Inspirations -- what are yours?

[Whiteshadow]

There are times for all of us that we lose inspiration to write or get that dreaded sickness, "writer's block". Sometimes all we need is a good amount of inspiration to appear again.

This thread is for people to post their inspirations in their writings, like what they think of when they write or what they listen to. Post your inspirations and, if you can, provide advice to others.

~Seth Rahl~

[Seth_Rahl]

Yes I know I am Whiteshadow as well, but I might as well start this. My inspirations to write actually come from mostly RPG's like Final Fantasy and anime, and authenticate the experience I often listen to rock and metal to help create battle scenes in my head. obviously they wont be the same, as that would be power playing, but just the idea inspires me to write. I Mean, who doesn't wanna have a Rock Lee- ish battle?

[Sidhe]

The best way for me to get inspired, which I've found to be extremely effective, is detaching from all the basic distractions. No TV, no computer, no music, nothing.

It may take a couple of minutes, but the effect of muting all electronic noise soon becomes definite and quite pronounced. It forces my usually multi-tasking mind to direct its energies to a single task and openly explore various storyline possibilities. This free mental journey into a world of various possible scenarios is usually inspiration enough for me.

[BlackAndBlueEyes]

Rock Lee freaks me the fudge out.

But I'd have to say that whenever my fingers lock up, I always play some NES or SNES games. Either that, or I have a bit of an NES music collection on my comp that I listen to whenever I'm writing.

[Stuffed Fury]

Complete and utter silence while I write. And if that doesn't work, I read a good fantasy novel.

[Whiteshadow]

Fine, dante then. Devil May Cry often puts me in the mood as well. But rock lee still is awesome, even if he is a little weird.

I"m surprised how many people prefer silence. I myself am used to backround noise, I guess being able to visualize the scenes in my head helps me at least.

[Eyes of...]

The best way for me to get inspired, which I've found to be extremely effective, is detaching from all the basic distractions. No TV, no computer, no music, nothing.

It may take a couple of minutes, but the effect of muting all electronic noise soon becomes definite and quite pronounced. It forces my usually multi-tasking mind to direct its energies to a single task and openly explore various storyline possibilities. This free mental journey into a world of various possible scenarios is usually inspiration enough for me.

That's so crazy. I'm the opposite way. I put on the TV, play music really loud, and turn a few lights on. All the outside noise and light somehow helps me get posts out...

[Whiteshadow]

Woo Hoo!

[Sidhe]

That's so crazy. I'm the opposite way. I put on the TV, play music really loud, and turn a few lights on. All the outside noise and light somehow helps me get posts out...

Same here, usually. But if I have writer's block, all those things seem to start working against me.

[Graphic Description]

I am MASSIVELY suceptible to writer's block, so I don't have too much advice, but for some reason I can write well on a deadline. Strange, no?

[Mutant_Lorenor]

I'm one of those guys that rarely gets stuck. If I do, I find it inside me to force a post out, its okay if I get knocked points for it, but in the end I find that inner strength to get the job done. I don't know where I get my drive to write from but at a lot of has to do with escapeism.

Those of you who know me know that I deal with a lot of emotional problems and just personal stuff that makes my life really hard. I deal by writing and drawing. That's my big inspiration; sense of accomplishment. I like the feeling I get when I complete a thread regardless of its score. I know the next time I'll do better, and the next time after that I'll do even better. I'm constantly thinking of new stories and things to write out so I keep questing with people cause of that.

Anyway I guess what inspires me is that for me, i can have a little while where I'm not thinking about how crappy my life is for the most part. That's just me though. Also I just really REALLY enjoy writing. I'm trying to catch up to writers that really inspire me, like Terry Goodkind amongst many others.

[Ataraxis]

Apparently, my best work happens when it's due very soon. Something about writing quality bullshit at the last minute possible from elementary to high school, somehow conditioning my mind or something xD

But yes, I'm mostly primed after reading an amazing chapter from a fantasy book (or any book, for that matter), after viewing a great movie (yes, I wanted to register a robot on Althanas after watching Transformers) or listening to something that just suits the character I'm supposed to be writing with.

When all else fails, have a break, go outside, take a walk, smell a flower, poke some roadkill. Thing is, try to describe all of that in your head, but not to the point that it becomes annoying. Let it flow like a light conversation, and return home. You'll be fresh when you come back, and you'll already have a few ideas for the setting.

That, or, like me, you end up meeting your childhood archnemesis and challenge him to a battle of wits and/or caveman grunting. In which case, hey, you have a story right there.

[Angel of Light]

Techno, dance, and DnB music pumping through my skull. If that doesn't clear up the writers block, I lay down for a little while in silence and think of anything but what I need to write about. The first thought that resembles what I'm trying to write about is almost always good and enough to clear up the writers block. If it's not what I'm looking for, it at least forces me to look at the story from a different point of view.

Also, music is essential to setting the mood of a post.

Having a collection of swords and staves also helps with visualizing my sequences. Actually being trained in their use is just icing on the proverbial cake.

[AdventWings]

Music FTW. Nuff said.

Actual proficiency in the combat arts is also very useful when writing out battle scenes, as you can really feel the battle play through your head. You know what works, what won't and what is just absurdly improbable.

Character interaction, however, I find comes best by going to a coffee shop.

