Nurture Your BOOKS™ Group discussion

When I interview authors, there are so many uniquely different answers to the question: What Inspires You to Write?

Please share with us...what inspires YOU to write?

Brenda Youngerman
I am inspired to write - make that compelled to write about the human condition in a way that moves people. I tell tales of humanity - from both sides of the fence - trying to spin a web that captures an audience whereby they don't even realize they are learning a lesson; and when the story is over the question is asked - "Was that real?" Because after all isn't fiction reality with a twist?Brenda YoungermanPrivate Scars

Hi Steven,

I think it’s wonderful that you've been inspired to write by some of the most creative and successful authors of our time. There is nothing like a fantastic story or real-life situation to get the creative juices flowing!

Hi Brenda,

Having read two of your books already (Hidden Truths & Public Lies), I can see that you do care about some very serious societal issues and therefore, you write about them with heart and determination! I really appreciate your candour and I love that you don't sugar coat your stories. They have a gritty, realistic feel to them and I appreciate your enthusiasm, to shed light on each of the topics that are the focal point of your stories.

Your books certainly had me asking if they were based on true stories!

What inspires me to write? I need the money. :)

I have been carrying my story for 30 years and when I retired from teaching I had to get it out there. Living Beneath the Radar was a nine years adventure travel and it has let into a re edit and send to a larger publisher and I have started book two. Thing I Have Noticed: While Living Beneath the Radar.

The second book is in the present or from 1980 until now.Living Beneath the Radar

j wrote: "What inspires me to write? I need the money. :)"

LOVE IT LOVE LOVE IT! Finally, someone honest!

Aside from the money (of which there is none at the moment)my inspiration comes from a sense of sadism I think. I like to make people squirm/laugh/shudder or worst of all--THINK--then I get satisfaction! I do it also for the love of entertaining people, making them lift out of their reality and into something enjoyable for a short moment in time. Weird enough?

@PI: Money? There never was none at any moment, so I guess we share the same weird... Sadism! Although, your description -- squirm/shudder/think -- sounds more like masochism.
hmmmm... watcha doin' next weekend? If you're not tied up, I could get the Lear out of the shop and drop by. Weird enough?
j

Actually it's the readers who are hopefully squirming...but how did you know about me? LOL!

@jeff: Nine years under the radar? Great! Not many could do it. Like a lot of wannabe over-landers back then, most turned back once they discovered that there's no toilet paper! :)
There are a lot of us still out here, though; like, 39-yrs under the sonar. Some are even under the seismograph.
I finally got enough pieces together to turn into a cohesive novel. But, under no delusion that a larger pub will pick it up, so like you, I selfed it. 'The Keepers of Himal'

http://www.amazon.com/Keepers-Himal-1...

And, I also started on book-two; should have it released by 2049, if I keep at it. :)

The journey IS the destination.
j
www.jguevaranovels.com

Nurture Your BOOKS™ wrote: "When I interview authors, there are so many uniquely different answers to the question: What Inspires You to Write?

Please share with us...what inspires YOU to write?"

It could be an article in the news, a phrase that occurs to me, an issue that I have been considering. It could be a story or a character that just won't leave me alone until I tell the tale.

In other words, the possibilities are endless. :-)

j wrote: "What inspires me to write? I need the money. :)"

Same here. Fame, fortune, girls... /sarcasm/

@Michael: Girls? I think you mean 'groupies', no? :) Not exactly the same thing. One knows how to cook, and has read your book. :)
j

j wrote: "@Michael: Girls? I think you mean 'groupies', no? :) Not exactly the same thing. One knows how to cook, and has read your book. :)
j"

It is sarcasm, so it can mean whatever you want. How about both?

I love it! :-)

Jared Leto from the band 30 Seconds to Mars had a great reply to a European interviewer when he asked Jared:
Interviewer: "So do you have a lot of groupies following you around?"
Jared:"They don't call them groupies anymore."
Interviewer:"Oh what do they call them?"
Jared: "Stalkers."
That line still cracks me up! So apropos!!

ha ha :-)

In terms of inspiration for me there's a dichotomy between inspiration and idea initiation. Inspiration for me comes much from nature and city scapes as well and usually affects my non-fiction writing dealing with feelings or experiences. Ideas for stories come from those sources as well but kick off the "what if" syndrome and the concept of plots or description that lead to ideas and/or scenes. Make sense?

It sure does, P.I.

Thanks! Very kind of you. Sometimes I feel like I'm all alone out here in the creative nebula...

You're welcome, P.I. :-)

I have another question that branches out from "What inspires you to write?" My question is do you have any place that you go to when needing inspiration? (Excluding writing nooks, etc., meaning someplace other than your usual writing spots.) Just curious.

On the personal side of things, I use emotion to create my watercolor paintings. So I guess you could say that I "go into my head" for inspiration.

Confused yet? :-)

my beautiful wife and nature. I can look at any natural sight and get inspiration.

Not confusing at all!!

Travis wrote: "my beautiful wife and nature. I can look at any natural sight and get inspiration."

I think nature inspires almost all authors.

The situations that happen to me that I observe. I remember a lot of them and I tie the stories together with humor and info so the reader laughs and learns as well.Living Beneath the Radar

I think life inspires me, as much as anything. I do enjoy reading good authors, such as Diane Gabledon. I have gathered a lot from her Highlander series. There are many more besides her, she was the only one that came to mind this second. It also depends on which way my mind is flowing where the inspiration comes from. Sometimes, it is within me. Does that sound egotistical? After saying all of that, bottom line is, it varies.