Writer Neil Gaiman
claims, ‘You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You
get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is
we notice when we’re doing it.’ In many ways I find my everyday life influence
enough to write.
Emily Dickinson gained
her inspiration, from what I can gather, the view from her bedroom window,
newspapers, and perhaps most importantly books, she claims ‘The dearest ones of
time, the strongest friends of the soul- BOOKS.’ Whilst Cheever appears to gain
inspiration from the world around him, there is a shattering truth to Cheever’s
work that bleeds his brutal exposure to reality; his alcoholism, his need to
support his family and his battle with his own sexuality. It seems to me; all this fed into his writing
and therefore must have played an integral part in his inspiration and
influence.
As I writer I think
it’s important to view the world through the eyes of a writer, everything is
inspiration. Whether I’m sat in a restaurant or walking along the street, all
the people around me are my inspiration. I think writers have to be nosy; I
listen in on conversations and arguments, I’ll see a particularly disdainful
check out assistant at Sainsburys and wonder about the life that lies behind that
glazed over expression. As Graham Greene argues, ‘The great advantage of being
a writer is that you can spy on people. You’re there, listening to every word,
but part of you is observing. Everything is useful to a writer, you see—every
scrap, even at the longest and most boring of luncheon parties.’
Painter, George Seurat, took inspiration from a typical Sunday afternoon at the park to create this famous painting:
Painter, George Seurat, took inspiration from a typical Sunday afternoon at the park to create this famous painting:
It's an interesting angle you've taken here, and it's true that writers often take inspiration from the things they see around them. Seurat's painting is a particularly interesting example.
ReplyDeleteI agree that writers are a nosy bunch :) It can be the smallest spark that sends the imagination racing towards a new idea. Great post!
ReplyDeleteYou've started with a great quote from the mighty Neil Gaiman, and the discussion you go into on inspiration for Dickinson, Cheever and yourself is very intelligent.
ReplyDeleteA Neil Gaiman quote is always welcome. Also good points about the necessity for writers to eavesdrop, which I'd say is more useful to finding out how people interact rather than how to write dialogue. Otherwise completely realistic dialogue would be full of umming and ahhing and tripping over each other's words.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this post, I am an avid people-watcher myself and always take inspiration from observing those around me. I would definitely agree that we have to view the world as a writer and see everything as inspiration. The Graham Greene quote was especially truthful and this is very much how I view the world. Was enjoyable to hear your personal views come across throughout.
ReplyDelete