Friday, August 10, 2012

MOTIVATE YOUR MUSE

Editors and readers have asked where I get my inspiration to write erotic romance. It’s simple. I’ve been fortunate enough to have traveled to some of the most romantic countries in the world. How could a word lover not be flooded with plot lines when looking at the gorgeous gondoliers of Venice?


St. Mark’s Square is filled with enough motivation for me to pick up a pen and scrawl everything I see and hear. There’s always a pair of lovers strolling through, wrapped in each others arms, with no outside world to interfere. You might even find them sharing a Cinzano while the soft strings of an orchestra fill the chilly night air.


Thanks for tolerating two of my travel photos. But how do they apply to writing tips? Glad you asked!

1 - Inspiration is all around you, every single minute of the day and night. Take the time to notice it, absorb it, feel it, then let your imagination soar.

2 – Always carry a pen and paper to record those scenes blossoming before you.

3 – Carry a disposable or digital camera to photograph anything of interest, no matter how trivial it might seem at the time. Drop the developed/printed pictures into a file for future use.

4 – I like to work with visual aids and compile images of location, people, clothing, maps, language, and anything else that lands me feel smack-dab in the middle of my story. Nothing is too trivial to Glue Stic to my poster board. It puts me in the mood, but I always make sure it’s hidden before company arrives. No need for them to have more proof I’ve lost my mind.

Here’s two websites to check out for great advice;

Beth Anderson
Beth has excellent tutorials, especially on Point of View and Writing the Tight Synopsis. Click onto Workshops to read the lecture.

Adrianne Lee
Adrianne’s site has the best for Conflict and Stupid Heroines. Look under her Writing Tips section on the header.

Have a wonderful weekend. I'll be back Monday with Nancy DiMauro. Until then...

Happy Writing!

Sloane Taylor

15 comments:

  1. Excellent suggestions, Sloane!

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    1. Thanks, Lizzie, glad they can help.

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  2. Oh, if I only had the royalty income to take my world hops around and nourish my writing even further! You're very lucky that you've had exposure to such a lovely city.

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    1. You're right, Hermine, and I definitely appreciated that good fortune, even if those days are no gone.:)

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  4. Great tips, Sloane. Thanks again for another insightful post.

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    1. You're welcome, Ann, and thanks for stopping in.:)

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  5. Love the pictures. Very jealous. Another great post.

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    1. You're making me feel guilty, Nancy. Glad you liked the post.:)

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  6. You are good, Sloane. I always mean to take a camera and then usually forget. But I do the pen and paper thing and it's succesful. Ah, Venice. Not just romantic, all those hundreds of years of history tromp around in the background and you can breathe it in.

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    1. You can breathe it in, Vonnie, if it's not a hot July or August. LOL. Good job on taking notes. Sometime that's the better way because you capture the immediate feelings.

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  7. Ah I wish I could travel around in your suitcase, but I'd also wish to travel back in time. hahaha

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    1. Ooh, Anna, when you go back in time can I please be in your suitcase? I'd loved to go back to 1935 and several other eras. It would be so cool!!

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  8. Sloane, I'm with Anna. Can I hitch a ride? I really want to go to Italy and take a food tour. Oh, the pasta and gelato. And wine. Mmmm.

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    1. Margaret, you're making me hungry. lol. We should plan a food tour. I'd be happy to lay out a route that encompasses some of the finer areas, and men, of Italy.:)

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