Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
February 5 question - Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?
The awesome co-hosts for the February 5 posting of the IWSG are Lee Lowery, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Jennifer Hawes, Cathrina Constantine, and Tyrean Martinson!
I'm knee-deep in books because that's my job. Piles of kid lit surround me like a happy fort. Why do books make me smile like three snow days in a row? They transport me to other worlds or to similar ones with interesting characters and worthy villains. (Don't get me started on the bad guys. They are my favorite to write!)
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| Lover's Leap on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River overlooking Illinois. |
With this view just blocks from my home, it's easy to be inspired every day.
I always begin a new story idea with an Instagram photo or a Pinterest board. Inspiration for me starts with pictures, whether my own personal snapshots or from others wandering the earth. I've even started following urban explorers on Youtube. They've taken me on countless adventures around the globe and have given me access to the most amazing places!! Talk about story ideas. Holy moly.
Hiking and getting lost equal one Happy Camper! However, I'd rather sleep in my own bed instead of the great outdoors. Camping really isn't my thang.
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| New hiking partner! (Harper the Australian Shepherd:) My son lets me borrow her anytime. She is becoming quite the urban explorer. |
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| The Nature Preserve. This place is like no other. Bat caves, winding trails, a hidden lake. Mark Twain's inspiration for his stories, no doubt! Fun fact: I live in this author's hometown!
I will make my rounds and visit blogs and comment later in the day or tomorrow. Have a great week.
Get out there and GET LOST and TAKE A HIKE! And write some books.
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What an adorable hiking partner! She looks so cute in her coat. I can see why you are inspired by that view. Gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteShe is, isn't she??
DeleteCamping isn't my thing either.
ReplyDeleteYou live in a very beautiful and inspiring place.
Thanks for co-hosting today!
Anytime! Yes, I am so blessed to live here.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures. I enjoy looking at nature from a canvas or photograph even though they don't inspire me to write, they inspire me to think.
Thank you so much for co-hosting.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Thanks!
DeleteThe view few blocks from your house is just amazing, Jennifer. I'm sure it must be inspiring you lots.
ReplyDeleteYour hiking partner is adorable.
Thanks! She has so much energy!
DeleteI have a favorite hiking place as well that is on the shore of Lake Ontario, has the ruins of an old house (just a cobblestone wall and stairs), several small lakes among steep hills, and some magnificent cedar and spruce trees. I love it.
ReplyDeleteYour new hiking partner is adorable.
Oh, that sounds nice!!
DeleteI would love an area like that to explore. I'd be all over those bat caves. And taking a ton of photos.
ReplyDeleteI just keep finding new places to explore around here!
DeleteI like walking and jogging, but time spent doing those things is time spent not writing, so you know, gotta find a balance. :-P
ReplyDeleteYes, find that balance! I take the dog and my youngest kid and the hubs so I can have family time. Then I don't feel guilty about writing later. :-) Win, win!
DeleteI've just started using Pintrest to collect visuals for my books. The worst part about a Michigan winter is not being able to get outside as much (without a shovel) to enjoy that fresh air. This morning's sun is a teasing prelude to tonight's weather warning. Stay warm down there and thanks for co-hosting, Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteBummer! My hubs is from Michigan. It does snow here, but not like up North. Sheesh. Stay safe!
DeleteI would love a book fort! I'd supply it with chocolate and pillows. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!
Yes, I highly recommend book forts with all the amenities.
DeleteI always envy those writers who have Pinterest boards for their stories. I'd probably spend way to much time doing that than actually writing. I am on Pinterest and found it to be a huge time suck with the boards I do have. lol
ReplyDeleteI actually made both of mine after I wrote the books. Then I made another one before writing another book. It just gives a quick visual of how you see your characters, what the setting will look like, the weather, the atmosphere etc. Sooo much fun!
DeleteI love the Pinterest board idea, but that is one more thing I'd be dinking around with instead of writing. :-) I'm in Central Illinois, so my landscape is a lot like yours. It is often breathtakingly beautiful. I love it! But ix-nay on the camping.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting today.
So you must not be too far from where I live! We are getting slammed with snow today!
DeleteLovely pictures! I just walked my dog and almost froze. Yeah, it was 45--don't laugh at me!
ReplyDeleteHa! Forty five degrees and we be wearing shorts around here. LOL.
DeleteLooks like you have inspiration all around you.
ReplyDeleteAnimals, nature, dizzingly heights and sudden drop offs.
DeleteBeen to Hannibal a few times, and that's a cool spot to visit (and the caves). Easy to see how Mr. Twain got his writing mojo. :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome! This place never gets old. I just pretend to be a tourist and explore everything. Yeah, I'm sure MT had a blast here growing up!
DeleteGreat pictures for inspiration. Thanks for co-hosting. Happy IWSG!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteTrails and bat caves, great visuals and atmospheres for inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYeah, the bat caves are awesome, but I woulnd't want to go in them at night. They are having an after dark bat cave hike this Friday. NOPE.
DeleteYou have a beautiful view at your home. And love your cute hiking partner.
ReplyDeleteShe is a cutie pie alright! I enjoy baby-dog sitting her. Thanks! Sometimes I forget how gorgeous the landscape is around here.
ReplyDeleteA book fort - what a wonderful idea. Walls out of books - I'd never leave such a place.
ReplyDeleteNot much of a hiker here, but I love fantasy adventure stories, and their heroes always travel somewhere. And I travel with them.
Harper is adorable! And what cool options you have for adventuring near you. Happy IWSG Day, and thanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteCool pictures! I love your hiking partner. That makes the journey that much more fun.
ReplyDeleteI am so in love with that last picture. The atmosphere is so up my alley.
ReplyDeleteAlso in love with your hiking partner. She's adorable!!
Sure a fine hiking partner. Yep, rather watch than go camping and poop in a hole any day.
ReplyDeleteLover's Leap? Yikes! It's named because some people have jumped to their death? :(
ReplyDeleteHi, Jennifer! Harper looks like a great hiking buddy. I think I'd be standing well back from that Lover's Leap! So many authors seem to be using Pinterest boards for stories. I might try that! Thanks for the urban explorers tip! Happy writing in February! And thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteThose look like great inspiration! Thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! Looks cold but lovely.
ReplyDeleteI also find nature so inspiring! I walk by the river in my town every day that I can. @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
Is Lover's Leap the name of the cliff just north of Hannibal? If so, I climbed it two years ago when I was visiting and paying homage to Mark Twain. I had been at a meeting in St. Louis and then drove up to Iowa City for the summer writing festival and had the afternoon free in Hannibal. Having lived in Virginia City, I feel somewhat of a connection to Twain.
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteThank you for co-hosting this month. Harper, the Australian Shepherd, looks like the perfect hiking dog, and a cute one at that. We used to have two Aussie mixes many years ago and now have another rescue that is having the time of her life.
If you ever want more inspiration for stories, feel free to check out my Roaming About blog once in a while as we are "nature explorers", but stop in urban environments once in a while as well. :-)
Actually, if you want to see really inspiring photos, give my sailing blog a peak: www.itsirie.com You live in an amazing area as well!!!
Thanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteThe story idea always comes first. Second is the Pinterest storyboard filled with images, that’ll help keep the inspiration going, of people, places, clothings, etc. And music too.
Knee-deep in books? Sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI always say that if I could read the whole day and get paid for it, I'd grab that job.
Those pics are beautiful!
Thank you for co-hosting the IWSG blog hop this month.
Photos from nature or just being out in nature can be very inspiring. I've read a lot of posts this month about being inspired by photographs of nature.
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