Where do you go to stir your inspiration? Where do you discover your muse? How do you pin down ideas and get into ‘flow’?
It struck me recently that Chat GPT and tarot cards — both new experiences for me in March — have a lot in common. Here’s why.
March was a packed month for me involving a trip to New Zealand to spend time with my mother who was flying back to England, a delightful writing retreat in Anglesea with a group of Melbournian writing friends, and now a couple of weeks, supposedly on a solo writing retreat with just me and my friends’ dog, Winston, but in reality my family have invaded, which I love, but am also utterly torn up about because it means sacrificing precious writing time (and we all love that, right?!).
Anyhow, in between times, I had a mess around on the bot Chat GPT to see what all the hoohah was about, and I have to admit, I could see a useful application for it especially if time is not your friend and you’re spinning out content for Indie publishing. I have fairly fixed ideas for my current WIP, so I had a play with ideas for potentially converting one of my books-in-the-bottom-drawer for a future series and Chat GPT came up with some reasonable ideas. I have an absolute loathing of writing synopses, I can see how it might help to give me the bones of a synopsis that I can then adapt to better suit my own style of writing. If I remember to use it in future (which is fairly unlikely), I might use it as a springboard for ideas, the same as you would discussing a story idea with your significant other half or writing friends.
In the same way, when I was on writing retreat, I was intrigued that some of the writers really believed in the usefulness of tarot cards to help their writing. There are books (very thick books) published on this very thing. Check out Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner.
To say I was sceptical was an understatement, but I’m always open ideas and suggestions so I gave it a punt. Again, I didn’t use it for my current book, but for the next idea I have lined up and bizarrely, the cards seemed to align with the ideas I already had, or was it the other way around, my ideas aligning with the cards…My brain began buzzing with connections and ideas. as a sidenote, a huge thank you to my gorgeous writing companions - Alison Stuart, Ebony Oaten, Beverley Eikli (B.G.Nettleton) Eliza Renton, Denise Ogilvie and Lexi Greene - for their wonderful company, brave hearts and great inspiration.
Anyhow, here’s the thing: suggestions, wherever they come from, get the brain’s synapses snapping and firing, and that can only be a good thing. Tarot, ChatGPT, news articles, friends, new places: any of these, and more of course, can trigger fresh ideas or at least stimulate your creative whirlpool, so it really starts whirling. My suggestion is if you feel stuck or just need a prompt, don’t be afraid of trying something new (preferably legal).
So far this year has not been the most productive in terms of word count, but I’m determined not to panic and go with the flow. I’ve done a huge amount of research into my next WIP. I’ve written a few thousand words. I’ve found inspiration and spent time with friends and family who are important to me. I wouldn’t say I’ve found my writing rhythm for the year yet, the story isn’t flooding from my fingertips, but it’ll come. And if I need a springboard, what better than my current desk right beside the water…
I’d love to hear about your writing springboards. I’d also love to know if you’ve used tarot cards for writing or ChatGPT, and if so, what were the results? Did it help? Are you a cynic or a psychic?
Here’s to a healthy distractions - may they bring you joy. And here’s also hoping I’ll get some story flow in April. I’m diving in…wish me luck.
Thanks for sharing this Anna. The beach and the retreat look very lovely and restorative! I can see why Tarot cards might prompt creative ideas - the visual component of the picture prompt, plus the way you can lay them out and move them around, goes beyond the verbal and the linear.