4.08.2011

Muse, Thy Name is Sleep

There are a lot of blog posts about finding inspiration for stories. Everyone seems to have their own super special ways to get inspiration.

I get most of my ideas from dreams. For instance, last night I had a paranormal-esque dream where I was falling for a magician bad boy who bore a striking resemblance to Mark Wahlburg.
A la peanut butter sandwiches!


It was an OK dream. I'm thinking short story paranormal romance spoof. Should be fun.

Anyhow, dreams are great, but something about these pictures just ignites my imagination.


For reals?? Her name is Marilyn, guys. How awesome is that? Here's another one:






These awesome creations are the handiwork of Terry Border. He has a book full of pictures like these, and you can bet it will be at the top of my birthday list.

Where do you get inspiration?

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Based on the title of this post, I thought you were going to say that a long night's sleep is the only good medicine for your writer's block. And I was going to say, "Me too, sister." But, dreams, yes. That makes more sense. I don't usually have inspiring dreams, but I always welcome them. Inspiration for me comes mostly from... uh, wakefulness, I guess. What I read or see or hear, wild yarns that I spin in my head while bored at work. And sometimes it just falls out of the sky (those are usually my favorites).

Sarahie said...

That artwork is awesome! Thanks for sharing. And, um, I'm not telling you what inspires me. You'll have to guess.

Erin said...

hmmm...now I'm curious to know what inspires Sarah. I am totally inspired by weird dreams, too. In fact, I used to keep a dream journal that I could pick through when I wanted weird dialogue or random names or unbelievable happenings. I should start that again. Otherwise, I also like to eavesdrop on others' conversations. Like at the grocery store. It's good stuff. You can't make that up.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

chocolate ;)

mooderino said...

I tend to daydream a lot, sometimes when someone is talking to me, which can be embarrassing.
-mood

Red Boot Pearl said...

oooh! I saw some of these on my yahoo reader... so cool. My sister one time put a bunch of wiggle eyes on office supplies and other random things--they were so cute! I love it when inanimate objects take on personalities.

And I so do what mooderino said... I daydream a lot--even if I'm talking to someone.

Many times I'm reading a book out loud to my kiddo and I'm daydreaming about all kinds of stuff and then when the book ends I'm shocked because it's over and how did I read all that out loud when I have no clue what just happened.

Red Boot Pearl said...

oooh! I saw some of these on my yahoo reader... so cool. My sister one time put a bunch of wiggle eyes on office supplies and other random things--they were so cute! I love it when inanimate objects take on personalities.

And I so do what mooderino said... I daydream a lot--even if I'm talking to someone.

Many times I'm reading a book out loud to my kiddo and I'm daydreaming about all kinds of stuff and then when the book ends I'm shocked because it's over and how did I read all that out loud when I have no clue what just happened.

Becky Wallace said...

LOVE IT!!

Jeigh said...

Mood and Red: I do the same thing! It's the worst when my husband calls me out on it, too.

Lindsay N. Currie said...

I've had that happen with dreams before too. I wouldn't say most of my inspiration comes that way - sometimes it's pictures or music or something like that, but the ones that did come from dreams were really vivid!

Chantele Sedgwick said...

I always forget my dreams.:( Always. I do get a lot of my ideas in the shower though. Or driving. Both places where I can't stop to write things down! LOL

Luanne Hardy said...

I don't write but I do cook. Have you ever seen Ratatouille? OF COURSE YOU HAVE!! You know how in the beginning Remi is creating something just by what he sees around him? That's my inspiration. I can just see a carrot sitting next to a jalapeno and I suddenly tastes the flavors in my mouth. I then think of other flavors to add to the taste that is already in my mouth. So I guess you can say I get my inspiration from putting food next to each other that doesn't normally belong together.

Keriann Greaney Martin said...

I just blogged about this too! I get ideas in my sleep, but mostly just driving or showering too when I can just let my mind wander (though I should probably focus on driving, lol). Or, I like to read other books and sometimes an idea will spark. Right now I'm trying to get more ideas for my WiP :).

Jeigh said...

Lu, I love the way you put that. Some of my fave books are putting a new twist on an old idea, or putting two ideas together that you wouldn't normally think of. I think you've hit on something!

Unknown said...

Haha! I LOVE that chocolate one, LOVE it!