I’ve been asked a few times how I come up with story ideas and the things I write about for the newspaper.
And while every iteration of those questions never ceases to appear in my life – I don’t have the same answer every time.
Also, I have to admit that when such queries are made while I’m in the middle of covering an event or meeting, then I’m usually giving a flippant answer.
Over the years, I have tried to cultivate a mental bank of appropriate responses to provide quickly to the person asking me about what inspires my work.
Depending on who the asker might be, I’ll have specific replies just for them, too.
After all, some are repeat of offenders with a streak of curiosity a mile wide, and all but they still feel the need to ask the same question a few weeks later.
But, really, the thing that dictates most of my stories is stressed by scheduling and importance.
Now, that doesn’t stop me from being inspired to tell a specific story about one item or organization.
Some organizations inspire me to even volunteer my time for their sake, too.
Other times, my inspiration comes from a key phrase or facts mentioned that drive me to explore more on said subjects and possible stories for the newspaper.
And I do have to say that over the years, I might be unsure of a topic to write about and end up asking for Mike’s and my mom’s opinion on the matter.
We talk through difficult or complex stories all the time, and sometimes that can even affect the overall story inspiration.
I think I’m inspired most of all by the truth of matters and standing up for those in the written word.
Not only are newspapers for entertainment and news, but, readers are also seeking for what’s going on in their community as a whole.
While we can’t be in every place-everywhere for everything all at once, we try to have enough friendship connections throughout the county just in case.
Still, going back to what inspires me the most when it comes to writing is hard to pin down to an exact science.
I like to think that I get most of my motivation with the help of heavy metal music and caffeine.
Or, in the case where it comes to my Reel Reviews movie review column, I have to catch a newly released flick on either a streaming service or at our local theater.
But, I also get to take ideas from mom and Mike’s brains to help me with writer’s blocks or if it is taking too long to find the research I need for my topic.
Brainstorming sessions also help energize a subject that might have been previously far too boring for me to feel motivated to do.
While I know some people have turned to artificial intelligence algorithms and applications, I’m not one to keep up with that too much.
I’m a bit like Will Smith’s Del Spooner character from “I, Robot” for all of that nonsense – I’ve seen “Terminator” and know not to trust a computer system to do everything for me.
