|
Cindy Kelley | When Inspiration Takes a Vacation
Inspiration is defined as: something that makes someone want to do something or
that gives someone an idea about what to do or create: a force or influence that
inspires someone: a person, place, experience, etc., that makes someone want to
do or create something: a good idea.
For a writer โinspiration can strike at any time, in any place. At a dinner
party or a fast food restaurant. It could be in church listening to a beautiful
hymn or standing in line at the grocery store behind a little old lady who
believes sheโs being charged too much for tomatoes. A writer pays attention to
the details others might miss. They wonder at a provocative smile or sinister
frown; watch as a waiter cocks an eyebrow at a patron behind their back. A
writer makes up little stories that go with the innocent actions of the people
they encounter โromanticize the places they visit. Sometimes, the inspiring
nudge is so urgent, so genuine and wonderful, it is as if the idea canโt be
written down fast enough โin case, heaven forbid, the flash of brilliance
disappears as fast as it came.
Opening sentences dance in an authorโs head long before the words actually gel
into the sentence that sets the tone for the rest of a book or article โor blog
post. Inspiration can be everywhere โfound in anything. At least thatโs how itโs
supposed to go in a perfect world. But of course, we donโt live in a perfect
world โand sometimes it can feel as if inspiration has taken a vacation
โsomeplace far, far away.
Iโm talking about those dreaded two words โwriterโs block. I know some writers
pooh-pooh the idea of writerโs block โbut Iโm not one of them. After writing
screenplays for a number of years, and now novels, Iโve had it happen to me
occasionally, but Iโm reluctant to admit it when Iโm in the middle of what I
call a โperiod of lack of focus and productivity.โ Sounds like a clinical way to
describe what is supposed to be a creative process. Sometimes, it sneaks up on
me. For a few days I might struggle to find a pace of writing that seems worthy
of even sitting in front of my laptop. I click on my word count at the end of
the day and feel a pang of disappointment โbut vow to make up for it the next
day. Only I donโt. The word count goes down โ not up. The blinking cursor mocks
me. The seeping doubt slips in and I begin to worry about the story line, spend
time uselessly trying to figure out my themes โ rip apart the dialogue and then
wonder why anyone would want to read any of it.
Itโs at this frustrating point that the rest of my life begins to shine. I mean
that literally. I work from home, so my kitchen gleams, the furniture is dusted
โthe windows are so clean they are a danger to birds that try to fly right
through them. Iโve been known to mow the lawn, trim the trees - paint a wall.
Anything rather than face that darn cursor and my own inability to write
something that is remotely interesting.
So after a few days of having a writerโs block pity party โand when I have
nothing left to clean, I force myself to sit back down and tackle the blinking
cursor. I gather my courage to read what Iโve written and usually wonder why I
thought it was so awful. I tell myself the reader can figure out the theme and
my dialogue is really quite witty. I glance out my window and see a jet that
looks as if itโs skimming the top of the mountains in the distance. I think
about the people in the plane and where theyโre going and if their trip is happy
or sad. I picture an older couple holding hands on their way to see a brand new
great-grandchild. I can see the smiles on their faces, the love in their eyes
and it reminds me of one of my characters and suddenly Iโm writing again โtyping
words as fast as I can and not worrying for one second about my word count for
the day because I know Iโll blast right past my goal. Inspiration is back from
vacation and I am back doing something I love.
Readers, what do you do when inspiration takes a vacation? Leave a comment
below and be entered to win your own copies of FINDING
MERCY and TRACES OF MERCY.
About FINDING MERCY
When Mercy abandons Captain Elijah Hale to search for her true identity, he goes
after her. With the threat that bounty hunters might be hot on her trail, Mercy
does all she can to stay ahead of the danger, frustrating both the bad men who
are after herโand Captain Hale who wants to find her and escort her safely home.
But when she stumbles upon clues that help her learn who she is and where she's
from, the danger escalates and she has to learn to keep her friends close and
her enemies even closerโif she can determine which is which!
This is historical romance with a blend of intrigue from beloved storytellers
renowned for their work in film and print.
About Cindy Kelley
Cindy Kelley began her career as a screenwriter. Her first
produced screenplay, The Velveteen Rabbit, inspired by the classic
childrenโs book, and directed by Michael
Landon, Jr, had a theatrical release.
A writing partnership with Landon followed. Together, theyโve written several of
the popular Love Comes Softly movies on the Hallmark Channel. Novels,
co-written with Landon, include THE SILENT GIFT, TRACES OF
MERCY and their latest release, FINDING
MERCY. Cindy has been married to her high school sweetheart, Jim, for
thirty-seven years. They make their home in southern Arizona, and they have
three children, three grandchildren and three very spoiled dogs.
You can find her on Facebook under Cindy Kelley, author and on Twitter
@cindyakelley.
Comments
23 comments posted.
