Hello friends, Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a lovely week so far. Things have been slightly changing up around the blog and this sort of new, non regular feature is one of these things I have been wanting to do, ever since I started talking more about my WIP.
Let’s face it: I’m going to use this as a way both to get me out of this weird funk I’ve been having since I finished my WIP and to find myself some inspiration for editing. Or, who knows, find myself in a deep, crazy need to write something else again. Or just like, do SOMETHING. I swear. I’m totally fine not writing.
ANYWAY, I am thrilled to introduce these sort of WIP confessions, in real-awesome partnership with my lovely friend Lenna over at Sugar Dusted Pages, who is also going to tackle the weird fear of talking about writing and share things on her WIP too. EXCITING, right? I hope so. This is going to be a semi-regular feature as we figure things out, but I hope you’ll enjoy it.
Today we’re all going to talk about INSPIRATION ?
a.k.a why I have weird ideas swimming inside my brains that just won’t.let.go.
As a reminder, this particular work I will be talking about is the WIP I finished, and I’ll sum it up in six words, you know, because otherwise it’s too complicated and I have no idea how I would sum it up otherwise.
Forests, beaches, lies, childhood friends, heartbreak ?? #WIP #amwriting https://t.co/XgTQ2chHww
— Marie . (@dh_books) September 16, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Where do these ideas come from? ?
I could be really annoying here and tell you the basic writer answer, which is: THE WORLD. There is a part of truth in that, obviously, but many other things inspired me to write this particular WIP…
- A part of my own childhood experience building little wooden sheds in forests,
- Boarding school novels that I LOVE,
- My favorite trope of all times, childhood friends,
- and many other things…. that I will and might not reveal here because SPOILERS.
Books inspirations ?
a.k.a where I casually admire these authors, these characters and feel like there are things here and there that inspired me particularily. DISCLAIMER: my book’s nothing like these books. I basically fed myself on these feels here and there.
TV Shows inspirations ?
In case you did not know, or never watched, this is Dawson’s Creek. I’m really inspired by vibes here and there but, basically, my story’s got nothing to do with the puddles of feels in Dawson’s Creek. Also, I am team Pacey ALL THE WAY. I know. I’m weird?!
Playlist inspiration ?
a.k.a the music I used to write this story, songs that are related to the story on deep levels and so on. Also reffered to as: feelings songs.
- Red – Pieces
- You Me At Six – Fireworks
- James Bay – Let it Go
- Damian Rice – 9 crimes
- Andrew Belle – In my Veins
- Every Avenue – Picture Perfect
All of these are inspirations, yet my story is nothing alike these things. I guess that’s what it means to write? Or just to be a mess? I’m not sure. There are probably tons of things I forgot here, but, you know…I can’t remember everything going through my mind back in 2015, I have the memory of a goldfish. #oops
Writers: are you inspired by books, tv shows and songs as well? What is your to-go-to to find inspiration for your stories? How do you put yourself into inspiration-seeking mode?
Readers, and everyone: did you enjoy this little peek at my writing and does it make you want to know more? I hope so. Do you sometimes link books you read with TV shows you’ve watched and songs you’ve heard? Sort of like making aeshetics. Just, basically, trying to make the book more alive and everything. Let me know all – and your latest book obsession?! in comments!
