Finding Inspiration

I love writing fiction. But let's admit it...writing can be difficult. It takes time, focus, energy, technique, voice, craft...and a great story. Inspiration, while it's all around us, doesn't come easy. And when it strikes, I have to take advantage of it.

My best thinking happens when I first wake up in the morning. Now, I am not a morning person. I spent too many years doing theatre, I guess. Late night rehearsals, cast parties...morning always came too early.

Years ago, Garfield (yes, the cartoon cat) gave me a great idea. He said something along the lines of "The earlier you set your alarm clock, the later you can sleep in." So I usually set my alarm 30 minutes early and snooze my way to the actual wake up time. But I don't really snooze. I think through scenes. I imagine. I work through places that have me baffled.

This morning, I started envisioning a scene for one of my novels in The Crown's Call saga. It was the inspiration I needed. Before 8am, I had 600 words. By bedtime, I'm sitting just over 4,000. No, it's not perfect. But it's written! I can go back and revise all I want now. Tweak. Explore.

I admire writers who outline, plan, and write from front to back. Yeah, that's not me. I'm all over the place. But somehow, it comes together into something that makes sense. If I couldn't write out of order--the way I do--I don't think I'd write. But that's the magic of creation. We don't all have to do it the same way. We shouldn't do it the same way! What glorious variety we have at our fingertips!

So that's just a little glimpse of my process. What's yours like? How do you find inspiration?