Tag: inspiration

The Power of Words: Shall We Sing?

by Ninagracia, posted in The Power of Words, Writing, Writing Prompts

Let’s admit it. When we hear dance music, it is hard to ignore the beat. So, we tap our feet, snap our fingers, tilt our heads to the left and to the right, and we sing along with it. That rush of excitement made us dance (when there’s no one watching) or if you are brave enough, grab someone to dance along with you.

Image by: https://www.nicepng.com/

Okay, that is how I imagined we would typically do it. But what about if we read song lyrics? What would you do aside from singing it to yourself?

This is your writing prompt number 5.

You can sing the song, or you can do something with it.

When we listen to music, it grabs our attention, and we momentarily get lost in the tune, beat and melody of the song. Sometimes we don’t even realise that every word or phrase on those songs convey some thoughts and emotions.

Because every song has a story behind it.

Reading song lyrics can make our minds wander around. The words in the song can inhibit new ideas, images, unlock memories and emotions.

We can create something new or write a new story, poem, or even a new song based on the song lyrics. The possibilities are endless.

Okay, let’s begin. Let’s do it one bite-size at a time.

For those who love the “Blues”, here are a few lines that would be great to start with.

GIVE ME ONE REASON (By Tracy Chapman)

Give me one reason to stay here
And I’ll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I’ll turn right back around

Said I don’t wanna leave you lonely
You got to make me change my mind

MISTY BLUE (By Dorothy Moore)

Oh, it’s been such a long, long time
Look like I’d get you off of my mind
But I can’t
Just the thought of you (just the thought of you)
Turns my whole world misty blue (misty blue)

Oh honey, just the mention of your name (just your name)
Turns the flicker to a flame
Listen to me good, baby
I think of the things we used to do
And my whole world turns (misty blue) misty blue

For the lovers of “Country Music”, I got these for you…

HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT
(By Kris Kristofferson, Lorrie Morgan)

Take the ribbon from your hair
Shake it loose and let it fall
Laying’ soft upon my skin
Like the shadows on the wall
Come and lay down by my side
Till the early morning’ light
All I’m takin’ is your time
Help me make it through the night

SUSPICIOUS MINDS (By Elvis Presley)

We’re caught in a trap
I can’t walk out
Because I love you too much baby
Why can’t you see
What you’re doing to me
When you don’t believe a word I say?
We can’t go on together
With suspicious minds (suspicious minds)
And we can’t build our dreams
On suspicious minds

Feel like “Dancing”? I got that covered too…

HAPPY (By Pharrell Williams)

It might seem crazy what I’m ’bout to say
Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break
I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don’t care baby by the way
Huh, because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

MAN IN THE MIRROR (By Michael Jackson)

I’m gonna make a change,
For once I’m my life
It’s gonna feel real good,
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right
As I, turn up the collar on
My favorite winter coat
This wind is blowing my mind
I see the kids in the streets,
With not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind?
Pretending not to see their needs
A summer disregard, a broken bottle top
And a one man soul
They follow each other on the wind ya’ know
‘Cause they got nowhere to go
That’s why I want you to know
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
(If you want to make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself, and then make a change)
(Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah

You don’t have to be old to like “Jazz”. Raise your hand if you are…

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD (By Louis Armstrong)

I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, “How do you do?”
They’re really saying
“I love you”

DON’T KNOW WHY (By Nora Jones)

I waited ’til I saw the sun
I don’t know why I didn’t come
I left you by the house of fun
I don’t know why I didn’t come
I don’t know why I didn’t come
When I saw the break of day
I wished that I could fly away
Instead of kneeling in the sand
Catching teardrops in my hand
My heart is drenched in wine
But you’ll be on my mind
Forever

When we hear the name Michael Jackson, what comes to mind is “Rhythm and Blues“.

ONE DAY IN YOUR LIFE (By Michael Jackson)

One day in your life
You’ll remember a place
Someone touching your face
You’ll come back and you’ll look around, you’ll

One day in your life
You’ll remember the love you found here
You’ll remember me somehow
Though you don’t need me now
I will stay in your heart
And when things fall apart
You’ll remember one day

END OF THE ROAD (By Boyz II Men)

Girl you know we belong together
I don’t have no time for you to be playing with my heart like this
You’ll be mine forever baby
You just wait

We belong together
And you know that I am right
Why do you play with my heart?
Why do you play with my mind?
Said we’d be forever
Said it’d never die

How could you love me and leave me and never
Say goodbye?

If you want fantastic music that “Rock”, I got you covered too…

MEMORIES (Elvis Presley)

Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Quiet thought come floating down
And settle softly to the ground
Like golden autumn leaves around my feet
I touched them and they burst apart with sweet memories
Sweet memories

BLOWING IN THE WIND (By Bob Dylan)

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, ‘n’ how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they’re forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind

Some people say music is good for the “Soul” …

LEAN ON ME (By Bill Withers)

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there’s always tomorrow
Lean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
‘Til I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on

HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART (By Al Green)

I can think of younger days when living for my life
Was everything a man could want to do
I could never see tomorrow, but I was never told about the sorrow
And how can you mend a broken heart?
How can you stop the rain from falling down?
How can you stop the sun from shining?
What makes the world go round?How can you mend this broken man?
How can a loser ever win?
Please help me mend my broken heart and let me live again

Had enough?

Music can lift our spirit and mood. It encourages us to seek inspiration to create something new.

