Inspo Stack

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write.”

Stephen King said it better than I could have. One of my favorite parts of beginning a new project is that it forces me to read more which may sound counterintuitive. But I assemble a stack that fuels the novel process in a variety of ways.

Research – Popular wisdom advises to write what you know, but we all have blind spots. In this case, botanical folklore fit the bill for an area I haven’t read but might provide more depth and texture to my story.

Voice – Books in the appropriate genre help with tone and vocabulary. For this book I need to revisit a few of my favorite MG authors like Kelly Barnhill, Katherine Applegate, and Cindy Baldwin, all with beautiful authentic voices.

Inspiration – This particular story intricately links nature to storytelling, so I hunted down magical poetry collections and not only writing about animals but instruction on how to draw them. (I love doodling in the margins of my stories, but I’m a stick figure gal so a little help doesn’t hurt.)

Writing a novel certainly takes time, but don’t forget to carve out reading space so that your toolbox is full!