Writing Everything

People often ask where I get my ideas. Or how I get inspiration. Most of the time, it comes in waves.

I’ll be working on an email newsletter, and suddenly, an idea for a picture book pops into my mind. Or during a novel-writing week, I may take a break and go for a run. Something I see on that run gives me the idea for an essay.

One of the clients for whom I regularly write is in the mental health industry. It still amazes me that while I am researching a mental health article, it can spark an idea for plot development for my middle-grade novel.

Why do I share this?

Inspiration builds on inspiration. Like the construction industry, when we start with a strong foundation of writing — no matter what kind — it gives us more latitude to expand.

After we place the first few bricks of a house, it’s easier to get into a rhythm, find our pace, and see patterns.

This is the number one reason I’m a huge fan of writing in multiple genres. Not only does it tend to happen naturally, this idea hopping, but it also keeps us from getting stuck as writers.

When we have more than one kind of writing project going at one time, we can switch back and forth, schedule time for each, and give attention to the one that’s the least frustrating on any given day.

So if someone asks you what you’re working on, just tell that person you are writing a little bit of everything. (Another bonus is being able to always answer this question.)

I’d love to hear if you write only in one genre or one kind of project at a time, or do you maintain a variety of multiple projects?