Where Does Writing Hide?

We did this in my creative writing class and I loved it so I thought I'd share with you guys

Where does writing hide? Where can you find insperation? (Be specific! Don't say 'nature' say 'in leaves frozen in a pond')

My list (see the full list in my blog):

-in the odd shadows of a classroom
-in a high school hallway, after hours
-on a train
-in the few moments between dreaming and waking
-in the basement playing video games
-in a dropped library card
-in the lion charm on a bracelet
-in a stairwell
-in the window of an abandoned building
-in the click of cowboy boots on the continence store floor
-in winter scarves and hats
-on the starfish covered rocks at low tide
-in a fallen seagull feather
-under a bridge
-in a chain-linked enclosed graveyard
-the time you become most aware of just how fast your plane is traveling as it lands
-in a child who takes large strides to step in his father’s footprints to avoid disturbing any more newly fallen snow
-in a game of hide-and-seek
-in a house overgrown with weeds
-in 200 free arcade tickets
-in an old love note you find in a used book you just bought
-everywhere
-nowhere

So, where has your writing been hiding?

-in that old book that I never seem to read, but pull out now and then to be reminded exactly how old it is and marvel at the yellow pages and the dusty smell inside of it.

-in the memories of books I've read, and how I want to do something good like that.

~~
This is different...what is it supposed to 'bring out' in ones self?

~in the old postcards I have with barely legible writing, speaking of loves and affairs long played out.

~in the book that smells musty, and fits perfectly in my hand, with older forms of english proudly displayed on the inside.

~the memory of the perfect day, and the wish I could capture that moment and do it justice

~in history, and all the what-ifs I want to answer, even if the answer is naught but a fleeting fancy of mine

~in the bell tower at school, and the basement/bomb shelter rumored to be found under one of the older buildings

~in the pictures of past graduated classes that line the halls in the main building at school

-In every drop of rain I wish had landed on me
-On buses and trains where there is only time to think and stare out the window.
-In darkness, where nothing is confined to a physical form.
-In the words of great people that you never met, yet somehow you're convinced that you couldn't live without them.
-In evil, just because we'd rather be evil than indifferent
-In the eyes of everyone that deserves a story, even though they'd never tell the whole thing
-In photographs where the picture is far simpler than the moment could ever have been
-In the Mexican flag on my alarm clock, because of that one day when we had nachoes and happiness.
-In the hills outside the city.
-In the only graveyard I've ever been in
-In every bit of space between here and the moon.
-Backstage at every theatre I've ever performed at
-Piccadilly cinema
-Bridgetown
-Under demountable classrooms and in the air vents
-The old chair I took from school
-The Westgate Bridge
-The airport - arrival and departure lounges
-That part of my mind that is searching desparately for something to make it complete. How I hate it.

This was actually really helpful to me. It was almost inspiring in a way. Well I guess now that I know where its hiding I can go find it and enslave it.

Great activity! Let's see how I do.

- The invigorating aroma of coffee on the air.
- Background noise of Disney movies.
- The wind ripping through dry autumn leaves.
- The chill of autumn afternoons.
- A single word spoken by my husband.
- The smell of familiar foods; bread and stew.
- the thick blanket of snow on the ground.
- the merry blinking of Christmas lights.
- a decorated Christmas tree.
- the bitter taste of dark chocolate.
- the fresh taste of a gala apple.
- a notebook in my lap.

Inspiration, I believe, is a gift from above. However speaking in only worldly terms, then I am inspired by the strength of the human spirit to live in spite of suffering, and from the desire to recognize it and give hope to those who are in it, and the desire to show human beings the profound beauty of our humanity.

If people realized half of what we are, or half of what we are capable of, I sincerely think it would amaze most people.

Not sure if that's as rosy as the rest of the replies, but... ^,^

That's a nice thought, Miwaki

-In my list of random words
-In the music I listen to everyday
-From conversations I hear people having when I walk through the hallways at my school
-By seeing people's expressions from afar
-From taking the scenic route walking home
-From my very own Creative Writing class! ^_^

- in my Ethics lectures
- in old buildings
- in history, and all the "what ifs" Mesh mentioned
- in fairytales I want to rewrite with stronger feminine leads and much less soppy dialogue
- in those awesome story ideas some bad writers inexplicably get hold of and destroy
- in losing
- in tragedy
- in contentment, and the sound of rain on the rooftops
- in getting wet in a warm summer shower
- in dreams about people I love
- in ghost stories spoiled by cliche endings
- overhearing snatches of conversations in the supermarket car park
- moving, changing, trying something new

-In music i listen to, normally the stuff that gives shivers down my spines
-when i play music, even if its just a stupid little tune i just made up
-through talking to friends, wondering what they were like
-looking at peoples faces
-going to a gig and wondering 'what happens after this?'
-whats in the news that interests me
-space, like the stars
-dreaming and elaborating on it later
-in exams (hehe)
-watching a keyboard/pen/pencil like its about to do a trick
-watching the weather
-feeling water
-making yourself feel the temperature outside whilst your inside
-stealing others ideas (ha)
-looking at a photo of someone
-drawing someone, just letting your hand go and it will make someones face for you right there.

Well i'm going to think more about this and come back (because 1: its really interesting, and 2: i dont know if i did it right!)
But it's helped a lot, in some shape or form. There's something very blissful in thinking about it. It's like classical music in words!
Wow.

-in a book of letters by van gogh
-anywhere in a high school, except in one hallway - smells like pee (uh huh) which can really kill an idea
-in a corn field in the day, where you can hide and no one will see you
-in a night sky you can get lost in

~ Looking up at the sky...

~ In the musty books littering my attic...

~ In every Disney movie I've ever seen...

~ In the smell of my newly-bought perfume...

~ Standing out in the rain while waiting for my boyfriend...

~ In the corner of my drama school, hiding away from all the noise...

~ In the bright pink beetle I see on the road every morning on the way to school...

~ In the creamy bar of chocolate sitting in the newsagents...

~ Written in pink pen on the box of chocolates, sitting on my desk on Valentine's Day.

~ And in the pages of the notepad that I wrote in when I was three years old...

RR*

--in interesting people
--in old books
--in the woods, near waterfalls on sunny fall days
--in an empty house
--on the porch, watching the sunset or rise over the trees
--in my grandmother's stories
--in special jewelry
--in certain foods
--in dresses and cooking
--in old shows
--in midnight food missions
--in a child's face
--in the people at the zoo
--in people that i don't know, guessing their stories
--in conversations heard in passing on the subway or the sidewalk
--in a loft high above the city
--in moonlit walks down the beach to the pier

- In the cobwebs of my mind.

- in old notebooks in drawers that are opened once a year
- in overheard conversations
- in ungodly hours of the morning
- in the feeling of holding fresh, fluffy snow in my hands