Where do you think authors get their inspiration?

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AnitaCox
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Re: Where do you think authors get their inspiration?

Post by AnitaCox »

It can be anything...a strange gait in someone's walk, someone's eyes that catch yours, a run-in with a stranger. Really, the stories are born from something completely unrelated sometimes.

Then there's stuff that pops in my head out of the abyss and I'm like...that's new. ;)
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jacobmc
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Post by jacobmc »

I would imagine from books mainly. But maybe films as well? I know I get a lot of inspiration from a good film, especially when the epic scenes together with epic music spiral together to build up momentum and bravery like when a 'goodie' is fighting the 'baddy' and starts to win.
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Post by AG746 »

I think it is in the little things. The details of life that a lot of people don't pay much attention to. And then authors create something more fantastic and magical out of it. It's observation plus imagination.
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Post by AA1495 »

Real life experiences, stories they've heard from others and their own imaginations.
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Kdonegan91
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Post by Kdonegan91 »

I think most authors get their inspiration from life experiences or special interest/hobbies. For an example, Wanda Brunstetter writes books related to her interest and love for the Amish and their way of life. Not only does she get the opportunity to learn about their culture but she gets to experience things outside of her "normal" lifestyle.
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Pm7lucas
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Post by Pm7lucas »

Well, I guess it depends on what genre the author writes. I would really love to know where some Horror authors get their creepy ideas, though!

Paula :D
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Post by Mely918 »

Oftentimes they seem to draw inspiration from their own life experiences and from people they know in real life. Some also go on walks or listen to music for inspiration.
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Post by rave_2 »

As an author, I mostly use my imagination. I think it's pretty rare that I would get inspiration from other things. Whenever I do, it's from past experiences, when I listen to music, or when I daydream.
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Post by BookishCoffeeBlog »

I would love to know where authors come up with the brilliant ideas that I read about. I am constantly surprised by the concepts that I read about. For me, a VERY amateur writer, my ideas usually just pop into my head. I know that the ideas I am working off are not the best but they are giving me the practice I need to improve upon my craft. Hopefully, one day I will find a source of inspiration that other people want to read about.
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Post by palilogy »

I'm an author and I'm inspired by life and struggles.
I write usually when I'm unhappy or want something to change.
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Dael Reader
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Post by Dael Reader »

Depends on the writer I suppose. I wonder what Stephen King's dreams are like.
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Mallory Porshnev
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Post by Mallory Porshnev »

Stephen King says from his dreams and that is just disturbing. Most people probably from life and observing life around them.
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Post by Nanig83006 »

Anything and everything. Life experiences in particular. Not just their own experiences, but also anyone's experience. If they do or don't like it, they then write it down, choose to make said experience better or worse and go from there.
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Post by jjmainor »

I write, and admit many of my basic premises are borrowed from elsewhere...Hollywood reuses ideas, ripping off movies and TV shows all the time, so I don't feel guilty about taking their ideas and making them mine. But characters are oftentimes inspired from people I've known or encountered along with more specific scenarios within a story. One story, I started off with a major space battle. When the XO calls the captain to the bridge, the captain chews out the XO, then takes off for crew quarters to conduct room inspections...and this was pretty much a boss I worked for at one time...his store could be burning down around him and he worries about something totally asinine.
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Post by Cardinalsparrow »

I'm a writer and I can tell you this; inspirations can come from anywhere but unlike popular opinions, only few of them are unconnected to the writer.
Some books are to be tasted , others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested-- Francis Bacon
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