While I’ve still not perfected the method of gathering and cataloging those rare moments of inspiration, I carry a Moleskin notebook and use Evernote to track writing ideas.
Sometimes I’ll come up with a random descriptive phrase that I want to remember. So I’ll write it in the notebook, or record it on Evernote, or leave it somewhere.
Lots of times I’ll forget it. In fact in getting this post ready, I went back to some audio files I made on Evernote back at the beach last August. That was some good stuff.
So, my current phrase that I want to use? “Red wine, clear liquor and draft beer…”
I have no idea what I mean by that, or how I want to use it. I may never use it anywhere other than in this blog post.
It may just show up on Facebook as a random status, “Red wine, clear liquor and draft beer would make a great name for a band.”
What I do know is that it can be a bad combination. Don’t ask me how I know that. That may or may not be in the book.
But the more time I spend concentrating on writing, the more I find myself listening to and making note of particular word combinations.
I can use that, or I can rewrite that or…that was weird.
In a day where much of our communication is limited to 140 characters, it’s good to get the occasional word inspiration.
Sometimes the words flow freely, like a walk through the country. Sometimes it’s more like a marathon where you survive by putting one foot (in this case one word) in front of the other.
Sometimes, like the article I’m currently putting together for my main client, it can be painful. Not because the client is difficult, but the subject, and the source material is.
Red wine, clear liquor and draft beer do not show up in that particular article. However, one or more just might show up on my desk when the article gets sent to my editor.
IMAGE: From the book Rodwell, G. F.: “South by East: Notes of Travel in Southern Europe” (1877). Public Domain via Wikipedia.
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