Pen a story, a poem, a new song, or new characters for your story.

Use the power of words. Use those lyrics to inspire your creativity.

Till next time, remember – “Music eases the mind and puts all worries behind”.

And oh – as long as you don’t ask me to sing, we’ll be best friends forever.


See ya!



Ninagracia

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
Lyrics: https://www.music.youtube.com/











Does Age Really Matter?

by Ninagracia, posted in Writing, Writing Advice

The house is clean, dishes are done, dinner is cooked, so what’s next?

Over the years, you have accustomed yourself doing these routines daily. This is your weekend, but you are stuck with household chores.

You thought about the years – those years you put in towards working to make a living. It was a job that you dreaded sometimes, but you have to get up in the morning and go to work. No matter what your job is about, it paid your bills, your mortgage, and sent your children to school.

You found it hard to balance your priorities between work, family, and doing the job you like to do.

Just like everybody else, you chose family first, and you got yourself doing something you never enjoyed.

Your children are all grown-ups now, but sometimes you feel like you are too old to do anything anymore.

So, what if you are now in your 40’s, 50’s, or in your 60’s. Does it really matter how old you are when it comes to pursuing that dream of writing a book one day?

Are you still stuck on that chair contemplating what it would have been like if you pursued that dream?

Or, perhaps you are still wrapped up with the idea that the right time and opportunity will come. One day maybe, but not today!

That day is NOW.

You reached the prime of your life, your golden years. Everybody deserves something better – YOU, me, and the entire human race.

The opportunity that you have been waiting for has come. Right NOW, TODAY. It wouldn’t knock on your door. It is already there waiting. You need to take the necessary action and do what you have been waiting for a very long time.

This is the moment in your life to be the person you wanted to be and what you always wanted to do.

Write that book. You have so much wisdom to share.

Peel off the old YOU because it’s time for you to shine.

Do not focus on your age. It is just a number and be proud of it. The higher the number goes, the greater the experience and maturity you have within you.

You have so much to offer because your experiences are your lessons. You passed those lessons, and you learned from it, so it’s time to share it and let everyone learn from you.

So, till next time. Dream big and make it happen.

 

Desperately Looking for Inspiration

by Ninagracia, posted in Writing, Writing Advice

Our society today is full of surprises. One minute you are a nobody, then suddenly, you have that glittering fifteen minutes that shoot you to fame and stardom. All you did is act silly, say something to create a mass debate, or do nothing, but you still get the attention.

It doesn’t work in the writing world. We don’t get the fifteen minutes to stardom because we need more than fifteen minutes. It takes a long time and many hours of work just to come up with some right materials or ideas.

Most of us, especially new writers or authors, struggle most of the time to find a consistent flow of ideas for our story.

It looks like this is the common denominator for everyone who is in the creative writing world.

We need the inspiration to make our writing flow smoothly. We want to showcase our artistic talent, and at the same time, we want the balance to project to our readers our style without compromising delivering good quality stories.

Waiting for inspiration to come to us is near to impossible. Where do we get it, or where can we find it? If it is something that I can buy, I will buy them all and keep them in my fridge.

Inspiration comes in different forms to any writer. It could be the object of your affection if you are in a romantic relationship, or it could be anything that makes your mind race, and your heartbeats.

Inspiration could be just the state of our mind. It is something like this – we are not feeling it, or not in the mood to do such a thing.

Remember when you don’t feel like cooking dinner for your family? What about when you couldn’t be bothered answering your emails or your text messages? Hey, what about cleaning your house too?

We don’t need the inspiration to do all those things. We don’t feel like doing them.

I, for one, am guilty of the above. I’m not particularly eager to do those things not because I need to be inspired. I was feeling lazy at that time.

Most of us associate inspiration to love or being in love. We look at our muse as our source of strength. It powers our mind to be artistic, imaginative, and creative. It empowers us to take the leap and transport our vision from pen to paper.

What happens when inspiration did not come to us? Indeed, we don’t know where to find it. So, all we could do was wait for it to come to us.

And, if it doesn’t come to us, does it mean we can’t start that story that’s been on our head for a long time?

Should our writing take a second spot because inspiration didn’t come to us?

If we wait, then we will never be able to start writing that story. Just imagine finishing it too.

Personally, I have issues with inspiration. Waiting for it to come to me had cost me so much time. It was a complete waste of time because it will never occur to you.

I’ve learned to look for it, hunt it down, and I used it while I have it.

I discovered that I could get inspiration anywhere. I love chocolates, so I write down what I felt when I ate that bar of chocolate.

I like watching people too. So, I watched people walked past my street while I vacuumed the floor. When I’m done, I sit near the window and watch. I came up with some good descriptions I thought I could use for my characters.

I hunted down my inspiration and used it to the max until it leaves me again.

I am no longer worried about where to find inspiration. I know how to look for it, and at the same time, I felt that I don’t need it anymore.

It doesn’t stop me from sitting in front of my computer and writing. I typed any word that I could think of, not sentences, just word. One word became two, then three, it became a sentence, and more sentences, and so on, and so on.

Getting into the habit of sitting in front of my computer every day helped me improved my attitudes towards working consistently and having a positive approach towards achieving an undertaking.

Once in while I still need to be inspired to write effectively. It doesn’t hurt to want it so badly. I go through some bad days every now and then, and it’s not all too bad to wish that my muse would come and generously throw his magic dust on to me.

Always remember, we create magic, not our muse.