Inspiration

Do you ever feel like you’re in a rut? Like everything you write is the same old, same old and you’re going to be writing, basically, the same action pic forever if you don’t change something?

Well good for you. Nice to realize that you need to spice things up.

But how do you do that? How do you get yourself out of the slot you’re in and try a new slot, a new genre shall we say? What can inspire you to do that?

Have to say, I think it’s pretty easy. You can begin by watching movies that aren’t in your genre. You write action? Watch romantic dramas, or comedies, or psychological thrillers, or suspense films. Think of it like homework—you have to do this. Help the roommate with the dishes after dinner? Sorry, homework to do. Gotta watch Double Indemnity.

There are so many places on the web that list the top 100 films in each genre, so pick one that’s different from the genre you usually write in and watch the top 10 films of that new genre. Try not to think the entire time, ‘Hmmm, maybe I could write a different version of this…’ No, not the point. You’re just watching to see how it’s done. After you watch five psychological thrillers, maybe then you allow yourself time to analyze them, to decide what worked for you and what didn’t, and to think about how you could bring your particular writing skills to this new genre. Maybe you can combine your action pic with the psychological thriller pic and come up with a truly kick-ass script.

So movies—the ‘easy’ way to be inspired.

More work—but maybe resulting in more original ideas—can come from reading. You read, right? Please tell me you read. I think reading can lead you to ideas you never would have had if you just stuck to movies for inspiration. You can read what you love and see if that doesn’t trigger a new thought or two. And you can read outside your comfort zone as well—you might surprise yourself and be inspired in ways you never would have been if you hadn’t picked up that magazine/book.

Movies, books, magazines… but not all inspiration has been distilled by someone else for your consumption. There’s more inspiration to be found.

How about going outside? Leaving the confines of your office and taking a walk, going to a park, going on a hike in a nearby area… exposing yourself to bugs and small animals and flowers and stuff. OR how about volunteering to do good work in your community? Clean up the beach, pick up litter, build houses for Habitat for Humanity. Whatever—do something good AND be inspired.

The truth is, just about any activity you undertake that’s outside your normal routine will result in new stimuli… and some of those stimuli could be just what you need to be inspired in a new direction.

So go. Motivate yourself—you’ll be surprised how inspiring you can be.

Copyright © Diane Lake

26Mar17

Email Diane a question to Diane@DianeLake.com