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My father is an amazing photographer. He hasn't photographed professionally since before I was born, but it's still one of my favorite things about him. I don't have the patience or talent to pursue the art professionally, but I do love taking pictures, and I have a whole collection of photos I keep in a file on my desktop labeled "Inspo pics". Here are some of my favorites.
I have a thing for Ferris Wheels. It's kind of a long story, but whenever I see one I have to take pictures of it. This is my view from the bottom of the Wheel at Navy Pier in Chicago, which I visited with one of my best friends, Kristie, on an epic summer road trip. There was so much win during those two weeks, but I think this was probably my favorite day--nothing on the agenda but bumming around, in what was otherwise a insane schedule.
The loves of my life. I semi-retired from writing for a long time before I fell in love with another creative person who encouraged me to dust myself off and get back in the game.
He's my hero. She's the best thing either of us will ever create.This is my favorite photo I've taken of them together.
My brief stint as a Russian. I did a study abroad program while earning my Masters in Clinical Social Work. We toured Moscow and spent a couple weeks in Volgograd learning about the adoption and juvenile justice systems. It's one of the bravest things I've ever done--leaving my country and my family and going to a world completely different from my own for a few whirlwind weeks one summer. I was violently ill and more violently homesick the entire time, but the experience made me stronger at a time in my life when that was exactly what I needed to learn to be. Russia has yet to find its way into one of my stories but it will. My experiences being dropped into a foreign land where I couldn't read the alphabet, much less the language definitely will.
Symbolism on the side of the road. Another image from that epic summer road trip. I think at some point shortly before our trip there must have been a hurricane, which is nearly impossible since I took this picture in Memphis, Tennessee. So maybe it was a tornado then? Either way, this gaggle of signage was legitimately located on the exit ramp we took to our hotel and I felt like it was so symbolic of my life at the time. A little bit twisted, a little misdirected, but somehow still in the right place.
The evolution of literary pen pals. I wouldn't know any of these women if it weren't for the interwebz, and I don't really know what I did before I "met" them. I know I wouldn't be writing without Dawn (far left) and Suzanne (far right) who have been two of my first, most vital beta readers and my head cheerleaders through the fires of hell that is querying. I think they champion my manuscripts more than I do. My cheerleaders, my sisters, and proof positive that the intewebz bring special people together who are meant to leave imprints on each others lives. Pictures of my readers and CPs keep me writing, even when the form rejections scream for me to give up.
Beyond these standards, I have files for each of my manuscripts--pictures of what I think my characters might wear or settings might look like. Funny memes that seem like things characters would say or think.
Do you use photos or images to inspire your writing?
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