Inspiration: It's in Front of You

As I worked out this morning, I watched the first episode of October Road from abc.com. The show reminds me of a grown up cast of Dawson’s Creek. It has the same lofty language and wit, emphasis on character development but all with grown-up problems.

In the search for everyday inspiration, we often go looking for adventures. The protagonist of October Roads, is likewise looking for inspiration—to write his second novel. After isolating himself from his hometown and ridiculing his closest friends in his first novel, he comes back to a difficult situation after ten years. After spending the weekend at his hometown, he discovers that his adventures are here—the place he stayed away from for lack of adverturish quality—in his hometown.

Many writers are like this protagonist. They search everywhere for inspiration when they can find it right in front of them. Although good stories come from the unfamiliar, better stories can come from what they already know. An author’s knowledge of something in front of her is often developed and thorough. There is still an unknown to the scene they are used to, but the details are already in place, in their minds.

Try looking at what you know. Try watching an episode of October Road. Maybe watching the protagonist searching for his next story amidst the familiar and the changed will help you to find your next story.