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Inspiration for writing. Where does it come from? In a word – everywhere. It isn’t just one place. For me, ideas for books are definitely conglomerates.

A typical day for me might look similar to this:

1. My husband tells me I give too much information when I talk. He doesn’t need all the details.
2. The bagger at the grocery store, who could stand a shower, looks a little like a creeper to me.
3. An overprotective and worrisome mother. (Not mine.)
4. A squeaky door this scares the bejeebers out of me while working in my garden.

Add all these ingredients together and voilà! An idea for a new book is stewing in my brain.

Inspiration is different for every writer and probably different for every book a writer creates. Sometimes I get ideas from old journals, news stories, conversations with others, etc. Sometimes I meet an interesting person and they end up in my cast of characters.

Inspiration can come from life experiences. That’s the case with one of my novels. I took life experiences from several people I knew to create my main character, Karen Miller. My friends’ experiences were all meshed and melded together to create unique story.

Inspiration can come from reading. If you want to be a writer, you need to be a reader. Of course, plagiarizing is a huge no-no, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get ideas for something completely different when you read someone else’s work. A writer’s mind often works in rabbit trails. One little scene can produce an entire movie in our heads.

So, if you are thinking about becoming a writer or if you are a writer but are looking for inspiration for new ideas, just look at the world around you. Open your eyes and take note of what you see. Open your ears and concentrate on what you hear. Be aware of what you touch and what you taste and what you smell. Use your senses to find new ideas or to add details to ideas you already have. Write everything down knowing it may not be used. But the details will be there waiting when you go looking for inspiration.

About the Author:

Ruth O’Neil has been writing for over 20 years. She has published hundreds of articles in numerous publications. She loves to touch the emotions when she writes. “If I can make one person laugh or cry, I’ll consider myself successful.” Her first novel “Come Eat at My Table” has just come out in ebook form and can be purchased on her website. She homeschools her three children (well, one now, as two have graduated). She and her husband have been married for 20-plus years. In her spare time she enjoys quilting, crafting, and reading. You can visit her on her blog at ruths-real-life (dot)blogspot.com or her website at ruthoneil (dot)weebly.com