Creative Writing: How to find inspiration #37b

Soooooooo...tonight is my second creative writing class. Remember the homework?

I do. Hidden. No, I haven't hidden my homework. That's the subject. And it has been. Hidden. As hidden as a very hidden thing in Hiddenville.

I have been searching for inspiration like Sir Galahad on the quest for the Holy Grail...

By Alice Popkorn

 only with less success. And no maidens in distress. Except for me.

This morning, I decided to give up, slink into class and make myself as small as possible so Roddy might not notice I was there.

Half and hour later,  inspiration came while waiting at traffic lights, not thinking about anything in particular.

Creative Writing: How to find inspiration #37b: Stop looking for it.

DAMN YOU, INSPIRATION!

Now I'm going to have to write something.

Creative Writing Class: Homework, I have discovered, involves a sharp pencil and thick books and long sighs.

Aside from the thick books (perhaps replace the word 'books' with 'head'?) I would concur with author Katherine Applegate.

I have homework to do for my creative writing class. Ironically, the theme is 'Hidden.' Yes, that would be about right. Hidden somewhere in the recesses of my imagination.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE INSPIRATION FOR MY HOMEWORK?

Here's what I'm going to do. Find an image that inspires me. Go from there.

Come on inspiration. I know you're in there somewhere.

The inspirations behind my writing

People often ask. Well, when I say often, that's an exaggeration. Possibly one person asked, once.

Anyway, I was thinking about it this morning because I was listening to the radio in the car (dear Olive Oyl, faithful friend) and THIS piece of music came on:

It was what inspired me to write Falling Awake - and it happened in a dream. My dream was very similar to the beginning of 2001 - Space Odyssey, where the space ship waltzes through the atmosphere to the sound of The Blue Danube.

In my dream, a young girl was thrown from her horse and was tumbling through the air, in slow-motion, to the sound of...a tune I recognised but I didn't know what it was called.

Then, in the morning, I was listening to the radio and the very same piece of music was played.

I took it as a sign.

My next writing project is to look at my very raw, first attempt to write a screenplay - Falling Awake - and possibly turn it into a novel.

Though it would be a shame not to have the soundtrack!

We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing.

"Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action."

Frank Tibolt (1897-1989) writer, motivator and success trainer.

Hmmmmm, at this precise moment, my brain feels completely empty, drained, blank.

'This is what I'd like to do today,' my brain is telling me.

Instead, I am going to make it work. I have an advertising copy job to do. Due in by tomorrow morning.

I was only given the brief late on Wednesday...but PLENTY of time, eh? That's if I hadn't been writing 'The Screenplay' until 01.37 a.m. on Friday morning, been completely wiped out and dealing with Alfie's injured hoof all day Friday, and coaching up in London all day Saturday - in at 12.30 a.m...

So I'm going to do it today.

I'm hoping against hope that Frank Tibolt is right.

That action DOES generate inspiration.

Otherwise it's going to be a long day.

And night.

Again.