Hopefully, you have found that spark I wrote about in lesson 1. Now it is time to nurture it so that it can grow into a beautiful flame.
Here are some ways to kindle the flame.
1. Think about the thing that is your spark, think about it a lot! The more you think about it, the more inspired you get.
I have noticed that the more I think about my story, the more I am inspired, and the more ideas I get for it.
2. Research is the best kindling for your inspiration. I can't stress the importance of research enough! You just don't know all the juicy details without delving deep into knowledge! The joy of discovery! Inspiring, huh? Besides, how can you write about anything without knowing what the... you are writing about?
I'm not sure if First rule of foxes would even exist without any research. It has given me so many ideas. I started by looking for all the old kitsune stories I could get my hands on. This gave me some idea of who those creatures actually are. Reading those old stories I noticed the recurring motif of a thankful kitsune. That inspired the beginning of my story and with the beginning set, it was easier to move forward.
Then I decided to see what Wikipedia has to say about all the different were animals. Gold mine! I stumble upon the story of Thiess of Kaltenburg and his werewolves who he said went to Hell to fight witches. What!!! This weird discovery is the backbone of my werewolf society.
And third example. It would have been unthinkable to write two chapters where the characters go to Japan without looking up routes on Street View and Youtube videos about some places. Thank God for the internet!
3. And finally, the classics! Ask what-if questions! What if this happens? What if the myths are real? What if this character does that? What if...
What If Tiina is actually a werewolf without knowing it herself? What if werewolves use Holy Grail to control their powers? Questions like that move the story forward.
My today's assignment for you is:
Pick one: read a book or article, watch a documentary or Youtube video, consult a specialist or eyewitness about your thing, your spark. Widen your knowledge! Satisfy your curiosity! And let me know in the comments what cool stuff did you find!
Happy knowledge hunting!
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