Writing fiction is quite different from writing non-fiction. When I write non-fiction I immediately know where I want to begin and where I want to end. I know my premise–what I want people have as a take away

Life is not always that easy when I write fiction. Sometimes, I need inspiration. One thing that always works for me is to find a poem, novel, short story, song, hymn or work of fine art and ask myself “what does it say to me?” Then I write down my reactions, and I’m on my way.

Sometimes, I will listen to a book on CD, .mp3 file or cassette tape while I’m writing. I emulate the structure, not the content. For example, you would never know that this paragraph was inspired by listening to a part of The DaVinci Code that’s two minutes into the second CD in the set.
The sound, Duke. Sounds can energize, or destroy. If you want to keep animals away from an area, all you need to do is play a high-pitched note, a note we can't hear but the animals can.

Here’s a poem that I wrote for inclusion in one of my books that was inspired by a painting by Dan Donnelly’s named “The Lovers.” The work of art features two people, in apparent conflict, locked forever in a stance that is reminiscent of a Star Trek episode where two people are in deadly conflict. One of the people has black on the left side of his body and white on the other side of his body. The person with whom is fighting has white on the left side of his body and black on the right side. However, in this illustration, the people appear to be an artist’s mannequin–a wooden mannequin where all of the joints change. The illustration is primarily beige and brown, and it has many symbols about suffering and captivity, at least to me.

Rent Relationships

Two lovers about to kiss
Conflicted
Parts of their lives
Ripping out of memory

Heads detached from their hearts
Internally attacking
Surrounded by hawks
With vultures to follow

In a moment
The world could burst into flames
Starting with someone
Placing a lit match on
The Book of Life.

Whether you like or dislike the above poem is not the point. The point is that I used a piece of artwork to jump start my creativity. Perhaps this technique will work for you too.

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Tags: Daniel Donnelly, DaVinci Code, Poetry, Star Trek, The End of All Times