Writers and friends: if you want to talk about your writing inspirations, feel free to join this semi-regular feature – just please mention you took the inspiration from here! xx
I love reading about inspiration. I what people use as inspiration fascinating and exciting. Your WIP sounds awesome by the way. Also, your song selections have my approval. You can’t go wrong with You Me at Six, but I also love In My Veins and 9 Crimes, even if the songs have me believing that your WIP will punch the feels a bit. 😛
Aww, thank you so, so much, Lois! <3 I'm definitely looking for ALL THE FEELS ? but I think it still needs work , in order to be reaaally…well, heartbreaking and everything. I'm a bit cruel, ahah;
Thank you so much! <3 <3
First off, congrats on finishing your WIP even though it is a bittersweet feeling! I love the
idea of having a #WIP Confessions because I absolutely love reading about the writing process and what inspired you! I feel like I get inspired just by reading about other writers talking about their WIP and it motivates me to put my thoughts into action! Lately, I’ve been inspired by a lot of music I’ve been listening too and was finally drive to start pinterest boards for my WIP. I shouldn’t even call it a WIP because it is a little seedling of an idea in my head but having aesthetic boards kind of makes it real ??? idk! I love the idea of your WIP because I was absolutely OBSESSED with boarding school mystery books when I was younger. My favorite series was the Private novels by Kate Brian and I ALWAYS wanted to live in that world (even though there were crazy murderers running around) I’m excited to continue reading about your WIP and learn more of these confessions! Like I said, just reading about your own process challenges me to think about my own ideas so thank you !!!! 🙂
Ohhh thank you so, so much, Isabella, I’m so glad you enjoyed this post and that it inspired you <3 <3
I think it IS already a little bit of a WIP, if you've got some theme songs and some Pinterest boards to inspire you…it's an idea, and it always starts like that! I'm now really curious about your idea, I have to say it 🙂 Are you going to participate in NaNoWriMo? 🙂
Ohhh I'm so glad – I used to be obsessed with these kind of things as well, that's what inspired me ahah 🙂
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
This is such a cool feature!!! I *love* it!! Firstly though, your summary of your book in 6 words really got me intrigued! I also love your list of inspirations- especially childhood friends and boarding school stories- cos those are both things I love in books!! Awesome post!! Really enjoying hearing about your WIP and can’t wait to hear more 😀 <3
Ohhh thank you so much, this makes me so, so very happy <3 <3
You’re welcome!! 😀 <3
I really love hearing you talk about your WIP Marie, and I hope this post/feature helps you both find the inspiration to edit and gets you out of your ‘I’ve-finished-my-WIP-funk’. 🙂 <3
I can't really say where my ideas come from, most of my ideas are for fantasy/sci-fi so I don't really pull inspiration from real life. Most of the time I guess it's posts I see online where my mind just started building on them. Stories I've read that seem to spark some small idea in my own head. 😀
I think music is a big one for me, more than other books and TV shows I guess. I dunno, I've never thought about it too much before reading your post, my ideas are just my ideas. Now I'm starting to think where I got my inspiration from for my upcoming WIP and I seriously have no idea. It's just an idea I've had for so so long.
Great post Marie. 🙂 <3
Oh thank you so much, Beth! I hope so too <3 <3
Ohhh yes, stories we read are inspirations most of the time, it's crazy, how sometimes you associate one idea with another, then…it's all a mess of ideas in your head ?
And yes, sometimes you don't even know where they come from. I guess it's from influences you had, overall, people, books and music and everything, a little mix of everything 🙂
Thank you so, so much for your sweet words, Beth <3 <3
That’s all right! 😀 <3
Yeah it's definitely crazy, sometimes the ideas I get are nothing similar to the stories I got the inspiration from. Our minds just work in strange ways when it comes to inspiration.
I think the idea I have is something from loads of different sources, so much so now I couldn't pinpoint just one.
That's all right! 😀 <3
ASD.FJA;SLDKFJA;LSDFJAD Marie is talking about her writing omg???? Your book sounds so GOOD and I’m just dying of anticipation to learn more about it! Especially that talk about building sheds + boarding schools + childhood friends!!
Oh, I love Let It Go by James Bay! It’s SUCH a beautiful song, god. I also love his other songs (especially Hold Back the River). I don’t usually have music that inspires me to write, but listening to music while I’m writing is usually calming for me. (Except when it’s Hamilton. ?) I honestly don’t know what I’m inspired by?? Like you and all writers ever, parts of the world just inspire me to form a story in my head.
