FRIDAY STIR FRY - Ideas

https://morguefile.com

 

Writers are often asked "Where do you get your ideas?" 

I don't like this question because, frankly, I have no clue. Literally no ... freaking ... idea.

Just coming up with something to write for this blog is difficult for me. 

And to tell you the truth, I don't come up with tons of ideas for stories or novels. There are authors out there that have notebooks full of ideas. Visions and stories that seem to float down to them from the heavens. I'm not one of those lucky writers. 

I hate them.  😏

I use writing prompts sometimes. Anything to spark my imagination. But even then, I don't know where the story will lead me, if anywhere. One site I use quite a bit is https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/. There are also books full of ideas. Just go to Amazon and type in 'writing prompts'. 

After I finish my current novel, I have two others I started during National Novel Writing month. At least those ideas are already formed and just waiting on me to do something with them. Sorry about the wait characters. I'll get back to you soon.  

FRIDAY STIR FRY: Dream Catcher

 

Dream Catchers

What are dream catchers? The following description is from PowWows.com. 

In many Native American tribes, a dream catcher is a handmade willow hoop woven to a web or literally, a net. A dream catcher also includes such features as feathers and beads. They are traditionally suspended on cradles as a form of armor and protection.

I use to have one hanging over my bed. I considered it a protection against nightmares. Who wouldn't  want to have only sweet dreams?  But, if you think about it, life is a mixture of nightmares and sweet dreams. We need both to have balance in our our lives.

There have been reports that during this pandemic, we are dreaming more. I believe it! There is so much new, unpleasant, and unexpected stuff happening now, our brains are on overload. 

Have you ever tried interpreting your dreams? I have a dream dictionary that gives the meanings behind certain visions we have in our dreams. What you think is a deep, dark pit full of snakes, may represent something completely different. Our brain is an amazing machine and I tend to think when we are dreaming, it is just trying to connect the lose dots of our lives.

Next time you wake up from a dream, write it down and see if you can connect some dots. You may just find an answer you've been searching for.  

COURAGE

 I'm really not one for inspirational messages, but this was one I picked up at a thrift store as I was starting my journey as a writer. Plus, I really liked the picture. Who doesn't love a penguin? This image doesn't do it justice. The colors are deeper and richer than they appear here. 

It says: Courage is daring to take that first step, or a different path. It is the decision to place your dreams above your fears. 

At the time, I was hoping to quit my day job and write novels for a living. That never happened. Let's face it, making a living as a writer is near impossible unless you are Stephen King or Nora Roberts or a celebrity with a tell all book. There just aren't as many publishing houses offering new writer contracts with lucrative advances as there used to be. And being single, I depended on a steady income.

But, I still had the dream of writing and publishing a novel. And against all odds, I did.

 I recently found this picture after unpacking some boxes from my move. I immediately placed it on my desk. I want to write more novels, but somewhere along the line I lost my courage. Now is the time to reclaim it.