A love of the process of writing inspires me. I write because it’s fun.

When I first sit down in front of my computer, I never feel like I have anything to say. A little free writing for a few minutes gets the ideas flowing.

Living mindfully is important to me, and I write about that. My meditation teacher says the most wonderful and practical and profound things, and I’ll take something she says and riff on it.

What you said about how reading something another person wrote is like exploring their mind is so true. When someone lets you read their journal, for instance, you get a whole new insight into them that you don’t get from conversation.

You were talking in another thread about copywriting — are you a professional writer? I study copywriting because it helps my blogging. And because it’s cool.

Great question, Danielle.

Ideas matter. They change lives and lift people and improve conditions or they do the very opposite. I’m inspired to write because I’m inspired by the prospect of helping change the lives of those living somewhere south of their potential. I’m also inspired by the art and craft of writing. I love the creative outlet writing is for me. So when you combine the creative side of writing with the meaning and purpose side of helping others live with more courage, wisdom and happiness, I’m hooked, driven and inspired to keep at it.

Great question!

I was just sitting here being grateful about never experiencing writer’s block because the topics I write about (goals, overcoming obstacles, inspiration, creativity, and parenting) are constantly showing up and taking form in my own life.
This is what inspires me.

Experiences, both good and “bad”, have so much to offer for personal growth. Writing is my way of sharing my story. Something, I struggled with all my life…until I started blogging. 🙂

Hi Danielle,

In my case there’s a lot of reasons that motivate me to write. I write most of the times as a catharsis, because sometimes it’s a bit hard to find the right place or even the right person to express what I actually feel, and when I do this, it’s funny, it’s like I can’t stop writing hehe. In other cases, I write to myself about the things I’m experiencing, places to know.

Well, I think that writting is way of self knowledge because what we write is the reflection of our being, so, sometimes sometimes I do it to know better myself. I use to write, let the paper on the desk, and come back and read it. I feel often like I’m writing a text written by another one, that really opens my mind to who I really am :).

Nice to know Danielle.

A lot of times I am struck by a word, phrase, or picture. One book I wrote was based on watching an old Buster Keaton silent film. I took one of the women involved in that movie and started wondering what would happen if she and her movie partner were suddenly living out a series of real life cliffhangers. The other book I wrote was based on a real life unsolved murder in Minnesota in the late 1930’s. St. Paul was a gangster haven in the 30’s,so I tied her case into that scenario and started writing away. My current one is because I was reading a biography of Henry VIII an noticed that the Duke of Norfolk from that time looked strikingly like my late father. Seemed like a fun idea to have them both haunting each other through time. Occasionally I just start writing and see what happens. Predicting how the muse strikes me is tough.

The time absolutely flies when I get in “the zone” and if I hit a prolific stage I can do a few pages a day easily. That’s when its the most fun. When I struggle in life, I find my creativity suffers too.

Awesome thoughts…
Yes, my father RIP, could have been Vincent Van Gogh’s twin.
strange days, stranger minds.