Hit “Refresh” to Spark Inspiration by Nevada McPherson

Hit “Refresh” to Spark Inspiration by Nevada McPhersonLet’s welcome back monthly columnist Nevada McPherson as she shares with us “Hit “Refresh” to Spark Inspiration.” Enjoy!

***

I’ve been finishing my novel rewrite this summer, and expect to have it completed by the end of this month. In addition to that, I’ve been thinking back on a screenplay project that might need an update, and how I might accomplish that as well. 

I thought it was totally finished for so long, but you never know when fresh inspiration might strike and apparently that’s what’s happened here. 

What causes fresh inspiration to strike? Lots of things, but here are some that might help it along.

Refresh The Story Form

For one, considering how a story might look in a different form can provide a fresh perspective on a project, and it’s a good exercise to stretch your writer’s mind and muscles. I’d never really considered what might happen beyond “fadeout” at the end of this particular screenplay, or what I thought was the end, but somehow considering how it might look as a television series causes me to come up with new worlds of possibilities.

For one thing, I realized that the end of the feature screenplay I’d written was not the end for this character and the others around him; it was only the beginning. 

There’s much more story to explore, so I’ve decided to do that by adapting it into a television pilot.

There’s a new learning curve, but one I’m excited to investigate, so I’m glad to have that to think about whenever I hit a brief stopping place on my novel rewrite.

Refresh by Reading Your Favorite Authors 

Another thing that can help spark inspiration is rereading some of your favorite authors that you haven’t read in a while. 

I’ve found that helps to reconnect me with my purpose and why I love reading and writing in the first place.

Refresh by Reading Author Biographies 

Yet another thing that might help is reading books about your favorite authors. 

Of course nothing takes the place of the work itself, but I’m a fan of author biographies. 

I find that reading about what they went through to produce their work is interesting and serves as encouragement to keep pressing on and to fight through any tough times that might come up in your own life.

I’ve hit “refresh” via Henry Miller’s books

I’ve been reading Erica Jong’s book about Henry Miller, The Devil at Large, wherein she recommends a re-reading of his most famous book The Tropic of Cancer, so I plan to revisit that soon.

I read several of his books when I was younger, and I want to reread others now that I’m older, and check out some I haven’t read, like Henry Miller on Writing

Miller’s joy and love of life is inspiring; he persevered through years of his books being banned in his own country. His determination as a writer is a model for others, and a lesson in boldness and fearlessness.

I’ve written in the past about other things that can help spark inspiration, such as going for walks, you’re favorite coffee shop (or other) beverage, and freewriting, but these are some things happening now with me—what’s happening with you?

Any ideas for fresh inspiration that you’d like to share? Post in the comments. I’d love to hear.

See you in the fall—

Happy writing!

***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nevada McPherson

Originally from Georgia, Nevada McPherson lived in uptown New Orleans for many years and now lives with her husband Bill and rescue Chihuahua, Mitzi in Milledgeville, GA where she is a professor of Humanities at Georgia Military College. Nevada received a BA in English/ Creative Writing and an MFA in Screenwriting from Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge. She’s written over a dozen feature-length screenplays, one short screenplay, a short play, short stories and two graphic novels, Uptowners and Piano LessonsQueensgate, the sequel to Uptowners, is her third graphic novel. For more information, visit www.nevada-mcpherson.com.

You may also like...

  • Bill McphersonI says:

    😍😍😍😄😄😄😜😜😜😉😉😉😘😘😘🎥🎥🎥🐒🐒🐒🐯🐯🐯🐸🐸

  • >