Finding inspiration through music and daydreaming

Last Saturday, I attended Kate Forsyth’s Winter Writing Workshop. It was a fantastic day and—like all of Kate’s classes—full of inspiration and magic. The first session for the day was on how to find inspiration, something that all writers, and artists, are keen to unlock the secret to. Kate detailed her creative process for finding inspiration including: allowing yourself sections of the day for daydreaming, which Kate sees as a kind of meditation. She also writes in her diary every day and keeps a memory book, to help delve into the thoughts and recollections of times gone by.

Like Kate, my inspiration comes from different places, but I find daydreaming the most successful for generating creative ideas. Most of my ideas arrive in the form of visual snippets, either a scene or an image. From this, I write the chapter or section of the novel that pertains to this scene or image. If the image isn’t clear, then I don’t write that section, and continue brainstorming the idea.

When I recently travelled interstate, I discovered that flying provides the optimum environment for daydreaming. I had no music or books to help pass the time, instead I brainstormed my novel and characters. Being stuck in my seat, with nothing else to do but to stare out the window, allowed my imagination to flow freely. Unfortunately, this is a rather expensive way to tap into your imagination and is unlikely to occur on a regular basis!

I also follow many author blogs and websites for writing tips and tricks for accessing your imagination and I've discovered that music features heavily in many authors’ creative processes. Often authors will post the songs they were listening to at the time they wrote specific chapters or even a complete playlist that captures the mood of the novel. However, this is one process that I’ve not been able to relate to.

Unfortunately, I require absolute silence when I write; any music or noise is a distraction. I’ve often heard a few songs on the radio that remind me of my characters or part of my novel, but this has been after I’ve written the story and has not inspired the work.

The other night, however, I heard a song that captured the feeling and atmosphere of my story in such detail that listening to it was like stepping into the pages of my novel. Almost like a film trailer, I could see the story unfolding in my mind’s eye. The beautiful and haunting melody embodies the feelings I want to evoke in the reader. And I now find myself playing this piece before I start writing.

I want to share this piece of music with you, to provide a taste of the mood I’m hoping my novel will achieve. Although, I’m hesitant to share music as everyone has different tastes and the song might conjure different thoughts and feelings for you, but hopefully you’ll enjoy the piece as much as I do. Please let me know what you think in the comments!

Active Child’s Hanging On:

Tips for Managing Creativity

Like most aspiring writers with a full-time job, I often struggle to find time to dedicate to my writing. In the past I've managed to finish projects through my sheer passion for the idea, but sometimes passion, or inspiration, isn't enough. Sometimes I need to write even when I don't feel like it. This year I started a writing routine based on my background as a CG artist and production manager that has worked well for me and I wanted to share my routine, in case you find it useful too.

I started my career in film and TV as a CG artist and found the biggest learning curve of working in the "real world" was how to manage my creativity. I was accustomed to working on my own projects in my own time – whenever I felt like it, but working as a professional artist meant I had to meet deadlines but not sacrifice quality. My work was determined by the brief and the production schedule.

I later moved into production roles where I coordinated creative teams. I could relate to the artistic process and the reality that creativity comes in waves. Yet, there still had to be structure and routine for our department to achieve our goals and deadlines. It was also important to encourage the artists and their endeavours.

In the past, I wrote only when inspiration struck, but with my new manuscript, I found myself needing more structure. I decided to become my own production manager: setting daily writing tasks and deadlines. One task is to dedicate time to brainstorm one scene at lunchtime, before sitting down to write 1000 words immediately after work. Sometimes it takes 15 minutes, sometimes a full hour, but I’m not to leave the computer until 1000 words are written. My production manager won’t allow it! ;)

As a production manager of my own time, it can be tempting to cave in at 600 words or less, but it’s important I stick to this writing routine. And I've found the more I practice the routine, the easier it is to write in the time allocated; I'll automatically start daydreaming at lunchtime about my WIP and my fingers start itching to hit the keyboard as soon as I finish work. This routine fuels my creativity, as opposed to repressing it. 

Whilst my 1000 words will vary in quality day-to-day, the important thing is to keep at my routine. After all, a first draft is just about filling the blank pages. My favourite part of the writing process is revising and redrafting – this is where I can really hone my writing and the story – and I can’t redraft a blank page!

Whilst I’m not a published author yet, I consider writing to be my second job. After all, I’m hoping to have a writing career, so it’s important I treat it with the same commitment as I do for my day job.

I've found being my own production manager a really useful tool to manage and maximise creativity. What about you? Do you have any tips to share? Please let me know in the comments.