Friday 5 March 2010

Inspiration, Images & Sound.

I've heard it said many writers (authors) are inspired to write because of music and images, even a snipit of coversation oveheard in a restaurant, train/plane etc., can turn out to be the first or last spoken line within a novel.

Well, I have to say a while back I saw a painting of two men engaged in mortal combat. Now why, I don't know, but to me they looked like father and son and very definitely on opposing sides of a war situation.

And, if you're not familiar with the way I come by stories, I'll give you a quick update. I go to bed not knowing when characters will materialise in a dream, their story complete by morning via cinematic experience. Needless to say, "father and son" came alive, so too the female protagonist and why the men were fighting!

It is a historical plot, and I can't wait to get on with it.

When if ever it's accepted by a publisher, I'll post the image here and then I think you'll understand why it stuck in the subconscious and why the characters became real!

Anyhow, thinking images, isn't this romantic, and I'd love to know if it invokes an inkling of inspiration within you, as in, who the couple might be and if it's as romantic as it looks given the sombre ambience.

4 comments:

Angie Peters said...

Oooh Francine, that sounds so intriguing! Makes me question what are they fighting about? Must be big if they're engaged in mortal combat. It's fantastic that you are so in tune with your subconcious that you dream the story! I wish I could do that.

As for the painting above: Maybe it's their last dance. Or maybe by dancing, that's the only way they can have physical contact since being together is forbidden. Why? So many questions.

I love finding inspiration in pictures :)

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Angie,

I love your take on "forbidden" aspect. That really conjurs, as you say, Why?

re "mortal combat", yep it's big the rift between them, and not just that of a woman! ;)

best

F

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

What a lovely painting. Suggests so many possibilities.

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Suzanne,

Yep, the possibilities are endless!