Friday Fiver: The Muse

1. What inspires you?

I think if you ask any writer or creative muse, inspiration can hit at anytime. It's not just one thing, it can be a million and one different things. From the song playing on the radio, to the storm thundering outside, anything and everything can inspire.

I can't explain it. I just know it can hit me at anytime and it come from anywhere. I've been known to think of an idea for a novel walking to catch a bus or on the train heading to work. It just kind of happens.

There's going to be some people who will say their family and their friends. Sure, I guess so but for me, it's more about life and everything that happens around me. I've written poems inspired from world events. I've thought of novel ideas that have been inspired through real crimes.

2. What blocks your creativity?

Negative thoughts. Every now and then I get bogged down with feelings of self-doubt. I will read what I've written and loathe it. I'll want to hit the delete key and restart over. The only reason I don't is because I know the feelings can come and go as quickly. One of the reasons I am finding it so hard to finish Nowhere to Run is because I worry too much on the future and the prospect of rejection. It's an obstacle I'm forcing myself to push through. Instead of worrying about the future, I am only allowing myself to think about the now. This now includes finishes the full first draft of Nowhere to Run.

The self-doubt and self-negativity is what blocks my creativity every time. Every writer feels it at times. If they say they don't, they are liars. Pushing past it is the key to survival and success.

3. Do you do anything special to get your creative juices flowing?

I listen to music. I know it sounds like the simplest thing in the world, but it works. Honestly, it does. If I am listening to music, I can block out the world and all that's left is me, words and music. It's like my own private Idaho. It's the same when I am down. If I am in a bad mood, feeling jittery and just need a time out so I can take a deep breath, I turn music on.

I've lost count the many times music has kept me sane and just as many times I've been inspired through music.

4. What time of day do you feel most inspired?

For me it's always been night time. It kind of helps that I work during the day, but writing at night has always been my time. It's the time the house is silent, everyone is in bed and I can concentrate. When I was living alone, I used to freak myself out writing at night but that's a whole different story. I'm a night person. I like staying up into the wee hours of the morning writing or just curled up with a good book.

it doesn't mean I can't write during the day. I can, but I still prefer the night. I feel more motivated that way.

5. How do you like to express your creative energy?

Through writing obviously. It doesn't matter what type of writing it is either. Although I prefer to do it through stories, I am equally happy to write a poem, a song or even a blog entry. As long as I am writing in some form or another, I am happy.

It's just who I am.