my head.
1 person likes this
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I can totally relate to this, I live in an apartment complex and I am constantly watching the people and making up my own stories about them. Then I run and write them down.
@randomosity_prevails (1112)
•
16 Feb 07
I like to write short horror/mystery/thriller/suspense stories, and I find that when it is foggy outside, it inspires me. It's an obvious one, I suppose, most horror stories are set in foggy conditions, but it's more than that. It enables me to *see* my characters, and really puts me in the mood to write.
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I have to be in the mood or there is no way that I can write. I feel that mood is where I get my real ideas, when my mind will go to those places that are overly sad, scared, or happy.
@bgerig (1258)
• United States
16 Feb 07
I get ideas from different things going on in my life, from watching tv, movies, talking with people, or reading. Also...like you, day-to-day news events inspire me to write stories about what is going on, or to incorporate different contemporary events into my stories, or to incorporate relative events I might think would have gone on in the past similar to what has just taken place, or even play around with what that event would be like in the future. That last sentence is an incredibly long one and not one I would allow in my writings...
1 person likes this
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I like the idea of think about how things would be dealt with in the past or future, thats really imaginative. Thanks for the post.
@KrazyKlingon (5005)
• United States
16 Feb 07
For me, sometimes I just need to get something off my chest, whether it's something that's frustrating, or if I really hate the way someone or some organization goes about trying to accomplish something. On MyLot, many of the things I think of have already been started, so I just go to those topics, & then respond with my thoughts instead of starting a new discussion.
1 person likes this
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I think that is a good thing, to make sure that you say the things you need to say and don't hold them in.
@sayanakaharry (290)
• India
16 Feb 07
life, basically. small experiences. bits and pieces of thoughts and emotions that we pick up everyday. a time comes when they appear with a different significance and importance. that is when people right.
1 person likes this
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I agree that some of the best stories are about the little things, thoughts and emotions are what we need to get down in order to make our writing and our characters come alive.
@multisubj (451)
• India
16 Feb 07
If I write on paper, garbage is accumulating in my room. No space to sleep. Now, I can conveniently park at mylot or blogspot.com. At blogspot, I am relieved of the burden to read comments and reply to my critics, because our ISP in India is apparently blocking showing of Blogspot to us. Now at blogspot, others can see what I write. I cannot see what they write.
1 person likes this
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Yes I too have a blog at blogspot, it is a great place for me to talk about movies informally and get ideas for my topics. Thanks for your post.
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I think I would rather buy some popcorn, but yes either way.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
16 Feb 07
dreams inspire me to write or something that really happened. Like one night I swore I heard someone outside and my phone rung really late at night so the next day I was inspired to write a story about it and I wrote it in a writing group called Gather. People thought it was somerting I made up but it really happened.
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Unfortunately I can never remember if I even dream, when I wake up the images are gone and I have no real clue what passed in the night. Maybe this is why I am a big horror movie fan, if I have nightmares, I cannot remember them.
@monkeywriter (2004)
• United States
16 Feb 07
I am always inspired by life around me. Usually situations, and how they affect me. Most of my poetry is directed about things to do with God (as a christian). Sometimes bible verses strike me as interest. Sometimes I will just be inspired to write in the oddest of places. I had it happen once during worship at chapel, on a walk a few times, in bed at night, and at work!
Thats me and poetry. :)
1 person likes this
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
If you are inspired by God or the bible then you will always have plenty to write about, sort of like me with movies, there are so many things that you can talk about. You can be diverse and still hold to your passions.
@fatal_ivory (238)
• Philippines
16 Feb 07
As for me, I write for the mere fact that it is more of a passion. When I'm writing, I was able to release the emotions that I was feeling at the moment. It serves as a therapy for me from all the chaotic circumstances that I encounter. It inspires me in a way that it can make my mind work and at the same time save my heart from being drowned of all the pain. My works basically come from my own experiences, my feelings and emotions, and the thought that comes along with it.
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I can understand wanting to get out the feelings of the moment, mostly the chaotic part.
@malouasuncion (555)
• Malaysia
16 Feb 07
i think being a writer is a passion =) writer gets their ideas within.
1 person likes this
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Yes it is most certainly a passion, one that if you do not have discipline for you will not succeed in the world of freelance, I am just starting out and I am figuring it out as I go.
@patgalca (18178)
• Orangeville, Ontario
15 Feb 07
Mostly I just go where the pen takes me. I am in a writing group who meet on a weekly basis so we have writing prompts that we work from. If something I write in that ten-minute span is worth pursuing I will continue the story (and of course go back and edit because what is done in ten minutes is very raw work).
I also get inspiration from songs. Songs tell stories. And news stories cause me to jot down a few notes about a story I could write about.
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
15 Feb 07
I sort of forgot about music didn't I, thanks for your post. :) I like the 10 minute session for ideas, I think I will try that with a couple of people that I know.
@arseniajoaquin (1732)
• Philippines
16 Feb 07
I am moody and I write when I'm in the mood and it's very easy to have those words. I have published more than 10 poems at poetry.com But if I am not in the mood, I really couldn't write. That was before. Now I am a translator of the Word of God from Greek to English and my inspiration is God.
I have already published THE WILL New Testament (Greek to English), GENESIS & EXODUS (Greek to English), ELEMENTS of SALVATION, The Right Way, GOD, ORIGIN, TRANSFER into PERFECTION, GREEK-ENGLISH (Grammar & Vocabulary), WORDS in THE WILL New Testament, and others shown at http://www.lulu.com/arseniajoaquin
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Thank you for the link, and yes you do have to be in the mood or writing does not seem to be as easy.
@Josette_J (805)
• Malaysia
16 Feb 07
Well, to me, inspiration comes from everywhere and anywhere. It could be something I saw on TV, or something I heard over the radio. What I saw and experienced during the day could also inspire me.
I'm also inspired to write when I'm in the mood and when I'm feeling alert. Actually, I think I write better when I'm feeling angry. But being angry makes me more productive and enthusiastic about things, for example, writing.
Keep on writing then. May you always write good books, which may be famous one day!
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
That is the dream, maybe not to be famous, but at least to get published, and get paid.
@smartie1685 (450)
• United States
16 Feb 07
Everything inspires me. From a tv show to a book I've read, I take all my experiences and put it into my writing. I also am inspired by thinking of those that will read my writing and how it will affect them. I hope that my writing will inspire and move others as writing does to me.
1 person likes this
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Yes I think that most writers would like to think that their work inspires people.
@gotbot (46)
• United States
15 Feb 07
Personal experiences that come with strong emotions definitely inspire me. For example, if I have a really bad week and go through a period of depression, I'll write about a character who goes through something similar (though often more dramatic). I also am very inspired by beautiful nature scenes and also by doing alot of reading.
1 person likes this
@stibigirl (291)
• United States
15 Feb 07
Yes I often fill my characters lives with the same experiences that I have had too, I find that it helps me to get those feelings out. Thanks for your response. :)
