13 Things That Excite Writers

 

 

New Books-- Clean, unscratched covers. White, unwrinkled paper. Stiff, unopened bindings. These three things that make a writer smile. The neat thing about new books is that they get all writers excited, not just the authors. Every writer gets excited about new books, even if it's not "theirs."

Old Book-- Dusty, ripped pages. Faded, stained words. Withering, broken covers. Old books attract attention because their story transcends the plot of the tale within. Writer's hold old books and think, "I wish my books will one day be loved so much that someone would take the time to preserve them and pass them onto another owner."

Children's Books-- Sometimes the simplest plots reveal the greatest about our world. Every writer understands the difficulty of writing a book for children, because they deal with the same emotional, relational problems we do, just in different terms. Essentially children's books challenge the same world adult books due, only in a stripped down way. Reading a good book children's book excites the mind of a writer just like reading a great 75,000 word novel.

Trains-- Magic exists on trains. There is something beautiful about riding on a train and watching the world pass by through the long windows. The repetitive sound of the wheels stimulates the brains of writers, and I believe this is why they are so often used in books. C. S. Lewis used trains more than once as a way to get the Pevensies in to Narnia. The authors of Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Divergent used trains because trains contain an unusual magic that just begs to be written into a story.

Handwritten Mail-- Time. Handwritten mail takes time. When a writer receives handwritten notes it means that someone else took the time to form words and send a message. It reminds writers that they are not alone in their value of words.

Packages-- Unexpected packages are a mystery, and every story has a mystery regardless of the genre. The mystery of packages remind writers of the thrill of writing new plots, new conflicts, new surprises.

Coffee-- Coffee is just a good thing. It makes writers happy. Simply the smell of coffee gives them the illusion that they have the energy to conquer any story or any project that keeps them from their characters.

Tea-- Tea is a bit more sophisticated. Perhaps it makes writers feel a little more like the classic writers. There is an amount of romanticism in tea that warms the soul of a writer and prepares them for the story that's waiting to be written.

People with Stories-- Writers often enjoy talking with people to get to know them. Writers can also be found sitting on the outskirts of a room or gathering watching, observing the people interact with each other. They're not being creepy. They're being curious. All stories have their roots in the stories of people. Writers learn of more to write, but learning more about people and their tales of their lives, dreams, mistakes, and reconciliations.

New Pens-- New pens to a writer are new paints to an artist, new cleats to an athlete, new produce to a cook.

Beautiful Weather-- Beautiful weather begs a writer to take a walk, observe the world, and brainstorm a new story. Beautiful weather can be cold or hot, windy or still, sunny or dark. Weather reminds writers of emotions in a story. They know that there is a reason that every funeral scene in a movie is accompanied by rain, but they also no of the potential weather has in telling a beautiful story.

Time-- Time to write cannot be beat by the idea of writing, the inspirations of a story, the potential of a character. No amount of thinking about writing can do for a writer what actual writing can do. Time to sit and write and enjoy is the greatest thing that can put a smile on a writer's face.

 

What gets you excited?

 

~ Alyson