Photo Content from Helen Scheuerer
Helen is also the Founding Editor of Writer’s Edit (www.writersedit.com), an online literary magazine and learning platform for emerging writers. It’s now one of the largest writers’ platforms in the world.
Helen’s love of writing and books led her to pursue a Bachelor of Creative Arts, majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Wollongong and a Masters of Publishing at the University of Sydney.
Helen is now a full-time author living by the beach.
TEN WAYS I GET INSPIRED TO WRITE
As someone who writes for a living, it can be challenging to stay inspired 24/7… Like any job, writing full-time can lead to burnout, or a lull in motivation.
So I thought I’d give the readers of BookNerd a glimpse into how I get inspired to write…
1. TRAVEL
One of the most creatively invigorating things to do is travel. Whether it’s a simple day trip down the coast, or a full-blown overseas adventure, nothing opens your eyes like taking in new sights.
One of my most memorable and inspiring trips was my recent one to Edinburgh. I fell head over heels for this city, and its rich history and architecture provided me with buckets of inspiration for my novel, REIGN OF MIST.
2. READ
When I’m feeling flat, or down about my work, sometimes reading an old favourite can light the spark again.
I always go back to Harry Potter, Throne of Glass or Shades of Magic when I find I need a pick-me-up.
In fact, it was books like Throne of Glass that inspired me to change from writing literary fiction to YA fantasy, and thus, Heart of Mist was born!
3. WATCH THE OCEAN
Not too long ago, I moved closer to the beach. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wandered down to the sand and sat with a notebook in my lap, watching the waves break.
It’s incredibly therapeutic. Half the time I don’t even write anything down, but simply the act of sitting there, breathing in the fresh ocean air, does wonders for the soul.
If you don’t have easy access to a beach, I think the same could be said for any type of nature really. Go for a walk in the park and just getting outside in general can help hit a mental ‘refresh’ button.
4. TALK TO OTHER WRITERS
Talking to other writers is a crucial part of the process. It’s reassuring to know that you’re not alone in your craft and in your struggles.
I often find that by chatting to my writer friends about my problems, I often stumble across the solutions.
5. CREATE PINTEREST BOARDS
Creating Pinterest boards is another way I get myself inspired to write. I created boards for characters, settings and even finer details like weaponry and costuming when I was writing Heart of Mist.
Looking at these boards while I’ve got a Word doc open always helps the words start flowing.
6. WATCH MOVIES & TV SHOWS
You can learn a lot about narrative and characterisation from watching movies and tv shows in your chosen genre.
I find series great sources of inspiration, as an episode is similarly structured to a chapter. They’re great examples of how to create a smaller story arc within a larger one!
7. LISTEN TO WRITING PODCASTS
There’s nothing quite like listening to other authors discuss their craft and their writing experiences.
Personally, I love:
- Write Now Podcast
- Words and Nerds
- The Creative Penn
8. CREATE MY OWN PLAYLIST
If you follow me on social media, you might have seen that I share music playlists for my books.
When I’m writing particularly tricky scenes and feel a bit blocked, I create these playlists to spark my imagination.
I mainly use instrumental pieces from films and tv shows (like the LOTR score or the GOT score) and order these in a way that suits the scene I’m writing.
Currently I have playlist for both Heart of Mist and Reign of Mist.
9. EXERCISE
Never underestimate the impact exercise has on your work ethic and mental acuity. I try to go for a walk or a run at least once a day to clear my head.
I definitely notice that when I slack off on exercise, I feel foggy and less inclined to push myself to write.
10. SET ACHIEVABLE GOALS
The final thing that inspires me to write is setting achievable goals. Writing is a marathon, not a sprint, so it’s healthy to set goals that are realistic.
For example, my current writing and publishing goals are: 1 novel a year + 3 short stories. So far I’ve been able to achieve this, and that I can, motivates me to sit down at my desk every day!
Still grieving the death of her guardian and dangerously self-medicating with alcohol, Bleak is snatched from her home by the Commander of the King’s Army, and summoned to the capital.
But the king isn’t the only one interested in Bleak’s powers.
The leader of an infamous society of warriors, the Valia Kindred, lays claim to her as well, and Bleak finds herself in the middle of a much bigger battle than she anticipated.
Heart of Mist is the gripping first book in The Oremere Chronicles, a fantasy series of epic proportions.
Praise for HEART OF MIST
"I fell in love with the world Scheuerer has built..." ―Book Series Recaps
"Scheuerer has crafted a vibrant world shrouded in magic, mystery and deadly mist, slowly revealing a back story that has the reader clamouring to know more. Heart of Mist ends on the promise of future adventure, and I for one can't wait to go!" ―the AU review
"A brilliant, absorbing read - I absolutely loved it. The dark, rich characterisation, the wonderful world building, the breathtaking plot and the beautiful writing make the whole experience a joy from start to finish." ―Alexandra Nahlous
"Heart of Mist is captivating in its world-building and brilliant character development. Scheuerer is a true master at weaving together magic, mystery, passion and politics in her standout debut." ―The Literary Casanova
"Heart of Mist is an incredible fantasy novel: magic, hints of romance, friendship, betrayal, secrets and deeply rooted plot twists abound... A unique fantasy series that I can see easily becoming one of my all-time favourite fantasy novels." ―The Book Tweeter
"Scheuerer's tale is intense, filled with details of scenes of action, despair and danger. Well-defined characters will leap off the pages as Bleak and the rest come to life. Scheuerer has done a fabulous job of pulling me into her story and her world. A wonderful fantasy series with a very firm foundation to build upon!" ―Tome Tender
You can purchase Heart of Mist at the following Retailers:
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