Pinterest is also a great source of inspiration. 😉
I’M SO EXCITED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR NOVEL BECAUSE IT SOUNDS AMAZING AND I’M SO GLAD YOU SHARED!!! <3
Ohhhh May you are WAY TOO SWEET THANK YOU <3 <3 I'm feeling the pressure now ? but I'm also so happy you have such a positive feedback about it all already, thank you <3
Ohhhh yes, James Bay has so many beautiful songs, I love him!
THANK YOU AGAIN, you're the SWEETEST <3 <3
Ahhhh every time you post something about your WIP I get more and more excited to know more about it! Some of these books/songs/shows have such great vibes, and all your key plot points you’ve mentioned sound right up my alley.
Ohhh thank you, Sydney, this makes me SO happy, you have no idea <3 <3 I'm glad you like this feature, I hope to talk more about it as I go on with it all 🙂
I like to use my dreams as inspiration. I have vivid dreams that are generally cohesive with multiple scenes that connect together. They tell me about myself – and truly show me the vast range of creativity my brain contains. Normally characters aren’t that vivid, but the setting is. Even for dreams I had years ago, I can visualize a specific setting. I like to think about the place (and what I remember happening there) to come up with wild ideas.
Ohhhh that’s SO great – it’s so good that you can actually remember your dreams so well, to use them as an inspiration! I wish I could remember my dreams as well ? It has to be so great, revisit and reinvent your own dreams with your own stories. I love it.
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
I read in a book about lucid dreaming that if you keep a dream journal – writing down anything you remember, even if it is just a single word, will start signaling to your brain, “hey, this is important. Let’s keep this information.” So if you like make it a big deal when you remember anything and make sure to keep recording them and especially trying to hold onto them after you just woke up, eventually you will be able to remember more and more. Typically I don’t write mine down but I have before and I think it really does help, but you gotta make sure to keep up with it.
Ohhh, I did not know that – thank you for letting me know! I might have to try this writing thing then 😀
I usually found my writing inspirations from Tumblr, song lyrics and Pinterest. Pinterest is a real lifesaver on guiding me on what kind of stories that I wanted it to be.
By the way, congrats on finishing your WIP! I’m still struggling to finish my stories because I don’t know how to make the characters don’t sound like me. And this is just a suggestion, but I’ll love to read more about your writing stories!
Ohhh yes – Tumblr and Pinterest are SO good to inspire us…well, except when we get lost for hours, scrolling and scrolling ? ?
Thank you so, so much, I’m glad you liked this! I’ll try to talk a bit more about it all <3
Definitely want to read more about your WIP, especially now! And also, I do that. A lot. My brain seems to make all these crazy connections that don’t even make much sense to me sometimes but yeah. Playlists, aesthetics… I love them to bits! I’m a bit lazy creating them, though, so I mostly just browse other talented people’s hahaha
My current obsession? I don’t know… I have so many! I’m really loving the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy so maybe that.
Anyway, great post, Marie! 🙂
Ohh thank you, Sophie! I’m going to try and talk a bit more about it, I think <3
Ahahah right? Sometimes I have no idea how my brain just jumps from one idea to another, but…it's a lot of fun 🙂
Ohhhh, you are liking this series. It is on my TBR, I really want to read it 😀
Thank you so much <3 <3
Ok don’t kill me but i’ve never seen Dawsons Creek…
I get inspired by a host of things but I find music is very inspiring for me. I plug my headphones in and play some old songs and then play a game of Temple Run (oldie but goodie) on my phone and it lets my brain just flow. I get so many ideas come to mind! A old song which is great I think for any sort of fight scenes is well anything by Evanescence but mostly Wake Me Up. A sped up version of that makes my brain really begin to turn with ideas for a heroine fight scene.
I’ve been very inspired by alot of Dystopian texts though. That’s sorta the genre i’m going for with my writing!
