I’ve been inspired countless times to write a new story because of something I saw, heard, or experienced on a vacation.
For example, while in Canada, I went for a hike and I came upon a river that appeared to be green. I spotted numerous animals and wildlife. This led me to write a counting book about various animals ALONG THE GREEN RIVER.
Can’t afford to travel? Don’t have the time? You can also substitute a faraway vacation by going to a local park, a zoo, a lake, or a walk in your neighborhood. You don’t have to go far from home to be inspired to write a new story. New locations, new sights, new smells, and new sounds are all around us and right outside our doors. We can be inspired to create new stories based on things all around us.
For example, last summer I drove to Minneapolis, only a few miles from my house. First I wandered around Linden Hills, a charming, quaint neighborhood with shops, cafes and an ice cream shop. I bought some ice cream and took it to a nearby park with a rose garden. I found a bench by a fountain that reminded me of the many I had seen in Europe. As I ate my ice cream, looking over the beautifully landscape gardens I felt relaxed. After I finished my ice cream, I pulled out my yellow legal pad and jotted down a draft about how to eat an ice cream cone. This later became HOW TO TEACH YOUR HIPPO TO EAT ICE CREAM.
Posted by Mark Ceilley