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Writer to Writer

Rie Sheridan

Inspiration

No writer should be without one item in his/her toolbox. Inspiration - that magical spark that lends wings to words.

Inspiration comes from the strangest places. For example, I got the kernel of an idea for a murder mystery the other day while working as a street character in a Renaissance Faire. It came from the ambience of the faire itself, and from seeing an unraveled cigarette filter lying on the ground. I have the key clue to the killer's identity and the rudimentary characters waiting in my notebook for time to write it out.

I got the idea for a song from an email message today. Someone casually mentioned a bit of history that instantly resonated in my head. I wrote the first verse at lunch one day, and sang the finished song for several musicial acts at the faire who want the lyrics.

The hero of my in-progress science fiction novel first showed up in a dream. He's come a long way, but that was the inspiration of it. Even though much of the dream was not realistic enough to be useable in the book, some snatches are still part of the plot.

I save newspaper clippings; I write down snippets of conversation; I collect music that speaks to me. Inspiration is everywhere. But you have to keep your eyes open for it. Never go anywhere without a notebook or at least pen and paper. I carry my Palm Pilot, even at the Faire, because you never know...