Get yourself a table by the window, order a hot cup of espresso and just watch the people going by. Sometimes, the best interactios need not be purely fantasies. :)

Manga and Anime also helps. I find Hiroyuki Kurata's and Ken Akametsu's works very inspiring. :D (aka R.O.D. the TV and the Negima! manga.) Maggie Mui is so sweet~ Nya~ :p

[Xos]

The Music of Dr. Jeffrey Thompson. Neuroacoustics are the best! I want to get The music of The Spheres. I listened to a sample of Jupiter and it was amazing. The Primordial sounds that come from our local solar Neighborhood, I don't know what it is, but its like magic.

Personally, music is the key to my creativity. I can't help but come up with stories when I hear music.

[Whiteshadow]

talking about battle music, this video is one of the many that inspired me to create Eternium in the first place, and the music is awesome. "When the Lights are down" by Kamelot and the video is from Devil May Cry 3.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3T_RdUPNg6k

[Melancor]

You can listen to the lyrics of a song, or watch at the video and it may inspire you... that's what i do.

[Wraith]

Hardcore vampire porn. The kind of shit you see on local access at four in the morning. And you're too drunk to know if she really did swallow her own tampon.

[Whiteshadow]

...

You and Nagrash should get together sometime and have undead porn fests.

[NagashAscendant]

Hey! ill keep my undead pornfests between me and my girl please!
(BUt i totally agree with Wraith)

Id have to say music is my biggest inspiration. Screamo or gothy stuff usually.
Otep, I Am Ghost, Cradle of Filth, Wednesday 13

And i agree, knowing how to fight, and especially in archaic styles helps alot. Although i do prefer to take it a step above what would really happen,

[Whiteshadow]

Really, eh? *chuckles insanely* i might have to bring Anwyn over then sometime and show you how its done, alex....

[AdventWings]

I don't like Screamo. Hurts my ears.

I prefer music that's more refined and not ear-splitting annoying. I don't know how good American Screamo is, but I can tell you Thai Screamo = headache.

Something like Battle BGM from games ( <3 the Melty Blood BGM) to classical pieces (like Flight of the Bumblebee) can do wonders to set you in the right mood. J-Pop is what I mostly rely on, but I have to be picky with the song selection or else the post won't come out right.

Music is Power.

[Mutant_Lorenor]

I read a lot of comic books. I'm an artist. Comic books and video games just work really well to inspire me when I feel stuck in anyway. If I feel I have to force myself to write something out sometimes I'll pull back and just play video games for a while, that usually helps to unstick me when I can't find the right words.

[Opening Title]

Music is my main inspiration. The mood of the music I listen to usually dictates the mood of my writing. There are times though when the background noise of the t.v. is fine (the computer desk is located in our livingroom). Sometimes, I get my inspiration from events happening around me, either with my surroundings or the people occupying them. When I was younger I used to constantly describe everything I saw (inside my head). Like, if we were driving somewhere, if I wasn't preoccupied with something else I'd have a running string of narrative in my brain describing the dark pine forest fringing the pastures, the bustling farmer's market, the mountains, the way the clouds reflected off the lake, that sort of thing. This helped and helps tons with inspiration (I was an active rper back then), as I'd oft come across scenes and character ideas I'd want to incoorperate into my stories. Still do from time to time. But yeah, music's my main inspiring force.

[Seth_Rahl]

huzzah for the Sound Of Music! lol

[GAME]

The first story I ever wrote on a forum, my first character, my first kiss, my first anything, always give's me inspiration. Also certain music can be playing and I get an diea for a battle.

[Whiteshadow]

O.o Freaky avatar. Cool, but freaky. Makes me wanna cut myself its so emo. >.<

I get the same thing man. I'll just be listening to the radio and suddenly i'll hear a song that I think would be great for a battle. Thats why most of my threads are named after songs. "Break the silence" by killswitch engaged, "Of Devils and Swords" Remix of a devil may cry song, etc...

[Seth_Rahl]

...In fact, i'm naming a thread of mine "Stupified" just cause I thought the song would fit. Lol....

In any case, I don't see many people posting in this anymore. *looks around* Are we done?

[Saxon]

Books, television, and observation. For some reason I have always had a knack for art and literature, it's almost spooky how my mind works sometimes. I've gotten more story ideas sitting around my living room staring off into the wheat field across the street then I'd care to admit. Something in my brain just clicked one day and I can delve deep in my thoughts and usually pull out something rather intriguing. I can definitely see writing professionally in my future if I could just make myself meet the deadlines required. :rolleyes:

[Seth_Rahl]

I dunno who's avatar is creepier, yours or GAME's. >.<

I agree, deadlines are usually a problem for me too. I like to set my own paces on things, rather than being told when to do something.

[Saxon]

Cheshire Cat from American Mcgee's Alice. I don't know about scary, but it certainly is twisted. ;)

I'm beginning to get the hang of writing on time and what not, it's just finding the time to sit down and write that is annoying. I've got one computer to use in a place akin to a boiler room, and often don't have much time to myself. Need to scrunge up some dough and get myself a laptop. =P

[Seth_Rahl]

Like me. Bwahahhahahahahhahaah!

[Farmboy]

I find inspiration from everything. A book I'm reading, a movie I watched. Things people say to me, or just to others. History, Mythology, Fiction, Non-fiction. I can sit in the middle of a thunderstorm, complete silence around me, and base thoughts on it. Silence is a must for me. With so much in my head as it is, having a loud T.V. or loud music playing while I write doesn't help me. But if I'm trying to relax and I'm wanting to sit back and think, then I listen to music.

There was once where I had developed an entire idea for a novel from an Evanescence CD I was listening to while cutting the grass. I mean, as long as you open your mind to everything around you, even if you wont think it'll work in Fantasy fiction, the possibilites are endless. Everything has a place, even in Fantasy. The last thing I need to learn is to discipline myself so I can write more often.