KC Klein: Top 5 inspiring (and not) things for writers
KC Klein, author of Texas Wide Open, stops in to share with readers what it takes to inspire her as an author — and what it takes to uninspire her. (Note: No children or small pets were harmed in the writing of this blog post. I don't think.)
KC: First, I want to thank Joyce and HEA for having me here. It really is an honor to be here for my latest release, Texas Wide Open.
Sharing things that motivate us creatively is important, but I also wanted to take it one step further and share not only what things inspire me, but also what things most definitely don't.
So get ready, here's my top five inspiring and not-so-inspiring ideas for writing.
5. This one is a no-brainer, and really almost goes without saying: Daniel Craig as James Bond. When I first saw Casino Royale I barely contained myself from becoming the crazy lady you don't want sitting next to you in the theater. I wanted so badly to stand up and shout, "That's him! That's my character!"
For me, seeing Daniel Craig on the big screen cemented how my hero looks and acts in my mind. I still use movies today to help visualize certain scenes or emotions for my writing.
On the total opposite end and what couldn't be more uninspiring, is my Great Wall of dirty clothes that has taken over my laundry room. Small pets have gone there to die, and I've chosen just to close the door.
4. I'm always inspired by music when I write, but not the soft-jazz instrumentals that really smart people listen to. No, I listen to the party-down dance music that parents warn their children about. Rocking out helps trick my mind into thinking that writing is fun and that getting those next thousand words down on the page is the same as the party invite from the cool kids at school.
Those noise-canceling headphones help with the other very non-inspiring aspect of my life …what's for dinner? Just typing the words sends me into hives. It's like my children want to eat EVERY DAY. To make matters worse, I usually start thinking about dinner around the time they start gnawing on each other's arms. Never a good thing.
3. There are times when getting the words on the page feels like running through mud and that's when, desperate for inspiration, I go searching for a good book. Fortunately, Karen Marie Moning just released her newest book, Iced. Yep, I ate that book up like a sugar addict would a carton of cookie dough ice cream. (Oh, wait a dinner idea!)
In contrast, a poorly thought-out and poorly edited book is one of the most uninspiring things I can think of. If the author and publisher don't care enough about their books to take the time, then why should I?
2. When I'm really, really stuck I need to talk to people who know books. This is when I usually bribe my best friend with lunch and then spend the entire time making her brainstorm my next novel for me.
The uninspiring part is she's been known to be late, and I've been known to eat the entire bread basket while waiting for her. (There's not enough treadmill time on the planet to burn off a basket of sweet bread with butter!)
1. And the No. 1 thing that inspires me is chasing after the elusive entity called a writer's high. This is where words magically appear on the page with seemingly little or no effort, and plot holes are fixed with surprising speed. Yes, it's similar to a runner's high, but without the scientific evidence to back up its existence.
What's uninspiring is I've yet to experience either. But hey, I'm hopeful, and there's always a silver lining to each cloud. Even though no mythical writer's unicorn has come to visit me, I was still able to get my book out the old-fashioned way: with hard work and red wine.
To find out more about KC and her books, you can visit her website, KCKleinBooks.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter (@KCKleinbooks).