Field Trip to Find a Writing Muse

I am currently about 5k into my latest WIP, and I decided to go out this past Sunday to do some field research. Translation: I was bored stiff and didn't want to sit in the house. So, I took Small Child to Lake Louisa State Park. Although, if you ask him, we went to see "forest" and "lake," because it is not officially a park unless it has a playground.

He was fascinated.


So was I. See this tree? See those branches? They go back to the ground and burrow underneath, kindof like it's clawing it's way across the path. I just know it has to make an appearance in my WIP.

Bonus points if you can tell me what kind of tree it is, because I'd really like to know.

And look at this. Can you picture a rambling mansion somewhere in there? Cause I can.


Can you spot the alligator?


So, that was my weekend. Much fun was had, and I'd love to go back and explore some more. Did you guys do anything fun this past weekend? Where do you go when you're bored and need a muse?

Trains and Writing

To say Small Child is obsessed with trains is an understatement.




The other day when we were playing with one of his tracks on the floor, he got bored and tore up part of the track. Instead of getting mad, I created a new game. I called it, "Oh no! Ice!" inspired by The Polar Express. When the trains went off the track, they slid into an ice field and there was much chaos until the trains made their way back to the track. After a couple of rounds of that, to make it even more interesting, the trains ran into a field of dinosaurs who kept jumping in front of them and landing on the cars. Much fun was had by all.

As we were playing I got to thinking how our game applies to writing as well. Characters doing the same things over and over again gets boring. Going in circles for hours will make a reader close a book fast, but throw in an ice field or a herd of dinosaurs, and they just may keep reading.