It's the single most-asked question of fiction writers. I used to reply with Harlan Ellison's snappy comeback, "From a post-office box in Schenectady."
But it doesn't answer the question, of course, because if we writers had any idea where our inspiration came from, the technique would have been patented long ago.
Over the years, I've paid attention to where my best ideas strike me: in the shower, walking the dog, drifting off to sleep. In fact, I was mowing the lawn last Saturday when I experienced a sudden insight about the novel I'm working on, and a marvelous idea for a critical scene came to me full-blown. (I started mowing the lawn as a teenager and kept up the practice when I discovered how much problem-solving I got done while pushing those deadly blades over my little green patch of suburbia.)
What do all of these places have in common? I'm in a meditative state. My mind is free and somewhere else, not on the book. I'm not thinking.
I formally meditate, though I've been irregular about it lately. I can't recommend it highly enough; I gain insight and reduce my stress level significantly. The core of the practice is freeing your mind from the problems that plague you -- i.e., the chatter, the noise of thinking.
Here's a post on Zen Habits (a great lifehacking blog with tons of how-tos for organizing your life) about non-sectarian meditation.
Give it a shot and see if you don't become inspired. Me, I'm going out again this morning to mow the lawn (for real).
Comments (8)
Speaking of inspriration, guess what John has in his hot little hands? No, it's not the Catherine de'Medici workout tape...
It's Jeanne's new novel RESISTANCE. I'm relishing in a good long weekend of reading.
Posted by John Allen | August 24, 2007 8:04 PM
Posted on August 24, 2007 20:04
Awww, you're so sweet to mention it.
Folks, he's referring to a STAR TREK novel I wrote under the name of J. M. Dillard. And no, really, I don't pay him a percentage...
Funny you should mention it, John, I just got my free box o'books yesterday from the publisher. I do like the cover.
Posted by Jeanne Kalogridis | August 25, 2007 7:25 AM
Posted on August 25, 2007 07:25
I am a writer and would very much like to talk to you about a star trek novel i have been writing are the only one i trust to talk to about it at present .I am a big fan of your work and i think you are the only one who could help me. pls e-mail me back. some time some ware someone helped you I'm asking you to please help me.
Posted by Michael | September 14, 2007 1:05 AM
Posted on September 14, 2007 01:05
Michael,
This will sound somewhat cold, but in fact, I didn't know any other writers nor did I ask anyone to help me when I got my first book published. I'd like to help everyone who asked me -- and in fact, I did my best to help several folks a few years back, but none of them took to the idea that writing a book is really hard work with the result that none of them got published. It takes me about three days to go through a manuscript *the first time* and give comments. Then there are follow-up edits and long discussions with the writer. It's weeks of work. Most folks don't realize what an enormous commitment editing someone else's manuscript is; it's why they pay the editors in New York. Since I receive about a hundred requests a year for help, I finally made a rule: NO HELPING.
Please read my blog entry, Getting Published: WRITERS MARKET. It's what I read and used in order to get my first novel ready and sent to market.
The hardest part is FINISHING THE BOOK. That's your first goal; the second is to figure out where to send it (in this case, only Pocket Books can publish TREK novels).
Good luck.
Posted by Jeanne Kalogridis | September 14, 2007 7:02 AM
Posted on September 14, 2007 07:02
I understand what your saying but i don't need you to edit or read my manuscript. What i need is just some information. You see I too am writing a star trek novel. I just need some time line and other related information so my novel is as accurate as possible. You are the only person with any knowledge of the star trek universe that i have been able to contact in 2 years of trying , that actually answered me. I don't know if this changes anything but i wanted you to know. I would also like to thank you for taking the time to answer me and i thank you for your honesty.
Posted by Michael | September 18, 2007 6:08 AM
Posted on September 18, 2007 06:08
Michael,
There's no official timeline for events in the TREK novels. But you'll need to scrupulously adhere to the timeline of the series and movies.
Where to get such information? 1) Mike and Denise Okuda's seminal STAR TREK ENCYCLOPEDIA, or 2) Google STAR TREK + timeline, and you'll get a number of websites. The one titled "STAR TREK Timeline Home Page" looked good.
Posted by Jeanne Kalogridis | September 18, 2007 8:08 AM
Posted on September 18, 2007 08:08
Thank you for your help. and your time.
P.S. I love your new trek book i just got it and can't put it down.
Posted by Michael | September 19, 2007 6:37 AM
Posted on September 19, 2007 06:37
Oh and just in case you want to know. I would love to tell you what my book is about the title is " Defence of the Finale Frontier."
Posted by Michael | September 19, 2007 6:42 AM
Posted on September 19, 2007 06:42