Sometimes it's hard to find inspiration to write. I know I've struggled to find mine at times. But when that spark ignites: it's magic! Today, Richard Podkowski is sharing how he found his inspiration to write his new release THE WALK-ON. This guest post was made possible by RABT Book Tours & PR. Check out the guest post below and be sure to enter the $25 Amazon gift card giveaway!
Hello Richard, thank you for joining us today. So, how do you find inspiration to write?
My inspiration for writing mostly comes from my life experiences. Often I get nuggets of ideas from who, or what I see on the street, in a store, while shopping or walking, or sitting in my car stuck in traffic or at a stoplight. Sometimes I feel like it’s spontaneous combustion, where a theme or plot point explodes and swirls in my head, refusing to stop.
Inspiration comes at different times of the day or night, in chunks, or a very specific thought when I least expect it. I need to quickly make a note to myself so I don’t forget. Usually, I “see it before I write it.”
Once my mind’s eye has a snapshot or reel of events, I try to layer the past, present, and future of relatable characters in realistic settings. I need to balance the use of foreshadowing and incorporating unexpected twists and turns to keep readers engaged. Inspiration comes from songs and lyrics, nature, and everyday urban life. Local history, neighborhoods, especially the grit, and the glitz of big cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and NYC are particularly interesting to me.
People in general inspire me, regardless of their particular age, profession, economic, or social status. I’m intrigued by unlikely heroes and those who live in the shadows of others.
Although I can’t remember where I left my keys, I do recall conversations, social encounters, scenery, and even specific objects (like Mike Stalowski’s 1970 Chevelle Super Sport) that may find their way into my writing. I tend to look for good to overcome evil, although darkness, violence, and tragedy don’t frighten me.
Writer’s block is real and I’ve suffered through it more times than I care to think about. But ultimately, a person ahead of me in the grocery check-out lane, a sad or salacious news story, or simply sitting in traffic on the 110 gets my creativity flowing again. Stressed and eager to get to my final destination, I never know which song on the radio, scene outside my window, or vehicle merging onto the freeway or suddenly cutting across four lanes to exit will be my next spark of inspiration.
Thank you for this wonderful advice. I look forward to reading THE WALK-ON and wish you much success with your book and future books.