Moira Keith

This was a question that I thought I would throw out there after deriving some inspiration for a story I have in the back of my mind. Often times, as a writer, I find myself trying to work my way through the mind field of story ideas, pick the elements that will make a story unique and once in a while, I actually manage to share something with my best friend that makes her really excited. Why is this important? Because her excitement is what inspires me. It drives me forward when I feel like I am in a rut, helps me examine other possibilities when an idea may seem far too similar or overdone. 

We all derive inspiration from different areas of our lives. Whether we are talking music, art, movies, stories, friends, family, or just life in general…the important thing is to seize that inspiration and run with it. Who knows where it will lead. 

Where do you garner your inspiration? Great books can also inspire regardless of their genre, so if you are a reader, what is it about your favorite author that inspires you?

How many times do you slave away at the keyboard, only to second guess elements of your story? Please do not tell me I am the only nut job out there suffering from this affliction. Over the course of the last few months I have been working my fingers to the bone on my paranormal story, in between edit rounds of course , wondering if I am headed in the right direction. I find that my rounds of ‘questioning’ follow pretty much the same pattern 

1. Unhappy with a story element
2. Try to fix and questions arise regarding the plot points
3. While attempting to navigate through murky waters of said questions, I contemplate what would happen if I lose one of the elements of the story.
4. Begin to write element out and start to second guess the decision. 
5. Turn to trusted friends and crit partners, who tell me they think the element should stay, but that I am the author. 
6. One or more of them slap me senseless and tell me to stop second guessing the very elements that make my story unique and interesting. 
7. A few rounds of brainstorming and I go back to the manuscript with a renewed fervor that will sustain me until i can start this glorious process all over again. 

So, I ask all of the enlightened and inspiring writers out there-

How do you deal with second guessing yourself? Or do you even second guess yourself? Have you learned to control that nagging little voice in the back of your head or simply gagged and hog tied her until you reached the end? I’ve tried locking mine up but it would seem the art of lock picking has not surpassed my dear inner voice. I throw myself at the mercy of my peers and beg for you to share your wisdom!

Do you ever find yourself in a rut? My biggest one comes to reading. I tend to stick to the same genre-paranormal romance or something not too far left of that. I recently indulged in a little genre expanding. Not that you could tell by my bookshelf or to be read pile, as my expansion can primarily be witnessed through my eBook reading. For example, I recently read Land of Falling Stars by Keta Diablo (which, shameless plug coming…. you can read my review at TGOB). I have said Historical Romance is not my bag, however when I think back on some of my reading choices, I find that some of my past choices have had historical elements. Take the Circle trilogy by the beloved Nora Roberts or any of the books from the Highlander series by Karen Marie Moning. They both take you to times past are well written and much to my delight have ties to paranormal romance elements. *Squee* 

In the past I found myself in a similar rut with Romantic Suspense and Mystery. In those genres I found myself falling prey to the likes of Kay Hooper and J.D. Robb (yes I am not immune to any of Ms Robert’s personas). The key to getting out of the rut? Don’t know, I haven’t found it yet. Though on occasion I am lucky enough to have something fall in my lap that aides in the process.

Do you find yourself in similar ruts? How do you break out of them?