I read a lot of fiction and sometimes wonder where the authors get their ideas for stories from. Then I realise that when things happen around me or I hear about something that has happened to someone else, my first reaction is often ‘that would make a great book!’
I’m not a fiction author or editor, but I’ve talked to a few and, almost without exception, they tell me they know where their story starts and the opening section – and they know where it ends, but most find the story develops itself during the writing process.
Having said that, I do work with authors, but these are experts who are writing to share their knowledge, experience and wisdom with people who need their kind of help. Does that mean they don’t need inspiration?
Far from it. Writing a non-fiction book doesn’t require you to imagine a story, but it does need you to imagine your readers and what they want to know, why that’s important to them and how you can deliver just what they need.
Yes, your readers are your inspiration!
That’s your starting point, but not the end of your need for inspiration.
Whip your brain into shape
They say that your creativity comes from the right-side of your brain, while the left-side delivers logic and analysis. The secret of success is to use both in tandem and it can be a bit like driving a horse and carriage; you may crack the whip, but if you don’t have much experience, the result can be catastrophic!
Much like lively horses, your brain can run away with ideas and take you somewhere you hadn’t planned to go. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s important to recognise when you’re galloping down a route you hadn’t thought to explore and maintaining enough awareness so you don’t miss anything critical that will upset your carriage.
When your creative brain is taking you on a journey, pay attention. Lots of ideas will come to you – get the habit of having a notebook to hand or a digital means of taking notes, if you prefer (I like to write, it lends itself to right-brain activity). That way, you capture all the finer details that will fade quickly, losing something that will make a significant difference to your book.
Then you need to get your left-brain on board, to analyse all those ideas and work out how they can help your readers and how you could present them in a way that will produce those ‘Aha’ moments.
It’s odd how these two work together with practice. I often find that I start having ideas on a lazy morning, awake, but not out of bed. The minute my left brain starts applying the analysis on how I can use those ideas, my body responds and I find I’m on my feet and on my way into the shower, to get the day started and put them into action as soon as possible!
Where is your creative space?
I see a lot of people referring to their ‘happy place’ or sharing photos of a place they’ve been that inspires them, either through beauty, history or simply a sense of peace.
You can have more than one ‘happy place’, depending on what you’re aiming to do – whether for inspiration to action, or simply somewhere to wind down, look and dream.
Where is yours? Don’t forget to take your notebook and pen with you.
