Where do you get your inspiration to write?

As writers, we get our inspiration from various sources. It could be our life experiences, observations of others' experiences, a movie or a photograph.

I have found some quotes that describe the way I feel about writing. I am thrilled to know that I am not the only one who has ever felt this way.

Read what Anaïs Nin says about the role of a writer:

"The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say."

Joel Chandler Harris says: "Write about what you know and care deeply about. When one puts one's self on paper — that is what is called good writing."

I have put myself on paper. It is scary. But, it is so liberating. When you are afraid of being rejected, it is real scary.

In 2012, I want to continue to write, even with all of the obstacles. I have many; my full-time job, my time at home with family, my audience or the lack of one and my own thoughts of failure. The following quotes are to encourage me and other writers.

"Anyone can become a writer. The trick is staying a writer." ~Harlan Ellison

You must keep sending work out; you must never let a
manuscript do nothing but eat its head off in a drawer.
You send that work out again and again, while you're
working on another one. If you have talent, you will
receive some measure of success - but only if you persist.
~Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992)

"Omit needless words. Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.
(William Strunk, Jr.)

I encourage you to write in the coming year. Even if it is a journal of your own day-to-day life. One day you are going to want to remember what happened today and you won't be able to. You think that you don't want to remember, but one day, you will think back and wonder....what was I doing at the end of 2011? And you will want to remember, believe me.

So, write what you know. You don't have to make up some fantasy world, like Avatar. Just write about your experiences, your thoughts, your ideas and see what happens. It can be very therapeutic, if anything.

So, what gives you inspiration to write?