04/24/2023 — I know you all want to know how much editing I’ve gotten done since my big edit day… zilch, nada, nothing! I mean, yes, my schedule is crazy. There is no doubt about that, but another factor that goes into my writing schedule is my mood. Am I feeling inspired?
One of the reasons To Favor Blood & Flowers took so long to write is because I had to have that spark in me that pushed me to put pen to paper. (More accurately: to put fingers to keyboard.) That spark isn’t exactly definable, and it definitely loves to leave me and go on long vacations. In finishing my first book, I had to find ways to light the writing spark with anything I could.
Music! I can’t go anywhere without it. In fact, the few times I’ve forgotten to bring earbuds to school or work, my body feels like it’s physically dying. All right, that’s probably a little dramatic (albeit true). Point being, music means a lot in my life and in my creative process. I usually tailor songs and playlists to the specific scene I’m writing, but I have one catch-all playlist that always gets me excited to jump into To Favor Blood & Flowers again.
Movies! Or TV shows, I’m not picky. Well, I may or may not be a little picky because the media I’m drawn to for inspiration is most often fantasy or science fiction. I love immersing myself in these complex, fantastical worlds and seeing how each story unfolds. How does this fantasy world integrate trade into their story? Romance? Religion? Trauma? Familial roles? Dragons? I know I sound like an over-analyzing nerd, and… that’s because I am. Movies and TV get my brain turning in creative ways that are hard to come by in the real world. I definitely have a go-to movie or TV show—can you guess it?
Go out! Two parts to this one. First is to go outside. A change of scenery never fails to get the thoughts flowing, especially out in nature. Being out with the trees and the birds and the chaotic life of nature has always brought me an odd sense of calm. Adult problems and deadlines become fuzzy in the background, and my mind can safely wander into my book world. I’m not saying that staying in for the day is bad at all. As much as I love getting outside, I am content to sit on the couch, loudly slurp my coffee, stare out the window, and watch the rain turn to hail. Second part is to go outside of your comfort zone! I know, I know. It’s a cliche written into so many storylines, but it’s in mine too. There were layers upon layers of fear and exhilaration and sadness and love just hiding in me until I jumped into the things that unlocked them. Every situation where I jumped out of my comfort zone—positive or negative—led my art to grow. I had more complex emotions and more tangible experiences, which made it easier to step into my Carina's skin and better understand her.
I could go on for a lot longer about all the things that inspire me to write To Favor Blood & Flowers, but for now, I’m going to take some of my own advice: pick a movie, brew some tea, and charge my laptop. Edits—here I come!
Much love and happy reading,
Gail ❤
Take a peek below at some things that get me in the mood to write, and you just might find something inspiring too!
Music
→ when writing… (playlist on my Spotify)
→ burn the throne (playlist on my Spotify)
→ Florence and the Machines
→ Mumford and Sons
→ Birdy
→ Gabrielle Aplin
→ Sara Bareilles
→ Test Drive (from How to Train Your Dragon)
→ The Call (Regina Spektor)
→ I Found (Amber Run)
→ distance (Christina Perri, Jason Mraz)
→ Persephone in the Garden (Aidoneus)
Movies & TV Shows
→ Harry Potter
→ Lord of the Rings
→ anything King Arthur-related (like the show, Merlin)
→ Game of Thrones (dragons?! Yes.)
→ pretty much any Disney movie (I was taught well)
→ Narnia
→ Stardust
→ anything Robin Hood-related (Men in Tights, anyone?)
→ Eragon
→ Inkheart
→ Shadow and Bone
→ Maleficent
→ How to Train Your Dragon
→ Snow White and the Huntsman
→ Red Riding Hood
→ The Witcher
→ The Dragon Prince
Go Out
→ visit local parks/arboretums (free nature!)
→ attend hands-on classes (DIY crafts, candle-making, painting, etc.)
→ take solo trips (head to a new town and explore; go to a sports game; take yourself to a bookstore with a cup of fancy coffee)
→ send that text
→ compliment a stranger
→ read a book in a genre you don’t normally pick up
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