Hahaha oh, I won’t kill you don’t worry ahah. This show was ALL of my early teenage years, I was obsessed and even now, I re-watch it at times even though it’s super old and cheesy hahaha.
I play Temple Run too!! It’s so much fun haha 😛
I love Evanescence’s songs, they are SO inspiring, I agree! <3 <3
Also, dystopian texts, wow – I'm always a bit nervous about world-building, though I do have TONS of weird ideas inside my head with these kind of worlds too. Dystopian texts and…unfortunately, the real world too, are inspirational for sure 🙂
Thank you so much, Hannah! <3 I hope you'll want to share some of your writing or something someday <3
Ok so were clearly just twins Marie? I swear we do so many of the same things! I love it!
I definitely want to be able to share some of my writing one day. I hope you do as well!
YES WE ARE TWINS 😛 <3
I hope so <3 Someday, ahah 🙂
This was so much fun to read!! I’m with you – nothing that inspires me is really like what I’m writing, but for some reason it does! That’s fun you built little sheds. We made mud houses, which was always fun. I can’t wait to read your WIP someday! 😀
Awww, thank you so, so much Lenna <3 <3 <3
Wonderful post! I also love boarding school novels and I would love to know more about WIP. 🙂
Oh thank you, Raven! I’ll try and share more for sure <3
I love this! I’m mostly inspired by books and old fairytales! I’ve never been inspired for a story by music, but that is cool! I’m also not super inspired by shows, I feel like my feels for shows are a lot less than other people’s haha. But it’s always cool to see where other writers’ insolation comes from! I also take a lot of inspiration from pinterest by making aesthetic boards for my WIPs!
I really need to get into this whole Pinterest thing – I made aesthetics and did research on Pinterest and things when I wrote my WIP, but I never really got into the whole boards-creation thingy. I should, though, it sounds like A LOT of fun – also, super time consuming? ahah 😛
Thank you so, so much, Esther! It is SO cool you’re inspired by old fairytales, I love these <3
It’s super fun! And yeah hahahaha it’s basically another rabbit hole to fall down when you are procrastinating doing actual work XD
Awe thank you! I basically breathe fairytales!! You’ll most likely find influences from them in most of my stories 😉
Well… I WANT TO READ ALL OF YOUR STORIES, Esther 😛 <3
AWE STAHP I AM BLUSHING. You are so sweet I cry D:
I’m being serious, I so want and NEED to read everything you write. I’m already your biggest fan – I’ll be waiting for my signed copy of your books 😛
YOU ARE GIVING ME LIFE RIGHT NOW OMG. I don’t even know what to say. <3 <3 <3 <3
Just write and give me all the snippets to read and fangirl on ahaha 😛 ❤❤❤❤
I always love reading about your WIP, Marie ?
I still love the whole forest, beach and best friend feel, I think it’s an amazing concept! I loved that you were inspired by so many things! I haven’t watched Dawson Creek yet but I know it’s kinda creepy, which is good! Plus I love 9 crimes by Damian Rice – it’s one of my all time favourite songs!
Good luck with editing or starting something new, whatever you choose will be amazing ?
Oh thank you so much, Michelle, this makes me SO happy <3 <3
Thank you for your sweet words as well, I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do next ahah, but I'm hopin it will be good 🙂 <3
OMG YOUR WIP SOUNDS SO EXCITING!! I really REALLY R E A L L Y REAAALLLLLYYY WANT TO READ IT!!! It just sounds like so amazing and amazing and amazing and I NEED IT RIGHT NOW.
As a writer, i am inspired by…well my own experiences? i sometimes hear snippets of conversations and then go on a whole ‘imagine if’ thing in my head but always forget to write these downs. usually, it’s just me in different places and random places like a chicken and chip shop and some ideas just come to me?? change of scenery is basically what works best for me. i have to be outside for my brain to think up ideas. What is your to-go-to to find inspiration for your stories? How do you put yourself into inspiration-seeking mode?