Re: Cindy Kelley | When Inspiration Takes a Vacation
I usually go walking and talk to the Lord. I enjoy the quiet
times. They made walking paths where there use to be
railroad tracks, the train would go through these areas. I
walk in good weather. I enjoy the Hallmark Channel stories.
I have watch all the stories more than once. Thank you for
the chance. I never read your books but I am always looking
for new authors books and to get to know them and there
writing.
(Joanne Altieri 12:51pm February 6, 2015)
When inspiration takes a vacation then it is time for me to take a vacation and regroup and find my center again. Then I just dust myself off and carry on. Hopefully stronger than before.
(Pam Howell 8:25am February 6, 2015)
That's easy I bake! It just relaxes me and before you know it my mind starts working again.
(Bonnie Capuano 9:19am February 6, 2015)
I take time to be with my grandchildren which inspires me to
appreciate everything.
(Sharon Berger 11:10am February 6, 2015)
I clean, cook, read. In that order. Just something to
give my mind a break. I usually find that inspiration
strikes when I least expect it. Thank you so much for the
chance to win. :)
(Val Pearson 11:18am February 6, 2015)
When it happens to me, usually while I'm doing my knitting,
I do one of two things. I'll either walk away for a while,
to regroup, or I'll start looking through my reference books
for ideas to recharge the idea that I had in mind, or the
stitch that I quite can't grasp. If all else fails, that
means that my brain has absorbed way too much for that
particular time, and I'll either take a cat-nap, or get into
some house cleaning project that I've neglected. If my
Husband wants to get into something, we'll do that instead.
There are several things I can get into instead of my
knitting for the time being, but the brain can only absorb
so much before it can get overloaded, and needs a break.
Regardless of your line of work, hobby, or perhaps both,
your brain can get overloaded at some point. I'm looking
forward to reading your latest books, so it will give me
some enjoyable downtime, and give my brain a chance to
recharge. That's another thing I love to do besides my
knitting!! I volunteer to teach a class one day a week, so
my mind is constantly focused on knitting. To read a book
takes my mind off of it, and I get a chance to regroup, and
be somewhere else - if only for a while. The cover of your
book is beautiful, as well. Congratulations again!!
(Peggy Roberson 12:23pm February 6, 2015)
I'll do anything other that what I was trying to do. Play video games, email friends & family, take a walk, read a book. Sometimes while my mind is on other things, inspiration hits!
(Joanne Schultz 3:19pm February 6, 2015)
I have always been very creative so I try to make something-a painting or a new
shelf or something that I can put my teeth into, so to speak.
(Joy Isley 6:17pm February 7, 2015)
Hello, Thanks for the giveaway.
I'd LOVE to win. =)
(Ashley B. 7:24pm February 7, 2015)
When inspiration takes a vacation, it just mean I have to do something else.
(Kai Wong 11:20pm February 7, 2015)
I just take a break and do something else, usually something fun to take
any pressure off.
(Deborah Close 6:26am February 8, 2015)
Sometimes I think you have to just do something. Your mind
can work while you do other things.
(Debra Guyette 9:41am February 8, 2015)
When my creativity wanes, I like to take a walk at the local mall. I will sit on
a bench watching people and trying to imagine what kind of lives they lead.
This will often get the creative juices flowing. Another way is to take a brisk
walk to clear my mind and this often helps.
(Deborah Poston 9:49am February 8, 2015)
Couldn't think of anything better than curling up with my hubby, hot tea, chocolate and a good book to get into.
(Sally Lincoln 10:03am February 8, 2015)
Hi Cindy, I haven't had the opportunity to read one of your books so I look
forward to the chance! Thank you!
(Shelly Ash 5:46pm February 8, 2015)
I do one of two things. I either take my dog for a long walk. Or I curl up and read a book. I love to read, & will read almost any book I can get my hands on.
(S W 7:11pm February 8, 2015)
I ether spend time doing crafts and completely take my mind
off of the issue. Or I talk to my husband.
(Diana Thomas 11:27pm February 8, 2015)
(Margaret Yannucci 7:52am February 9, 2015)
I find something to do that I enjoy such as reading a good book, gardening or work on a crossword puzzle while drinking hot tea.
(Anna Speed 11:21am February 9, 2015)
I love to read and to spend time with my grand-daughter.
(Denise Austin 1:34pm February 9, 2015)
Finding a change of scene can help--taking a walk can do
that, and also I find that walking itself can help clear my
mind to the point where I can come at the question in a
different way :)
(Fedora Chen 3:10pm February 9, 2015)
I usually work on something different when inspiration leaves
me on a project.
(Maureen Emmons 5:31pm February 9, 2015)
I try to keep making progress on the project every day
until its donw.
(Renee Grandinetti 11:57pm February 9, 2015)
Registered users may leave comments.
Log in or register now!
| 
© 2003-2026