Welcome to the newest blog feature here at The Saucy Scribe Blog! For at least the next few months, every Friday you'll find a post about what inspires writers to write or what inspired their latest release. Be sure to check out the sidebar for a list of guests!
Today, I'm going to kick the idea off and tell you a little about what inspired my first novella, The Kandy Shoppe. If you stick around to the end of the post, and comment, you could win one of two prizes. Winners will be chosen at 11:59pm est Sunday evening and announced Monday morning, so you have all weekend to comment!
I'll be honest, I never thought about writing a novella. All my plots and books up to that point were novel size. I had just finished a book that was pretty emotional for me and during the period of "letting it sit and stew" I flipped through my notebook of ideas.
Nothing was strking enough of a cord to make me want to dive in and write that story - you know that feeling of "OMG I have to write this before I bust open!" - Nope not happening.
Being between books is NOT the most inspirational time for me, it's when I doubt my ideas, it's when I wonder if I'll ever have another idea good enough for a whole entire book.
In the middle of a funk I found myself in the local grocery store - in front of the ice-cream freezer making the earth-shattering decision of what flavor ice cream I would drown my sorrows in - when inspiration struck.
At that moment all I could see was a little old-fashioned ice cream palor, a broken freezer and one hot-damn sexy freezer repair man!
And even though I was NOT an erotic writer - this was an erotic story begging to ooze from my fingers - and it was a short story. (Honestly, that fact alone surprised the heck of me - I'd never considered trying my hand at a novella until that day.)
After a little bit of convincing from my critique group and few trial runs flexing my erotic muscles (on paper!) the story took on a life of it's own.
Not only did it sell quick - it was the debut book for a brand new ePublisher, Blade Publishing.
I can now honestly say that I never know where the inspiration for my storylines might come from or what direction they might take.
Do all ideas that are born in crazy places like the frozen food section of the local grocery story often turn into stories? No, they don't. But I do keep my eyes, ears and heart open at all times, with a pad at the ready - in case that inspiring moment does come along!
I hope my story inspires you to go out today and write something different than your "normal" story - explore a new idea, a new direction or simply take a different path!
Thanks for reading! Since this is the debut of Writing Inspiration Friday's, I'll be giving away two prizes today. Chosen randomly by an uninterested party (my daughter!) one commenter will win a free download of The Kandy Shoppe (pdf or mobi, which can be read on kindle if you prefer) and the other will win a pkg. of acid-free scrapbook stickers in, of course, an ice-cream shop theme!
(Want to increase you chances of winning every Friday? Subscribe to my blog by email - put your email in the box to the right and submit - and your comments on every Friday post automatically count twice! "Friend" my blog with Google Connect - also on the sidebar - and you add another chance every Friday you comment!)
And the rest, as they say, is history. I love that story! And I remember your hesitance to follow through with it at first. But aren’t you glad you did? Gina Ardito(Quote)
Yes! I am glad I followed that story inspiration. I still love that story and my hero in that book.
Debora(Quote)
I love how ideas can just pop up like that and I love reading about where authors get their ideas from. I’ve found that my dreams can create some pretty great story ideas – and pretty weird ones too, hehe. Krysten(Quote)
My best ideas tend to come in the middle of the night, so I keep a notepad next to my bed. Sometimes there are just nonsensical scribbles (I wrote peanut butter and jelly down once… still no idea!), but sometimes I wake up at 3 a.m. and jot down the answer to a problem at work, a way to juggle vacation plans or similar – I think our subconscious percolates best when we just let it be
Shayna(Quote)
Shayna´s last blog ..Top 8 Ways to Rev Up Your Resume
I do think daydreams and nightdreams have a way of working out plots and tossing out ideas to make you think. That’s why it’s so important to have that pad at the ready! Debora(Quote)
I love the post! How funny that Ben and Jerry helped you come up with it! lol Stephanie(Quote)
Great post! I love reading how writers get into their work. One of my favorite things about Stephen King is all his horrors are set in ordinary places like the grocery store or the local antique shop. My mother always made me dress in full makeup to go to the grocery store but I’ve yet to meet a hot refridgerator repair man! And I guess now we know now where the sauce comes from — and what kind it is! (Chocolate of course…
Thanks for sharing. Laura(Quote)
Great post! It’s always fun to break out of the comfort zone and go down a different path. Sometimes that’s the best way to learn about yourself as a writer and test yourself to see how far out of the box you can go.
Very inspirational. Now I may Ho off and try my hand at a paranormal. Thanks!
Clarissa Yip(Quote)
Clarissa Yip´s last blog ..Nerves of steel…Pitching experience
Glad you tried something different.
Silke(Quote)
But I know what you mean about “I can’t write short”. I was the same way and tbh — I’d just never tried.
Inspiration (for me) can strike anywhere, from anything. It just kinda happens — but I like your ice-cream freezer muse heheeh
Silke´s last blog ..10 Free Tools for Writers
I’m passionate about ice cream…er…food in general. I’ll have to keep my eye out for a story the next time I go to the grocery store.
Also, I’m interested to know what inspired A Fistful of Fate. Will you be sharing that story?
Looking forward to its release.
R.M.Gilbert(Quote)
R.M.Gilbert´s last blog ..YAFF Muse- All Roads Lead Home
Thanks Rachel! When my release date for Fistful of Fate gets closer, I will most definitely post about what inspired that story! Debora(Quote)
I seem to get a lot of story tidbits in the shower – where it is NOT convenient to write them down. Maybe I should switch to a bath? I have done the get out of bed thing to write stuff down. If you wait, it’s gone. Good luck with the blog – hope you get lots of sauce! Carly Carson(Quote)
The shower is a popular place for ideas to spring forth for many writers. When my kids were little and we only had one bathroom with a shower in the house I did make use of the “bathtub crayons” to write myself cryptic notes – hmmm…now that I have a shower of my own – I might have invest in those crayons for myself!
Debora(Quote)
Amazing source of inspiration. I guess that’s the real concept behind “food for thought.” In any event, I think it’s incredible you took initiative to write something so awesome and then get it published. I hope to do the same one day!
JoJo(Quote)
JoJo´s last blog ..STDs Of The Blogosphere
Cool–literally and figuratively. LOL
Jennifer Shirk(Quote)
I love hearing what inspires a story.
Great post! Sometimes I think of story ideas from just driving and listening to music. But I really need to start carrying a little voice recorder because I often work through story plots when I’m taking a shower or cleaning house. Chelle Sandell(Quote)
I think you’re right some of the best ideas come when you’re not hunting for them and not expecting them. The thing is to recognize them and hold on to them when they do appear. Great post! Nicola(Quote)