Oh and Pinterest. FOR THE aesthetic OF COURSE
Ohhhh THANK YOU, you are WAY too sweet, I’m so, SO happy that you’re enjoying what I’m sharing so far. I’m hoping to maybe share snippets or something someday?! Who knows ahah 😛
OHHH I DO THAT too! I kind of listen to conversations and make up stuff in my head all the time ahah. Being outside and seeing the world, people, everything, really IS so inspiring <3 <3 I don't really put myself into inspiration-seeking mode – it just happens, at home or outside, in random situations, I get bursts of inspiration and ideas ahah.
YEEES, the aesthetiiics <3
Thank you so, so much for your sweet words, you're the best! <3 <3
I get loads of inspiration from Anime! I love In My Veins…such a heart breaking song ? Fitting since I believe your WIP is going to do just that!
Ohhh thank you so, so much <3 <3 I'm going for the heartbreak, that's for sure, haha, if it's working… I don't know yet 😛
Hello Marie! Happy (as always) to read more about your WIP 🙂 🙂
Like you, I find writing inspiration in the world around me. It’s hard to say exactly where they come from! Sometimes I have an interesting conversation with a friend, neighbour or even stranger, and it makes me think, “oh, that’s an idea for a character/plot point!” I also find inspiration when I am alone, that’s when I can really let my inspiration run wild 🙂
One thing I learned is that I MUST write my ideas down the moment I get them – or else I will likely forget them later! I like that someone else mentioned that they get ideas from dreams – I have some awesome dreams sometimes, and in my dream I think, “whoa! this is going to be a GREAT story idea”, but I forget completely about it when I wake up :’)
Looking forward to more WIP confessions <3
Hi Sophie! Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
Oh I get it – sometimes it's so hard to pinpoint EXACTLY what inspires us. There's just so many things around us, conversations, people, books…everything is constantly mixing up in our minds, I guess 🙂
OH YES – me too, but…I often forget to, or I get ideas at night and then fall asleep before writing it down ahah. It's SO important to try and write down all the things, they might be useful sometime for sure 😀
Thank you so much, you're so sweet <3 <3
I love that you have given us a glimpse into your process and your WIP. I have seen lots of authors talk about using playlists as they write and I think that is so cool. I love Dawson’s Creek so much, too. Thanks so much for sharing these details. 🙂
Ohh thank you! I’m SO glad to find someone else loving Dawson’s Creek – it’s a pretty old show ahah, but I love it 🙂
That playlist is heaven and you kind of made me feel bad about not having watched Dawson’s Creek, I’ll have to look it up! Your WIP sounds so exciting and cool, I love the childhood friends trope and boarding schools. Those words already gripped my attention and this whole post makes me want to start writing something! Good luck with finding your inspiration for something new! <3
Awww thank you! <3 <3 Ahah, Dawson's Creek is quite an old, cheesy tv show from the 90's, but…I loved it so much ?
This makes me SO happy to hear, thank you! Also, yes, yes, go write something!! I did not know you were a writer? Are you doing NaNo? What are you writing? Sorry, I'm really curious now ?
Thank you! <3 <3
Hahaha, I’m currently writing only a fanfiction along with someone else and it’s only for fun. I used to write original stuff, but I haven’t written in a while. But I’m seriously considering starting to write again, I have a few ideas, but nothing something that I’m dying to write and that’s bothering me a bit. Also, I don’t know if NaNo would work for me because November is usually a stressful month for me with uni and I never have time for other things besides school work. 🙂
Ohh, I understand that. Maybe you could try and do your own NaNoWriMo, another time, not in November? 🙂
Aw, that’s a great idea! I will definitely try it, I hoped I might get some writing done this summer, but it was a pretty chaotic one, so it didn’t happen. Hopefully this year! <3
Fingers crossed you’ll get some writing done, then 😀
OKAY, so do you want to hear something funny about me?? ? I HAD NO FREAKIN’ idea WIP meant WORK IN PROGRESS!! ?? I am embarrassed. ?
