Inspiration

The little incidents in everyday life often bring with them vast opportunities for inspiration. A trip to the grocery store, to the dentist, or to the doctor's office for a check-up, while mundane activities in and of themselves, carry the possibility for a multitude of little scenarios that may turn into a poignant moment, a thrilling chapter, or serve as the basis for an entire book. Let me explain.

For me, inspiration rarely strikes in front of my computer. Nor does it bloom while in the throes of a tense or frustrating moment, although I'm learning as I grow older that if I can just keep my head from exploding in the face of laziness and/or incompetence, I can usually glean a nugget of insight that will serve me well later.

A Solitary Life began after a trip to the local post office to mail a book to my daughter--and to buy stamps. That was the day I learned that priority mail is pretty much the only option left to me to mail anything anywhere and is, in fact, about three cents cheaper than putting my package on a stage coach bound for the hinterlands that will take almost twice as long to arrive at its destination. So I mailed my package priority, which required a lot of writing and stamping and stamping and stamping. And, by the way, I said to the clerk as she stamped, I need stamps. Now, I have no preference when it comes to the stamps I will affix on the envelopes I use to pay the man who mows my yard. I'm sure that a plain brown Liberty Bell is as handy and efficient as a majestic aerie of eagles. But that day, I was offered the opportunity to buy Cherry Blossoms (!) and (?) which were produced and laid on the counter for my inspection with the same flourish that a street peddler might use to flash a display of fake Rolexes from the inside flap of his coat. "Don't tell _____ we have these," the clerk whispered to her co-worker. "He'll sell them to just anyone." I bought the stamps and left perplexed and confused but happy. I knew this little scenario would serve me well and it did when Mary Margaret made her appearance the next day. Her story started with the reading of my horoscope and quickly moved to the post office scenario, a mundane moment that gave me joy in writing about it.

A conversation with one of my daughters, a snarky remark from my son, a frustrating moment in traffic, or a funny incident at the library are all opportunities for inspiration. Sometimes I make a note to myself so that I won't forget or write a longer description of the incident in my journal. Mostly, though, the memories come to me as my characters develop on the page and find themselves in similar situations. As I spend more time writing, I am finding simple joy in frustrating moments. It helps to remind myself that I am a writer, that I have the ability to channel my frustrations and turn them into bittersweet or illuminating vignettes later. In fact, I can't wait to see where yesterday's insurance debacle at the doctor's office takes me.