Tidbit: Using Routine for Inspiration

Earlier this week I wrote about creative rituals. Rituals do not have to be specifically creative, however, in order to be used for inspiration. Case in point: my morning Bible time. I spend anywhere from 15-45 minutes a day in God's word. My usual routine is to read a few chapters, working my way all the way through until I get to the end and then I start over again.

I also take some time to write in a Journible. A Journible is a book organized so that you can write out your own copy of the Scripture. You write the Bible text on the right hand page of the book, and the left is open for notes or sometimes there are questions to help with further study.

What does any of this have to do with writing a novel? Sometimes I get some great ideas that I work into my stories. Here are a few from the list I keep that I haven't used yet. . .

Exodus 10:21 "Darkness that could be felt."
Wowzer. What in the world would that feel like? Heavy? Damp? Suffocating? Take a moment and think about what darkness might feel like to you.

Psalm 141: 7 "Bones are scattered at the mouth of a grave."
The first question that pops into my mind is why? What in the world were the bones doing outside the grave? Who dug them up? What were they going to do with those bones? Recently I went and visited my dad's grave for Memorial Day. How would I feel if I saw a pile of bones there?

Numbers 22 ~ The story of Balaam
Balaam was a prophet who spoke blessings or curses. What would the job description be for someone who was only a curse speaker? How would a curse speaker get the job? How would other people treat you?

Those are the kinds of crazy thoughts that run through an author's mind simply from an everyday activity. Routine doesn't have to be the bane of existence. With just a little thought, you can use any daily task as an opportunity to let your mind wander off the leash and discover a whole new neighborhood of creativity.