I was lucky. Growing up, I always knew what I wanted to do with my life. I’ve been reading since I was three, and I’ve been addicted to books since. It was only natural for me to go one step further with the one thing I love and become a writer.
I started writing my first novel when I was 12 years old. And back then, writing was difficult because I had so many ideas swarming around in my mind. Now, writing is difficult because I don’t have enough inspiration. One of the best ways for me to gather together inspiration is to connect with my inner child.
How do you connect with the inner child? Well, my personal favorite way is to go to my happy place: Disneyland.
Saturday, Husband of Mine and I spent the day at Disneyland and like always, it was amazing. Walking into the park, I always feel like a child again. I get excited over the silliest things whenever I’m there.
I like to point out all the hidden Mickeys and each character that we pass. I have way too many favorite rides. The smells, the sounds, the colors, everything makes me feel so alive. When I was writing Rose, I wrote a scene where they went to Disneyland Paris and I was able to describe everything about Main Street, U.S.A. in vivid detail from memory. Here’s what I wrote-
There were so many richly decorated shop windows. The reds and yellows were everywhere. Cast members paraded by wearing striped costumes and straw hats, their feet crunching the half-melted snow that remained from the previous night’s storm. As we passed an open door, a wave of sugary-vanilla hit me, colliding with the harsh cold. It smelled just like Remy’s pâtisserie. Tinkling orchestral music danced around me, carrying unreachable childhood memories. The music was accompanied by the click-clack of trash carts being pushed atop the pinkish-brown bricks.
Then it was the green and white of perfectly trimmed hedges, and trees settled with snow crystals in place of their missing leaves. The air hummed with crackling electricity, the tart static of magical possibilities settled on my skin.
As my eyes shifted once more, they were bombarded with pinks and blues from the glittering castle, also topped with a glowing coat of snow. The clanging and squeals from the various attractions faded due to the overwhelming nostalgia the drowned out all my senses. I just stood and stared.
I tend to have too many ideas at once! They're inspired by all sorts of things, or just pop into my head randomly. But if I really need to slow down and think about something, the best place for me is walking on the beach by the ocean. The scents, the sounds of the waves and the birds, the feel of soft sand under my feet, create the perfect environment for my ideas to grow into stories.
I love that excerpt from Rose! It feels like I'm there, even though I've never actually been to any Disneyland. You do an amazing job capturing the feel of the place.