Sometimes you research. Sometimes you make it up from scratch. Sometimes you might get inspiration from the most mundane things.
When I was writing THE SWEET SPOT, I mostly relied on my memory for the setting. I remembered the touch and feel of the building and the grounds. The smell of the golf course in the morning. The intangibles. Things I loved and things I hated about growing up on a small golf course in central Massachusetts. I hope I've been able to translate those sensations into words, so my readers will feel like they're there. At my golf course. A golf course that only exists in my memory. The golf course my parents operated when I was a teenager is still there, but it's been completely remodeled and no longer exists in the same way. That big tree on the right? Not there anymore.
When I was working on the final (and I use final loosely here) draft, I came across an old score card dating back to the early 1980s. It gave me the idea to use golf terms for my chapter titles. And it reminded me of the old building. Just reminiscing here folks. What do you use for inspiration?
When I was writing THE SWEET SPOT, I mostly relied on my memory for the setting. I remembered the touch and feel of the building and the grounds. The smell of the golf course in the morning. The intangibles. Things I loved and things I hated about growing up on a small golf course in central Massachusetts. I hope I've been able to translate those sensations into words, so my readers will feel like they're there. At my golf course. A golf course that only exists in my memory. The golf course my parents operated when I was a teenager is still there, but it's been completely remodeled and no longer exists in the same way. That big tree on the right? Not there anymore. 
When I was working on the final (and I use final loosely here) draft, I came across an old score card dating back to the early 1980s. It gave me the idea to use golf terms for my chapter titles. And it reminded me of the old building. Just reminiscing here folks. What do you use for inspiration?
10 comments:
I love you chapter titles! EVen if I don't know what they all mean. Sometimes an image. Sometimes it just pops out of nowhere!
Thanks Laura! I kind of like them, too. It was a light bulb moment. :)
I find inspiration in all sorts of places and that's because I never really go looking for it. It just pops out at me.
I love the idea for your chapter names! I keep a notebook in my purse to write down things I can use in my writing and also things that make me laugh!
That is so neat!!
My inspiration comes from a lot of things. I mostly write fantasy, so that's a bit different, but when I wrote my contemporary novel, it was about a family in a small town. Since I lived in a tiny farming town until I was eleven, I drew on that a lot. It was the kind of town that didn't have any mainstream fast food joints or stores.
I wish I had one thing I used for inspiration, but I don't. It comes when it comes and that's just that.
Hi Kristine:) Stopping by to see what inspires you - I love this for the letter I. For me, it's usually the tune to a song or a picture or even something strange that one of my kids says LOL that inspires me. But, to be honest, it can come from anywhere and most often, it happens when I least expect it. Have an awesome day:)
Where I'm living has always had a huge effect on me. I never would have written my book if it weren't for Boston, in all its freezing, windy, moldering glory. I guess we both have Massachusetts to thank for inspiring our books ;)
I love it when your own experiences inspire like this! My first YA was very much inspired by my life in England in a very small village. I also often find inspiration in music. Movies sometimes. Anything really. It's amazing where you can find it. Love the idea for your chapter titles, too!
Thanks for sharing all your inspiration today! I love knowing how people are inspired!
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