BUT YOURS SOUND SOOO EXCITING!!!! ???? I now know whose books I’m gonna buy without giving it so much as a second thought!!! OH MY GODD!!! I AM SOOO EXCITED FOR YOU TO FINISH IT!!!! YAYYYYY!!! ☺☺
And you know what, I am participating in this year’s NaNoWriMo as well. ? I AM EXCITED. I just hope to survive the month. ??
STILL, I AM SOO HYOED RIGHT NOW – knowing I am going to be able to read a book by a fellow blogger. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HAPPY I AM THAT YOU ARE CONSISTENTLY WORKING ON IT!!!! ☺☺ Finish it soooooon. ALL THE BEST, Marie. ❤❤❤
(STILL VERYY MUCH EXCITED. ??)
Well, let me tell you a little secret… until a couple months ago, I had NO IDEA what WIP meant, either, so you’re not alone in this ?? It just makes SO much sense, right, seeing WIP everywhere and now knowing what it means ?
Ohhh I’m SO EXCITED that you’re doing NaNoWriMo! I hope you will have tons of fun! What kind of story will you be writing? I am so curious now ?
Ohhh thank you for your sweet words, you are WAY too sweet. I have no idea when or if it will ever be ready for publication or be published ? BUT I’m working on making it a story I love, first, so…I’m working ahah, THANK YOU!!<3 <3
OHHH!!! ? Well, that kowers my embarrasment CONSIDERABLY. Knowing I wasn’t the only one. ? AND YESSS!!!! I WAS LIKE…..OHHHHHHHH!!! So it means THAT!!! IF COURSE!!!! Pffffft!! ???
Aahhhhh!!!! It’s more of a collection of snippets of inspiration about characters, plot, and the setting you know. I feel like my head is a bowl of mashed potatoes right now! ? NOTHING IS DISCERNABLE. ? I wonder if it was the same with you too, in the beginning? Oh, PLEASE TELL ME THAT IT WAS! ? Else I’ll go mad. ? It’s Fantasy genre, by the way. I HAVE MY FINGERS CROSSED. ?
OH, PUH-LEAAASE, Marie. OF COURSE it’ll be OUBLISHED. WHY THE HELL WOULD IT NOT?? ❤❤❤❤❤ I bet you’ll be announcing the publication date on this lovely blog SOOOOOOON! ???
OH WELL YES. Don’t you worry ahah, all stories start with these little messes inside of your head ? I can’t wait for you to WRITE ALL THE THINGS, I’m reaaally curious to hear more about it now! <3
Aww, you're way too sweet ahah thank you! <3 <3
i love this, Marie! You know, I have a few ideas of smaller stories, I guess. And once I finish them, it’s always that feeling that you’ve just let go of something important. BUT i have been delaying FOR YEARS writing about what I *really* want to write about because I am so afraid of having these weird feelings after. Like, what am I supposed to do now? It must be really hard to cope with… anyway, I have loved seeing all these little things that can contribute for your stories in a way or another. I have random things too! And it all ends up being the world, isn’t it? being inspired by whatever is within our reach. lovely read! xx
Oh yes, I agree, in the end, it’s the whole world that inspires us with our stories 🙂
I hope you’ll get to writing this story that’s been on your mind for so long – it deserves to get out, that’s for sure, and once you’re done, I’m sure you will feel, maybe a bit empty, maybe a bit weird, but ultimately you’ll have told this story and it will be GREAT <3 <3
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! xx
Ohh absolutely love this new feature Marie! It’s really interesting and fun to read. I definitely get inspiration from books, tv and music as well, but also from places like Pinterest and WeHeartIt. Though those last two can also be incredibly distracting haha
Oh thank you so much, Michelle!! <3 Pinterest is SOOO distracting. It inspires us, but… we spend days on here as well ahah