Inspiration Overload, Or: Wait, What Was I Doing Again?
I often divide my life into two periods: Before Our Own Kids (BOOKs) and After All Advice Against Kids Is Ignored (AAAAK!!). The division has a direct correlation to my productivity: See my BOOKs The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy, No Strings Attached, as well as my short stories The Shade of Pemberley, and The Courtship ofMr. Darcy.
Now see my AAAAK!! period writings: *cricket* *cricket* That’s not to say that I don’t have any ideas. My kids inspire new and exciting ideas every day. Observe:”Mommy, what’s under my bed?” “Monsters. Go to sleep.” Hmmm…what would Darcy do if he lived in a creepy, old house? Oooh, I like that idea! He’d live in an old Victorian mansion in Maine, secluded due to some…disfigurement? No, he could never be physically deformed. Trauma? Heartbreak? Illness? Aha! He’s got a case of Tourettes and is too ashamed to go out in public. Well &^#), no wonder he’s a recluse! He hires Elizabeth to run his errands while he whiles away in the attic feverishly working on his next novel. Spooky antics ensue. “Moooooommmmmyyyyy!!! The monsters!!!!!” *sighs and closes laptop to revisit plot bunny in 15 years*
Or: “Mommy, I want vitamins!!” “Sheesh, Sophia, you’ve already had a handful. What are you, a 3 year old addict?” *wavy dream lines and fade to fantasy* Internationally renowned photographer Darcy is a drug-addled wreck after witnessing his beloved cousin, Richard, commit suicide by plunging 30 stories from his penthouse balcony after revealing that he was the cause of Mr. Darcy, Sr.’s death. He is ready to call it a day on life when he meets Elizabeth, a spunky, taciturn photography assistant hired by his secretary to replace his former assistant who quit due to Darcy’s obvious social shortcomings. Although he knows he is in no shape for a relationship, Darcy falls in love only to have Elizabeth reject him. He then goes on a sojourn around the world in search of escape, but instead finds himself. Two years later he is clean, sober, and ready for a second chance. Exotic locals, tragedy, and redemption, how can it go wrong? “VIT-A-MINS. VIT-A-MINS. VIT-A-MINS!!!” *shakes self back to reality and hands over another fistful of gummy vitamins to now vigorously healthy kids.*
And: “Mommy, look what I drew!” “My walls!!!!!” *closes eyes, takes deep breath.* Darcy, a high school principal, finds himself uncharacteristically attracted to his new art teacher, Elizabeth Bennet. The story practically names itself: “Hot for Teacher.” Even: “What story do you want for bedtime?” “Laura (Little House on the Prairie).” *fade to sepia tone daydream* Darcy, a rugged trail blazer in 1830’s West, has agreed to lead Elizabeth Bennet across the expansive prairie in a covered wagon to her new home with her sister, Jane…and to her betrothed, Mr. Collins. Wolves, “savages” and inclement weather lead the two to realize they were meant to be a team on the harsh frontier. Throw in some sultry pond bathing and I can’t go wrong! Sometimes the inspiration is for a single scene instead of an entire story: “Here, mommy, you can sit in my Princess chair.” “Thank you, honey, but it’s too small for me.” “Because you have a big butt, right?” *rubs temples and envisions Darcy embracing a Rubenesque Lizzy* Of course your rear doesn’t look big in this dress, darling, he murmured seductively in her ear. He filled each hand with a generous mound of flesh. Besides, I like big butts, and I cannot lie.
Or:
“Mommy, traaaaaains!” “Viggo, you sound like a zombie!” *cue creepy music* Darcy and Elizabeth are elite ninja assassins repelling a zombie apocolypse…nah, already been done. Writers, what inspires you most? Readers, how would you like to see your everyday life incorporated into a story? ~Special thanks to June for suggesting plot bunnies as a blog topic. Here’s hoping I’ll actually finish some of these one day!
Great scenarios! And I loved your book!
Wow, I love those 😀 I am afraid my mind never works like that.
Wonderful! I really enjoyed your book (The Trials…) – I’ve read it twice!
Sara, I can related to your writer’s block. My daughter and niece do a number on my muse, making her run screaming for cover! It’s getting better now that my daughter’s older and in grade school. I’m counting down the final days of summer vacation.
I know you know that I adore Judge Darcy. He’s been all over the world in my suitcase, including Panama. He rather liked it there. The hotel had a lovely infinity pool. 🙂
I hope to read more of your writing – you have a wonderful way with words!
Best,
Susan
Sara you have a great imagination. I’ve read The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy. It’ was great!
thanks for an entertaining post, Sara!
FuN imagination you have “)
Sara, I love your scenarios! You are very creative! I also love Judge Darcy! He is smoldering! I have read the book twice now and just absolutely love it! 🙂
Very funny! I have to say, your Mr. Darcy / Sir Mix-a-Lot mash-up made me crack up. 😀
Loved the Sophia/Viggo inspired plot bunnies. Made me laugh. 🙂
Smooches,
Debbie
I really like your plot bunnies! Particularly the Maine recluse Darcy and the Little House Lizzy. I’d definitely read those. The zombies not so much – of all supernatural creatures I find them the most disagreeable.
My everyday life would make for a very boring story. It might be called Spinster Girl: Diary of a Darcy Daydreamer. Lol
LOL! Awesome. 🙂
I. Love. This!
I can’t decide which one of the plot bunnies I love most…but I’m thinking it might be the Laura Ingalls Wilder-inspired one, hehe…
My life…It’s interesting in its own right, but it wouldn’t mesh well with Jane. Maybe if we mixed Elinor & Emma? haha…
I am inspired by life itself, from my surroundings to my passions. These components can spark off a few phrases of poetry in my mind due to the impact I feel.
Some fun ideas there….loved your book
Stephanie
Loved this post! I periodically check Amazon to see if you have another book out. When will another be coming? I am currently RE-reading “Trials” on my iphone. I only allow myself to read it on the treadmill to give me incentive to keep going longer…
Haha hilarious!!
Loved the scenarios!! Had me cracking up several times 🙂
Great post! I love it! And loved ‘Trials’ as well.
I have also read your book as well. I loved the above scenarios. I especially loved the “sit in my princess chair”. Yes indeed can’t get your buns in it or if you did out of it again. My grandkids have the rocker from when I was a child. Mind you I could even sit in it until I had their parents…one leg fits now. And then the little whipper snappers have the audacity to say something like “why does the bathtub water go up so high when you get in?” kind of like your chair. You just want to bean em. suzan
You know, I’m not much of a writer. Granted, I wrote a generous deal of poetry as a teen like a plethora of other girls I’m sure, but nothing to note.
Perhaps, from time to time, I’ve even had a novel idea or two. I don’t see much coming from that.
So I would label myself a reader, and ask that any or all of your plot bunnies make babies.
Very funny post thank you!
Great post! I really enjoyed it!!