Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Where Does Inspiration Come From

Apparently inspiration can come from anywhere! Even in the middle of a shower, when you're lathering up your hair. I bought Suave (rosemary and mint) shampoo based on ONE the bottle was green TWO it reminded me of summer working in the garden and THREE it smells like a herb garden. I admit this winter is making me miserable. I'm trying to think of greener days any way I can, and NO I'm not carrying around sniffing Suave shampoo to get a summer high.
                                                              

So yes, I was lathering up my hair and I had a lightning strike in the noggin moment. There has been this question about a character that I have been asking myself for at least a month. I am a HAVE TO KNOW type and sometimes on the dramatic side.

 I know I drove my family nutty. They would ask how my day went, and I would respond with I need to know why my character can see Grim Reapers! I know she likes to dress like a biker chick, I know why she took a spastic fit during Science, but why can she see DEATH! Just a little creepy. Thanks to Suave I KNOW, I really know. The sad part is my subconscious knew all along because I sprinkled bits and pieces throughout my MS. It was just my brain catching up with what I already knew. Sigh....

So tell me your lightning strike moment.

25 comments:

Coreene Callahan said...

LOL...so funny! Inspiration always come to me in the shower. I'm struggling with a point and then whammo! The solutions just shows up.

Going for a walk with my dog or a drive when I'm stuck always works too.

Big wave from a fellow chocoholic and crusader!

Witless Exposition said...

It's amazing how our brain paves the way for us sometimes, isn't it? Lots of times I've gone back to revise a story and there are things hiding that I didn't even notice I wrote.

That shampoo sounds lovely! I'm getting tired of the brown of the season and am ready for spring, too!

Anonymous said...

Okay, I love the Suave analogy! Here's another shower moment. I'm in the shower, and out of nowhere realize I'm going to kill off one of my characters (this will happen in the Vision series) - and...I start crying.

AimeeLSalter said...

Hello fellow crusader and group-member...

My writer's group have an ongoing joke about my 'toilet epiphanies'. I smile and nod - and feel grateful I get epiphanies at all. ha!

Look forward to seeing more of you.

Aimee

Megan K. Bickel said...

I try to focus on inspiration on my blog, so I'm going to link to this post from mine! I love hearing about the "ah-ha!" moment for writers!!

Anonymous said...

Mine is always that wonderful moment when you're about to fall asleep. Then I'm wide awake and toss and turn for the rest of the night!

Anonymous said...

Hey fellow group member and crusader!

I remember one time, I had a Monster (the energy drink) for the first time. I may of ended up drinking too much and had a crazy headache for a week. But it brought insane strokes of genius. ;D

nindogs said...

Yo crusader slash group memberado!

I'm prone to getting strokes of inspiration and genius in the shower, or just as I'm falling asleep. I used to try and write it down on the shower screen, get out and leave the water running so the steam would stay while I went and got pen and paper.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

My lightning strike moment came when my beta reader said my writing reminded him of Thundarr the Barbarian. At that moment, I knew how corny it was and threw it out.

Kari Marie said...

I get inspiration driving my car. I love it when I can't figure something out and WHAM. The answer and the trail of breadcrumbs through my WIP become clear. Kind of a relief.

Anonymous said...

Sense of smell is a wonderful thing. Sounds like you just need to relax and let the answer come to you. So cool that tidbits were already in the script.

My inspiration usually hits after a long, exhausting day right when I drift to sleep. I keep a notebook on my nightstand and have learned to write in the dark. I'm tempted to make a reference to an old Seinfeld episode, but not sure if anyone other than me remembers it.

Danette said...

Inspiration is a funny thing, isn't it? Just comes at us at odd moments so we have to be prepared! Dropping by for the Crusades! Have a nice day!!!

Tanya Reimer said...

OMG! I struggled with that too!
I had this idiot who was mad because his girlfriend was hidding a secret, but I had no idea what the secret was. I wrote out her scene, just for fun... well honestly I couldn't take it anymore I HAD to know.

When she told me her secret, two lines into the scene I was blown away! I had no idea. I reread the MS, and sure enough the clues were everywhere. Man, that's magic. I felt like a genius on crack.

Welcome to the crusade, glad to see I'm not alone, everyone I told that story too thought I was a moron. LOL. Fun times.

Susanna Leonard Hill said...

Hi Kerri - I'm a fellow crusader over to say hi and follow. Love you post - I find the shower very inspiring too - maybe because it's 5 minutes to myself to think? :)

Laura said...

I'm a firm believer that the best inspiration comes in the shower.

Tracy said...

Hello there, fellow crusader!

I like that you call them lightning strike moments. I refer to them as the "Duh, you idiot" moments myself. They happen all the time. It's amazing the stuff our mind knows and waits until the last minute to tell us.

Michael Di Gesu said...

HI, Kerri,

I hopped over from Rach's list to introduce myself and follow.

Today the first challenge was posted.... YAH!

Michael

February 18, 2011 2:40 PM

Chantele Sedgwick said...

I like Tracy's explanation of "Duh, you idiot" moments! LOL Great post. Just saying hi from a fellow crusader! :) I'm in your group!

Ben Spendlove said...

Wait...you're not going to tell me? What did you figure out and what does it have to do with shampoo? Now I'm really wondering. You know, most of my best thinking is done in the shower, and usually after my wife tells me what I wrote that morning didn't work. I stay in there until I figure out how to fix it.

I'm late for work a lot.

Raquel Byrnes said...

Just dropping by to introduce myself as a fellow crusader and new follower. I'm off to tackle challenge #1 now. =)

Susan Fields said...

Hello fellow crusader!

Margo Benson said...

Another crusader dropping by - love this post! I named a drag-queen Dame Violetta Bungalow after a pretty house I used to know. I find inspiration in the daftest things.

G Blechman said...

This is fantastic, because we've all had this happen to us before. It's the best feeling ever when you're like "oh my gosh, I GET it now." Glad Suave could bring you that. :-)

<3 Gina Blechman (fellow crusader)

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Inspiration has its own ways. But it is always good heaving it.

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