Finding Inspiration

Finding the will and desire to write has been difficult lately.  So I have been on a search for inspiration.  Usually I find the desire by reading, but I haven’t really been in the mood to read romance or even fiction for that matter.

Talking about writing or the lack of writing sometimes helps.  Commiserating with those suffering the same malaise is often comforting but it can often have a negative affect on my struggles.

I’ll read my RWR, but lately the articles have either been geared towards new writers or published writers.  Even the PRO articles don’t feel relevant.

My latest is the RWA conference cd’s I just received.  I’ve loaded the first disc onto my iPod and I listen to it while I am working out or doing my housecleaning.  It helps.  I really haven’t learned anything new although I have learned some new ways of looking at an issue.  

I think true inspiration comes from within.  The creative ju-ju kicks into gear and sends us on our literary path.  But finding what feeds inspiration is a struggle on its own.  And it is different for everyone.  Maybe a change in a writing schedule will do it or a change of  place.  It could be a song on the radio or a poem.  Whatever it is, I think it strikes with the spontaneity of lightening.  

What inspires you to write?

Which Time Period?

I'm not bored with writing. Quite the contrary. I've got a great new World War II series I want to work on. And the inspirational World War II book is going great.

But now I'm in the midst of a conundrum. (Don't you just love that word?)

An agent requested the full manuscript of my historical Regency romance, POSSESSION. I haven't looked at this manuscript for awhile, but I truly believe it is a good story. The only problem is that I'm bored with this particular time period. The market has been completely saturated with Regency historicals and it's frustrating. While I absolutely adore this time period, lately it's just too darn much. I'd love to read more stories that take place during the French Revolution or American Revolution or World War II. But those are very few and far in between.

But I digress.

How, I wonder, will I drum up the enthusiasm to make the necessary edits to POSSESSION if I'm so darn burned out on the whole Regency period?

More importantly, why do I flip flop between time periods so much? I will immerse myself in the Regency and absolutely love it. Then I'll become fascinated with World War II and not want to work on anything else but that time period.

I haven't quite figured out how to circumvent this whole problem. I love both time periods. Granted, I'm pretty bored with the Regency right now, but I have a feeling that once I delve into POSSESSION, I'll be right back "in love" with it again. If I could only have a bit of balance, I'd feel better. Why can't I immerse myself in TWO time periods with the same amount of energy and passion?

This writing process is just that - a process. If I can somehow figure out how to balance my passions in the particular time periods I enjoy, I'll be just fine. :-)