WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE?

 

Alice Walker, Ntozake Shange, and Langston Hughes, were all inspired by spirituals, jazz, and blues. 

These writers understood that music opens up pathways to creative thinking, that can help us weave together thoughts and ideas. 

We already know that music inspires creativity––especially creative writing

 

This is a bit odd but I find Christmas music to be very inspiring for my writing, 

especially old Christmas songs from the 40s and 50s.

 I think we tend to think of the holidays, especially Christmas, as a time of joy and happiness.

 But, the reality is the holidays can be a very lonely and sad time for many people.

Of course, soundtracks

also play a big part 

in my writing.

John Steinbeck in 1909 

at the Salinas Fairgrounds.

with his sister Mary, 

sitting on the red pony, Jill,

 whom he made famous in his novel. 

A wild ride through the Swiss Alps long ago

inspired me to write a section in my troublesome, writer-blocked novel, NO RESHOOTS FOR DEATH.

An actual fiasco, Exercise Tiger, a rehearsal for D-Day in which 1000 soldiers were killed --

many by friendly fire, mismanagement,

as well as by Nazi E-Boats --

inspired me to write a chapter in my latest 

SAME AS IT NEVER WAS

Sometimes the worst enemies

in war are those who command 

without regard for the troops

under them

and

Cover-Up  

masks unmarked graves

(like the many from

Exercise Tiger.) 

What has inspired you to write lately?

Is love involved?

Tell me.

I'd like to know.

St. Patrick's NIGHT at MEILORI'S

 

It was St. Patrick's Night at Meilori's.

Hibbs, the cub with no clue, was hiding there from Ratatoskr, the Asgardian Squirrel.

As if hiding from that rascally rodent was possible.

Hibbs got smacked in the back of the head with a snowball so hard that for a moment he became TWO cubs!

Ratastoskr found that so funny he forgave the cub for trying to hide from him.

The squirrel scampered up beside the fuming Hibbs as the cub rubbed the back of his wet head.

"Why do people wear shamrocks on St. Patrick's Day, fur-face?"

Hibbs tried to think of a way to tweak the nose of this snowball ambusher and smiled, "Because real rocks are too heavy."

Ratatoskr pouted, "No fair!  You're not supposed to know the answer."

Hibbs smiled wider.  "I have one for you now.  Knock.  Knock."

The squirrel scowled, "Who's there?'

"Irish."

"Irish who?"

"Irish you a happy St. Patrick's Day,"  

And so tickled was Hibbs at the look in Ratatoskr's eyes, he fell giggling on his back.

The squirrel popped to the table to his right and snapped back his own question. 

 "How did the Irish Jig get started?"

The Asgardian Squirrel had not noticed the small man in green with murderous eyes sitting at the table who rumbled,

"Faith now, but the answer is clear: too much to drink and too few restrooms. 

And ye scrawny rodent, ye made me spill me drink. Now, I'll be spilling yer guts!"

Despite their long history of bickering, Hibbs thought of Ratatoskr as a friend so he waddled up to the table.  

"You get my pal over my dead body!"

Hibbs realized he might have possibly phrased that a bit better as the leprechaun rose evilly to his feet.

"Sure now, but that can be arranged."


A shimmer of snowflakes and stardust slowly formed into the regal Turquoise Woman, 

who held the First Hawk of Creation next to her icy heart.

Her voice was winter given life.  "Do you know why I love to eat leprechaun?"

First Hawk, later to be called Little Brother by Hibbs, cawed, "Short ribs!"

And off ran the yelping leprechaun with First Hawk flying happily after him.

Ratatoskr turned to Hibbs.  "What do you get when you cross a short-legged leprechaun with a hunting hawk?"

Hibbs shook his head mystified.

The squirrel laughed, "Not Fast Enough Food!"

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WRITING A HOLIDAY NOVEL? IWSG Post

 

It is Mardi Gras Tuesday as I write this. For once I do not have to worry about parades blocking me delivering blood to requesting hospitals.

A good friend believes it was the cost of insurance that did me in:

1) My age made the company car insurance cost more.

2) My company pays for medical expenses out of its own pocket --

hence the older I got, the more likely I would incur medical bills.

In fact, I had my heart attack while working for them.

Enough of that.

Each of us wears a quilt woven from the tattered remains of our own personal tragedies.

Yours impacts you the most since you have lived through them ... or are continuing to do so.

Hopefully, like the quilt above, you are moving forward.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N75DRKC

It is raining and windy as if a hurricane is visiting for the holiday. It may kill the parades but ironically save lives.

I thought to write a novel incorporating Valentine's and Mardi Gras.

The great thing about a holiday ... it comes like clockwork year after year and may birth a tradition of watching or reading.

Of course, you have to touch the heart to make your novel a traditional read.

But remember, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE failed at the box office ...

Which I included in my Christmas fantasy, BEWARE THE JADE CHRISTMAS.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KQ8XMJR/

Every Christmas, I get additional book and audio sales from this fantasy.

Ghosts and murder on Christmas Eve, who knew it would be a great combination?

www.amazon.com/Death-House-Life-Roland-Yeomans/dp/151877668X/

Black History Month just left us ... and yes, I wrote a novel about it.

Or at least the first chapter about it.

I was asked by some of my readers how my long-lived hero, Sam McCord, felt about slavery during the time when it was legal.

I decided to use a trick from the movie, THE SHOOTIST, to answer that question and lend the semblance of authenticity to his legend.

In UNDER A VOODOO MOON, I brought a modern street orphan to 1834 New Orleans to detail the culture shock of modern sensibilities to slavery.

https://www.amazon.com/Under-Voodoo-Moon-Legend-Standish/dp/151419399X/

I liked the experiment so much, I added snippets to several of my fantasies as Lagniappe 

(a Creole tradition of giving a little extra to a buyer)

to add depth to my characters in THE NOT SO INNOCENTS ABROAD and AT LARGE, DEATH IN THE HOUSE OF LIFE and THE STARS BLEED AT MIDNIGHT (title taken from the old Gary Cooper movie, The General Died at Dawn.)

My writing mentor, Roger Zelazny, at end of his life (like me, he had a bad heart,) experimented with his writing style --

to grow as an author and to see if he could keep the interest of his readers with novels such as DOORWAYS IN THE SAND and ROADMARKS.

He did ... at least with me

and he signed this copy for me.

https://www.amazon.com/Roadmarks-Roger-Zelazny/dp/0345285301/

Do you experiment with your writing? Do you attempt to grow in each additional book?

Do you answer questions from your readers in your next books?

If you knew you were dying soon, would it change how you write your next book?