Inspiration?
What are your sources of inspiration? Having spent the last month down under, you would have thought I would have returned brimming with ideas and enthusiasm to write. Sadly, not so. Neither the friends we stayed with nor the tourist attractions stirred any sparkle. Well over 30000 miles of travel did evoke a sense of God’s care for me, like the time in Hong Kong, trying to order a meal through a non-English-speaking waiter. British rule is now just a blip on a fading horizon. Well anyway, a young woman hurried over and explained the menu to us in English, pickled cucumber in spiced vinegar, hm not really my taste. She instructed the waiter in his mother tongue, Cantonese. She wasn’t a member of staff just a random guest. How kind! The month was full of many such incidents but it could just as well have been rainy England.
So where do we find inspiration for our
writing? Maybe it’s not so much a case of the environment we are in or the
incidents we experience. We must put on the writer’s hat to hone our
attentiveness and file the tastes we savour.
On a more positive note, I have found a
good source of inspiration – the BBC Maestro courses. I took out a discounted
subscription in February. Since my return I have started the courses by Carol
Ann Duffy (poetry) and Harlan Coben (thrillers). Both these writers will get
you going. Highly recommended.
PS: The upgrade to Business Class on the Perth to Hong Kong leg of the journey was quite inspirational!
About
the Author
Rosalie
Weller is an ordained minister in the Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern
Africa. She has contributed to “Closer to God” the South African Scripture
Union Devotional in 2020, 2023 and 2024, Worship & Word UPCSA Devotional
2024. She has written several bible study guides, available on Amazon, a
historical novel, and a bereavement journal. Her YouTube channel highlights a
biblical reflection and an original poem every month. Website
www.rosalieweller.com
Wow, very lovely and inspiring post, Rosalie! Thanks. I'm inspired to find out more about the poetry course. Maybe you can kindly put the details here to encourage us further. Like you, travelling out doesn't necessarily inspire me. Refreshing, entertaining, distracting, educating pleasures, etc - yes. I do a lot more of my writing at home, in the comfort zone of my living room, with a low classical or relaxing music playing softly.
ReplyDeleteHowever, now that you speak of inspiration, I have never consciously made travelling out a link to my writing.That is a difference! Thanks for that too. As writers, every experience counts and will find a place [as in this post!]. Blessings.
If you google BBCMaestro you will find the link for the courses. Thanks for the response Sophia
ReplyDeleteWill do! Thanks.
DeleteI agree that the Maestro courses are inspiring. I did one with Malorie Blackman and found it interesting and confidence-building. Travels are very absorbing at the time, and you may find inspiration from your adventures will creep into your mind later. Welcome back any way!
ReplyDelete