So, what have I been up to? Actually, I'm not that sure. Time has drifted away from me over the past couple of weeks. I wanted to write a new short story, so I made some small attempts that petered out. I knew what I wanted to write about, and the feelings I wanted to create, but something was missing.
And then, last Thursday evening, Hubby took me to a gig with him.
Half-way through the evening, the storms started - amazing flashes of lightning and low, deep rumbles of thunder. And I could have sworn I saw two people sitting on the beach...
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| Peter Crawford and the beach |
I have the first draft written, and in a moment, I'm going to read through it and cover the print-out with red and green pen.
In other news, it's been hot, hasn't it?
There's a new review of Our Beautiful Child up on A Thousand Words A Million Books, along with a short interview and a giveaway to win either a paperback or an ecopy.
My Facebook page book page also recently reached 200 'likers', so I'm also giving away books to three people - just comment on the pinned post at the top of my page, telling me which book you'd like and in which format!
Where did your last inspiration come from?
What's the weather like? And does anyone have
any advice on coping with the heat?!
Glad you were inspired! And I bet your husband put on a heck of show with the storm behind him.
ReplyDeleteThe storm really added to the evening!
Deletea beach is inspirational, and I bet the lightning was dramatic. Plus tunes from your husband - life is good. Air conditioning and whining are my coping mechanisms. It is currently 93 degrees with a lot of humidity. My car said 101 degrees F. Texas is insane heat. The problem is this morning at 7 am it was already 80 degrees. Oh well, enough about me - but you asked....
ReplyDeleteI feel silly complaining about our heat now - it's no where near as hot as Texas! But it is a lot hotter, and more sustained, than we've had for a while :-)
DeleteAwesome. It just takes a hint of real life to get me going. In fact the last bout of inspiration was brought on while reading to my kids. True story. And no, it wasn't from the book.
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes those little things really do kick your imagination into gear!
DeleteAnd thankfully so. I think the best advice I've heard is that in order to write well you have to live well.
DeleteThat's awesome! Just those photos are inspiring. The weather has been fairly mild here, but August is going to bring in some horrible heat. My way of coping with it: not going out into it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Christine :-) Unfortunately, without air conditioning, inside is just as hot as outside in UK!
DeleteI like the pictures, especially the images of the sky. And congrats on the first draft, because those can be tough to write and even tougher to start. I'd "like" your Facebook page if I was on Facebook. One thing that inspired me recently was the movie Begin Again, starring Keira Knightley and Adam Levine. It was about songwriting, but it still inspired me to go to a cafe afterwards and write fiction. I loved that the movie focused on people who loved writing.
ReplyDeleteI didn't notice the sky in the photos until afterwards!
DeleteI really want to see Begin Again - I've heard several people say it's good.
Weren't those thunder storms dramatic last week? Difficulty sleeping in the hot weather too, though I'm not complaining, I love the sunny days.
ReplyDeleteFirst day of school hols for me today - YAY! Got so much I want to do these holidays so up early to crack on with a few things.
Last bout of inspiration ... last week driving up the M5 an idea started to form for a new children's story.
The storms were amazing when we were on the cliffs, looking out over Newquay. And they followed us all the way to Bodmin. I'm suffering at night a little bit too.
DeleteTravelling is great for inspiration - that's how JK Rowling did it :-)
Inspiration always comes from the most random places. I think my last one is a combination of my cat and an just okay book where body modifications were features.
ReplyDeleteAs for heat cooping, sleep. Read a book to get your mind off things. And go commando cuz you want to get rid of every layer possible.
That sounds like an interesting story coming out of those inspirations :-) Sleeping has been one of my coping mechanisms so far.
DeleteIt's so neat how inspiration finds us at the most opportune, and random, moments. Music at the beach - what an awesome thought. I wish I'd been there to witness it!
ReplyDeleteIt's an amazing setting. And I was very grateful for the inspiration :-)
DeleteGreat pics! And I love the beach - not only for its beauty but also for the inspiration there, in everything from the people to the natural aspects to the quiet solitude. :)
ReplyDeleteMadeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
That's exactly how I feel, Madeline :-)
DeleteBlogger ate my comment! Well, that just gave me inspiration to write about a web program that eats comments and randomly annalyzes people based on the next comment they write to try to determine who the loose cannons are in the world, a la Minority Report... But maybe I'll just stick with how sometimes it's really small things that inspire. a turn of phrase, an image, a song, and BAM! whole book, just like that.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, I think I'd hate to be analysed on my comments! And yes, sometimes those small things just tie everything together.
DeleteIsn't it great to get flash inspiration? Can't wait to read it. Congrats on the 200 likes. I'd go get a book, but I own them all!
ReplyDeleteThanks Elizabeth. Second draft finished today. Now I just have to go through all the angst over it :-)
DeleteNothing like an out pouring of inspiration. Enjoy! And loving those pics.
ReplyDeleteshahwharton.com
I agree, it's pretty great :-)
DeleteIt's the "rainy season" down here in Florida and I can see how you'd be inspired by the storm. Looks like an awesome place for writing, as well.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been awesome to write there, but I didn't take my notebook... Next time!
DeleteI have been feeling stuck on my current WIP at the end of every chapter. I finish each one and have no idea how to move the story forward from that point. Lately, my inspiration to continue has been coming on bike rides. Just a half hour bike ride in a nearby park, and I know what the next chapter has to be.
ReplyDeleteI wish the whole rest of the book would come to me in a flash, but I guess it's not going to happen that way. :P
At least the next chapters are coming to you, and just think how fit you can get by the end of the book :-)
DeleteIt is wonderful that you are inspired. Great photos. I wish you all the best with the writing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Murees :-)
Delete"Lusty Glaze Beach"? Really? What a fantastic name! That's like a story prompt right there!!
ReplyDeleteIt's great, isn't it?
DeleteHello love!!! It's been ages! How are you? I like the heat :p
ReplyDeleteHey Jennie!! I've been so bad at blogging for a couple of months now... I'm trying to be better.
DeleteI love when inspiration strikes unexpectedly. My latest inspiration happened when I was out after a rain storm walking. I had my character playlist on, and the weather and sky were just amazing. I ended up tripling the amount of time that I planned to stay out.
ReplyDeleteMusic and weather are a perfect combination :-)
DeleteWhy red and green, Annalisa?
ReplyDeleteAnd is that gorgeous hippy bloke taken?
I read through with a red pen in my hand to make changes, and then I read through again with a green pen and make further changes if needed - then when the page is covered in notes, I make the changes on the computer - it's my 'short story method'.
DeleteAnd yes, the gorgeous hippy bloke is taken - I took him ;-)
That show on the beach sounds like a blast. No wonder you were inspired.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great evening, but carrying guitars up and down those steps wasn't so much fun!
DeleteThat was a beautiful image. And yay for Hubbies that take you to cool places!
ReplyDeleteYes, my Hubby is pretty cool, just don't tell him :-)
DeleteHi Annalisa,
ReplyDeleteSorry it took me ages to get to your site. Moving countdown has kept me busier than I'd really like.
What an idyllic place for inspiration. Yay to your hubby taking you there! :)
It's still very hot, even "oop" north! I pack a box and my sweat drips all over the place.
Enjoy the rest of your week which you already gave me an inkling of on "Farcebook."
Gary )
Good luck with the move Gary - hope everything goes smoothly :-)
DeleteHi Annalisa - sorry I missed this .. what an amazing place: I'd never heard of it .. and fascinating history re the Canal etc ...
ReplyDeleteLovely to see your hubby playing happily and to know you were able to complete much writing .. cheers Hilary