But let’s
get realistic…perfect days are just too far apart to rely on them for motivation. Most of us don’t have the luxury of sitting
on a balcony, stress free, overlooking the ocean everyday…besides, even if we
could, there are occasional tsunamis and hurricanes.
As creative
people, we have already found that the stream of creative inspiration tends to
only trickle sometimes, maybe even seem to stop completely for a while as we
suffer a drought. During those times we
have to dig deeper into our creative selves and find something to prime that
pump and get it flowing again.
I have
found sources of ideas in unusual places…I will be sitting over my computer,
trying not to pull my hair out, looking at the same screen for too long, with
no ideas flowing. The constant drone in
the background, where my husband is watching another one of those documentaries,
is about to make me scream. I’m
distracted as my phone flashes another text message where my granddaughter has
sent me the tenth silly selfie today. It’s
a dreary, cold, rainy day with no relief in sight… My choices here are to either throw myself a
pity party or try to adjust my attitude.
This is
the perfect time to jot down some feelings of stress and desperation that I may
need my characters to feel sometime in the future. Write it down. Now that I’ve taken a baby step, I suggest to
my husband that after his documentary is over, I would like to watch one with
him that is from the era I am writing about.
Win, win situation here…we spend a little time together, and I collect
ideas and pictures in my mind of what my characters had to deal with.
Now, I am
getting somewhere, and starting to feel better.
I send a text back to my granddaughter letting her know how goofy she is
and start to think of the sweet innocence and happiness of a child. There are plenty of notes to jot down on this
subject. It doesn’t take much to make a
child happy, and that smile on her face is downright infectious!
As for the cold, rainy day, I think of how God sends us what we need, even if we don’t
understand at the time. Instead of thinking of a dreary day, I force myself to think of it as the earth being refreshed. Then I can start to think on my soul and mind being refreshed. I jot down what the rain sounds like as it splashes on different surfaces, how the air smells, describe the thunder rolling and the flash of lightning…taking advantage of every sense I can, while I have this opportunity.
Music is
another favorite for inspiring creativity.
I can’t write while it’s playing, but I can sure take notes and get in a
frame of mind. If one of my characters
is begging forgiveness, I have music for that.
If they are playing “hard to get”, I have music for that too.
Thankfulness
is always something to draw inspiration from.
We have so much to be thankful for!
Look around at the things we take for granted. Be thankful for electricity, indoor plumbing,
food… I have even found myself thankful recently for sweeping the floor… yes, I
was digging pretty deep that day, as I had a cast on my broken ankle, but I was
thankful I had a floor to sweep, and that I was healthy enough and able to
sweep it.
How do you
keep your creativity flowing? Leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for a copy of Where He Leads
Where He Leads
By the age of 11, Lilly had suffered more horrific circumstances, than any adult should have to bear. She lost both of her parents and the only home she ever knew, then was forced to move away from her brothers and sisters.
Why had God allowed all of this tragedy?
Pa had found the perfect home for her before his death. Through her new family’s loving care and instruction, Lilly grew into a beautiful young lady, filled with compassion, intelligent and having a strong faith in God.
When she met Tommy, her heart flipped! How could she make all of the life lessons she had learned, her faith in God, and Tommy fit into God’s plan for her life? Was Tommy truly part of God’s plan for her?
Tommy and his mother’s past brought possible danger to anyone close to them. Could Lilly put her family through that? Should she abandon Tommy and the feelings she had for him? Could prayer be the answer?
With more circumstances beyond their control fighting against them, it seemed their troubles would never end.Would God allow her the Desires of her Heart?
I Surrender All
Available for Pre-Order Soon
When the very private, independent McAllisters start their ranch in a nice quiet area
outside of town, no one thinks anything of it. They stay to themselves, don’t cause any trouble, and are just considered normal newcomers…
Until the community finds out that the four
oldest children, who have always been dressed and raised as boys, are actually
girls! They are rough, tough and
beautiful; and of age to marry.
The secret is out and the men are lining up to
win their attention. But, who is brave
enough to try to tame them?
When they find themselves having to depend on
others to fight against evil men, not once, but twice; they experience for the
first time, to trust true friends, but also how to trust God.
Overcoming their pride and independence to give
God control of their lives, doesn’t come easy.
During the darkest of days, they find the greatest blessings in life are
found when they finally give up bitterness and revenge and cry out to God,
I
Surrender All
Join the McAllisters as they learn about things
they had never experienced before; friendship, love and trust; as they fight
real battles and find true love.
About Lynne Lanning
Lynne’s stories are full of romance and action mixed with humor and sass; her poetry is full of inspiration… most is from life lessons learned herself, or taught by previous generations. She has a way of encouraging her readers to identify with the characters while evoking emotion.
Where the Heart Leads
Lynne's Website Click Here
