I is for Inspiration

I'm guessing that amongst the writers' blogs there will be a fair number of posts on inspiration :-)

So. I've just started a new YA writing project, and what I want is a fictional, fancy-pants, private boarding school set in a semi-secluded area an hour or two from where I live. So off I drove this weekend to see if I could find an actual empty spot where I might "build" my imaginary school. And I found it!

There's this beautiful spot amidst the rolling hills, with an expanse of water that I can "make" into a proper dam/lake for water sports, and forested areas for teenagers to get up to all sorts of mischief in... Perfect :-)

So now I have some photos and videos to inspire and make it all the more "real" for me while I write.

Do you have pictures stuck into your notebook or filed away in your computer's "inspiration folder"? Photos of actors that remind you of your characters perhaps? Or a random picture that inspired a certain scene?

Inspiration for Your Novel Set in the Winelands

The second part of my holiday was spent in Stellenbosch -- home to the grapes of some of South Africa's best wines. Hmm... I think I could come up with a good family saga set in the winelands... Wealthy family, forbidden love, secrets kept hidden for years...

Inspiration for Your (Creepy) Beach Scene

I'm back from holiday! And back at school! (And tired already... And wishing for another holiday already...)

While I was in the Eastern Cape -- for the beach part of my holiday -- the weather decided to be mainly uncooperative and instead of giving me a sun to tan under, it gave me clouds, rain and mist. So these aren't your conventional "beach holiday" photos, but I hope they can inspire some of you :-)