Tuesday 5 January 2016

Inspiration for 2016

I love the first few days of a new year, partly so I can enjoy using the lovely Christmas gifts and beginning a new diary when the year is full of possibilities. Amongst many generous, useful and beautiful gifts, two are excellent sources of inspiration for a writer.


Daughter Victoria bought me this great little book, The Pocket Muse: ideas for inspiration and writing by Monica Wood. I was intending scanning through every page right to the end then going back and picking out which ideas to try first, but I'm only about a quarter way through it as it contains so much more than I realised. Some pages are merely a quote, others are full passages, or several ideas on one page, while others contain photographs to inspire creativity. I think this will be by my side the whole year.


Another fascinating book was a gift from my son and daughter-in-law: 100 Documents that Changed the World by Scott Christianson. Spanning thousands of years history, from 2800 BC (an ancient Chinese document) to the computer age 2013 (Edward Snowden Files), this contains a replica of important or significant documents set in their historical context. I suspect this will provide lots of inspiration for ideas once I get through them all.

Now, it's getting down to business time as I have the edits for my new novella which will be out in spring and a talk to prepare for my visit to Edinburgh Writers next week. I'm also adjudicating a few short story competitions over the next three months, so I'll definitely need to get organised again after the lazing and eating of the past couple of weeks!

Wishing everyone a happy and successful 2016.

Rosemary

15 comments:

Gill Stewart said...

What wonderful presents Rosemary! Perfect for a writer.

Patsy said...

I didn't get books for Christmas but I did get a pen. I suppose I'm going to have to write my own!

Frances Garrood said...

Oh, I so envy you that first book, Rosemary! I'm clean out of any kind of inspiration.

Maria said...

That first book looks fab! I want one... :-)
Have a productive week.

Julia Thorley said...

What beautiful gifts. We shall be expecting great things of you this year.

Joanna said...

These books look brilliant and I am very keen on The Pocket Muse in particular. Have a very happy and successful year, Rosemary - it sounds as if it's getting off to a very good start. Wishing you great success with all your writing projects! xxx

Nicola said...

Happy New Year, Rosemary. What wonderful writery gifts. I treated myself to a lovely diary and several books to read this year. Wishing you a successful and happy year filled with new stories :)

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Absolutely, Gillian!

A pen is a also very good gift, Patsy!

I think it will be well used, Frances!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

It really is inspirational, Maria - hopefully you'll have lots of inspiration too for the year ahead!

Oh, now that sounds like a challenge, Julia - gulp!

Many thanks, Joanna - I think every writer would appreciate that first book! All the best with your creativity too this year.

Thanks a lot, Nicola! A diary and new books sound perfect - wishing you lots of inspiration for 2016.

Teresa Ashby said...

What lovely books, Rosemary. The first one looks to be so inspirational and the second one so very interesting!
Hope you have a wonderful 2016 xx

Maggie May said...

I have several diaries which I use for different things. A page-a-day for ideas and thoughts and a week to view for appointments and jobs to do. I always seem to refer to the calendar on the wall for accuracy though! I love the ideas book. I want one!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thanks, Teresa - it's just a matter of getting time to read them now! All best to you too.

I love diaries and notebooks, Maggie, and I still haven't used half of them!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

I love books and those gifts look wonderful.

Happy New Year to you and here's to every success.x

Angela Barton said...

Happy New Year, Rosemary. I too received writerly gifts at Christmas - notebooks, a diary, novels and tiny book earrings. I'm so easy to buy for! Everyone knows what I love. I hope you have another productive and very happy 2016. xx

Carolb said...

Lovely choice of presents, and your family know they will be put to good use.

All the best for this year's work. :)