Be Prepared To Be Amazed
by Carlie M A Cullen
Writers are often asked where they get
their inspiration from and every one of us has our own sources.
I write Fantasy. My love affair with this
genre began when I was quite young and has continued through the years. It
began with stories written by Hans Christian Andersen and The Brothers Grimm
and grew from there. I was the proverbial bookworm as a child and nothing has
really changed.
I was inspired by the wonderful worlds
created by the books I read and began composing my own short stories and fairy
tales before my age reached double figures. That inspiration has stayed with
me, but these days I find inspiration in a number of different ways.
People watching can provide a rich source
for creativity. Whether you’re on a bus or plane, sitting in a café, shopping
or just walking down the street, there are some amazing characters around that
you can incorporate into your writing. It might be the way someone walks, the
way they dress, their mannerisms or even their turn of phrase. Sometimes a line
from a song can trigger inspiration as well as films, novels (of course),
conversations and new places.
Going somewhere new will usually prove a
source of inspiration, but where you go can have a dramatic effect on you. This
can best be demonstrated by a short mid-week break I took back in September to
Dublin. Apart from being a fantastic city to visit, with lovely friendly
inhabitants, not to mention the rich literary heritage, the folklore of the
country is fascinating.
Everyone has heard of leprechauns and they
are synonymous with the Irish. They are portrayed as little men dressed in
green, carrying a wonky walking stick and hiding their pot of gold at the end
of the rainbow. On my trip I decided to find out a little more about them and
visited the National Leprechaun Museum. What an ear-opener.
There was a great deal more to the museum
than just leprechauns; during the visit, a guide told the tourists other tales
about the Sidhe (pronounced Shee), the fairies of the land. A large map -
showing the country and some of the ancient place names - was used to tie
together tales of adventure, great battles and betrayals. It was a veritable
smorgasbord of inspiration. I even bought a book about the Sidhe from the gift
shop.
I have so many story ideas from this four
day trip it will keep me going for a good couple of years!
Inspiration can come in so many guises and
usually when you least expect it, so be prepared to be amazed wherever you go.
Carlie M A Cullen:
Carlie M A Cullen was born in London. She grew up in Hertfordshire where she first discovered her love of books and writing. She has been an administrator and marketer all her working life and is also a professional teacher of Ballroom and Latin American dancing. Carlie has always written in some form or another, but Heart Search: Lost is her first novel.Carlie currently lives in an Essex village with her daughter.
Check out Carlie's blog HERE
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As always, please visit my website, www.TheNeverChronicles.com for updates on my upcoming YA fantasy novel, Exiled. Writing contests, videos and other cool stuff can also be found.
