A Writer's Cream and Sugar

Inspiration. It's what makes your writing you. Where your joy comes from. Your ideas. All the layers and flavors of what you create. What you build a story out of. What do you use? What are your writing tools and ingredients?

I get inspiration from all kinds of things. Nature, things around me that are beautiful, things that are alive. Sometimes they're simple, sometimes they're intricate. It can be from an experience, a feeling, or a story someone else was kind enough to share with me.

Sometimes I go to other writers. Authors, singers, reporters. I read their content, their stories and poems. And they inspire me to be better at my own writing. If I'm in a poetry mood, I read a lot of poetry. If I'm in an article mood, I read a lot of journalism. If I want to write a fantasy novel, I read fantasy. You can't write very well if you never read anything. That's like putting a fish out of water.

Staying inspired also keeps your drive going. Inspiration is a good motivator. It's like putting fuel in your car or water in your body. It refreshes so you can keep going.

Or if you're like me, a good cup of coffee or tea keeps me going rather well. That being said...

What is your cream? What is your sugar? What do you put into your writing to make it just the way you want it? You can be plenty skilled at something, but not put any effort or thought into it. Skill doesn't mean passion.

Your cream and sugar should be something your passionate about. Something you love or feel you should share with the world. Things that are important to you. Whether it's animals, painting, pictures, the outdoors, or swimming. Maybe it's politics and real-world issues and debates.

Whatever the thing is you want to write about, make sure you give it some flair, personality, and flavor. People don't go to a high-end restaurant for mediocre food. As such, don't offer a mediocre story. You want to connect with people, you want them to feel a certain way or learn a specific lesson over the course of the story. You want them to refer you, to grow your reputation and your brand, business, etc.

I love writing. I love writing about things that have meaning to me. I love to write about nature and things I see in it. I love to write about poetry because poetry is beautiful and inspiring. And it challenges me. But most of all, I write for the creativity. The thought of making something new and beautiful and bringing it into the world. Preparing it, carving and molding it. Then sharing that art with someone else. The freedom to create a whole world, characters, and stories. or to challenge someone's thoughts on a topic or stir emotions in a person's soul and spirit. That's my cream and sugar.

And, if I were to inspire someone else with my creativity and help them on their own journey, then that's a big bonus.

So, find your inspiration. Something you love and want to share with someone else. Something you can teach. And something you can learn along the way. Learn more about the gift you have, or more about yourself as a person. Grow yourself by doing it. Find your art and talent.

What's your cream and sugar?