Whoseywhatsit Thursday ~ Reflective Inspiration

Writers inspire. But they are also human ~ despite the many debates over the centuries. Life happens. Doubt or depression or exhaustion take over. Even worry. So at times, writers need a dose of inspiration fueling them to forge forward and continue creating.

You've heard of the latest, greatest cyber fad Pinterest, right? Who hasn't? Yet you're leery to embrace this new trend. I'm sure one of your biggest reasons is time. Cyberspace, the blogosphere, and the endless streams of social media popping up are definitely vampires, sucking us dry second by hour by minute. But there is value here, too.

If you've kept up with the public ponderings over the Pinterest hype then you're aware of the multitude of reasons people choose to open an account. From a writer's perspective ~ self-promotion. Many authors have opened up boards, solely geared to their books. It's interesting to see. I've even opened a board up to promote my personal site, Writers Ally, sharing what I explore and share on a weekly basis.

I could list a bazillion ways to use the boards, but I want to stay with our writing topics and make you think about reflection and inspiration. Pinterest is a great place to find both. If you're suffering from writer's block or life stresses, or caged in by a scene that just isn't going places, flip through the images on Pinterest. It's like reading in pictures. You'll be amazed where it will take you, where you might end up.

I've included three YA related images in this post, randomly chosen from Pinterest to inspire and give you and your characters reflection. 


Writing prompt: be one of your characters, one you're working with now. What does he or she see or feel in these pictures? What could he or she change in their world from what you discover?


The Oasis Sisters Pinterest Boards: Sheri, Ann, Nikki, Jessie, Larissa, Jessica.

Visual Oasis

As some of you know, I have 2 girls, ages 5 and 4.  They're 13 months apart and tend to "share" friends.  So last night, we hosted our first sleepover.  My older daughter's friend, Cookie, spent the night with us, complete with ice cream sundaes, nail polish, and watching movies way past bedtime. And yes, they were up at 7 am sharp, raring to go again.

Not only am I exhausted, but I learned something new about my kids last night.  If you'd asked me before Cookie came over whether my children could possibly be any louder, I would've said, "No way. They're already the loudest kids on the planet."  Turns out, I was wrong.  They can get louder.  And they did!

So this morning, I grabbed a few minutes of visual oasis time where I could: when they were outside swinging, when they were eating pancakes in the playroom, when they were tracking spilled bubbles through the house (hmm... maybe I should've been watching them then).

Anyway, I had such a nice little oasis -- fantasizing about the places I'd love to go for my 10th anniversary next year (not that any of them are in the budget) -- that I thought I'd share some of the amazing destinations with you.  Scroll through, check out the scenery, breathe in and relax.

Do you have any dream destinations that you "escape" to from time to time?

Grace Bay Club, Turks & Caicos

Can't you just imagine, sitting with your laptop on the beach bed, watching the sun sink over the ocean as you work on your WIP? And when you wake up and look out over your balcony the next morning, the water is a crystal, azure blue that blinks in the sunshine?


Four Seasons Maui

One of my friends says this is her favorite place on earth.  With views like this, I can understand why.

The Tides, Riveria Maya, Mexico

This one may be my favorite, although hubby is extremely reluctant to head to Mexico.  Each of the 29 villas has its own private plunge pool and is just steps from miles of white sands beaches.

Banyan Tree Resort, Seychelles

Of course, while I'm dreaming, why not stop by Seychelles?  The place I consider the most beautiful in all the world (not that I've been there...).  But it's got glittering waters, smooth rocky coasts, and lush peaks.  Too bad the Indian Ocean is so hard to get too.