Tabula Rasa

That's what my brain is right now. A blank slate.

I was supposed to post Sunday but could not think of a single thing to say that you might find interesting. LOL Still not sure this is interesting.

So, are you ever a blank slate with your writing?

As a newbie (about 20 pages into the first manuscript I never finished), I used to peruse the shelves of my bookstore. Seeing all the different stories, names, covers always inspired me. I'd look at them and know deep inside, that's what I want to do. I want to create an engrossing read that takes someone away, that shows truth through fiction and possibly even changes how someone thinks about himself, others and the world.

After being in the bookstore, I'd rush home and write. Revitalized.

What perks you up? Jumpstarts your writing?

Comments

Kristen Painter said…
Self-imposed deadlines. An interesting new idea for a WIP. The knowledge that my agent is waiting for something...
Reading lots, my writing friends and group, my husband and setting goals. I'm sitting in front of my computer with a blank stare and a clogged brain from weeks of chronic pain, joy of family visits and death in the family and wondering if I'll ever write again. But I'm going to take a baby step forward today and catch up on blogs and get encouraged by my blog writer family!
Jessie Oliveros said…
I like what you said about showing truth through fiction. I'm interested in writing for the young adult genre because face it...being a teenager is very hard. But I want to write so that the teenager who reads it comes away feeling better about themselves and the world.
Jessica Nelson said…
Kristen, I like the idea of an agent waiting for something. LOL Now I just have to find one...
Jessica Nelson said…
Donna,
I'm so sorry for your loss. I think writing will be therapeutic for you. God bless.
Jessica Nelson said…
Jessie, I agree about YA.
As a teen, there are books that touched me and made me think and I remember those books today. I think it's awesome that you have your goal of reaching them because there's an openness to that age group that adults tend to lose, imo.
Anonymous said…
Strangely enough, listening to music or doing something physical such as roller blading can always revitalize my muse. It doesn't have to be tied to reading / writing to get my creative juices churning again.
Jessica Nelson said…
You know, music helps me to. Sometimes it even starts me thinking of a story!
Hi Jess -

It looks like we're on the same page today - writing motivation. All of you have given me ideas for future posts.

Donna - sorry to hear about your loss. I found journaling my grief helpful. May the Lord comfort you.

Jess -

Sometimes I wish we could all get on a giant conference call, and bounce thoughts off of each other. That would be such fun.

Blessings,
Susan :)
Jessica Nelson said…
LOL That would be AWESOME!
Look, I pay a flat rate for long distance, so I'm in. :-)
It's diving into any form of art or creativity - whether it's doing something myself or soaking up what someone else has done - that revs my engine. It gets me ready to write again.
Jessica Nelson said…
Hi Janna, thanks for stopping by. What kind of art do you like?
:-)
Tana said…
I must admit I always gleaned a natural high just stepping into a bookstore. To me writing, reading, the books, are incredibly addicting! Also it's nice meet fellow writers!
Sometimes immersing myself in romantic movies ignites my motivations to write. Being able to "see" the development of a story helps me to picture my own novel. I still get stuck sometimes and find that I spend alot of time reading blogs about other people being stuck! :) How funny is that?
Jessica Nelson said…
Hi T. Anne,
Thanks for stopping by my blog. :-) I'll admit to the same high! I LOVE bookstores. Before kids and marriage, before I had money LOL, I'd sit in Barnes and Noble and read for hours.
Jessica Nelson said…
Sherrinda,
So true! Because in a movie we have to watch how the characters react and hear what they say to know how they feel. No thoughts or explanations. I think it's pretty smart to study movies.
Thank you for stopping by my blog!
Anonymous said…
Hi Jess!
My local library inspires me to write... and now I work there, so I meet inspiration 14 hrs a week. :-) I get a lot of story ideas from newspapers -- and for my WWI historical stories I like to peruse all the issues of the army's newspaper published in France in 1918 (Stars and Stripes), available online. There are so many stories in each issue. And I am inspired by your blog now, too... Love it.
Angie Ledbetter said…
Tabula Rasa...my personal logo. :)
Whenever I'm with my writing group women or in poetry class, I'm always fired up and inspired. Something about steeping in the elements boosts the flagging batteries.
Jessica Nelson said…
Anne, working in a library would be like a dream job for me! Very cool.
Thank you for stopping by my blog and saying such nice things. :-)
Jessica Nelson said…
Hi Angie,
Very true. I LOVE talking to other writers. Gives me such a high.
Hey, what happened to my comment from yesterday?

I saw the big number of comments here and thought I'd check out everyone elses way to remotivate themselves and notice my response is gone. Did cyber eat it up before it even got posted?

Let's try again. Reading a good novel, reading a good craft book usually helps, too, and I've resorted to a good movie on occasion, too, to get the juices flowing.
Jessica Nelson said…
Hey Eileen, I don't know what happened to your comment. Huh.

Great list. A craft book helps? That's interesting. I'll have to crack one of mine open sometime and see if it inspires me.
Jessica Nelson said…
T. Anne, just in case you come back, I've been trying to leave a comment on your blog but it won't let me. :-(
Terri Tiffany said…
I always feel like writing after my writers group or when I read a post that is particularily motivating (tons of yours are!)
Jessica Nelson said…
Awwww *blushing here*

I'm like you and am so thankful for my writer buds.
Tana said…
Jessica,
I'm editing one of my manuscripts and am shocked at how much telling there was going on. It's gives it so much more appeal now that I've rewritten those scene's from a 'showing' perspective. It's true, it gives the reader a sense of immediacy, rather than a run down on events.

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