It surprises me sometimes where I find inspiration. For the last week or so, I’ve been watching all the seasons of “Supernatural” with my son. He had four wisdom teeth out and he’s as addicted to the show as I am. We started with Season 1 and we’ve almost finished with season four. Yes, I have a not-so secret crush on the Winchester boys, but it isn’t a lusty kind of thing. It’s a more of tough guys who make me laugh.
I noticed that while I’ve been watching the show I’ve been incredibly prolific with the writing. My story I’m working on has absolutely nothing to do with brothers or demon hunters. But it occurred to me today that the show has been inspiring me in a way. I’ve made my hero a little more accessible and he now has a sense of humor.
From the beginning of my story, I’ve liked him, but there was something that just didn’t feel right. He was too cold, but I couldn’t figure out why. After watching the show, I started, unconsciously, putting more humor in my story. It’s made a world of difference. The words have been falling out of my head and through my fingertips.
Before we began our “Supernatural” marathon, I’d watched Season 2 of “Big Bang Theory.” It gave me inspiration in a different way. I found the secret to making a slightly annoying character, completely lovable. It happens in moments. Small ones that might not seem like such a big deal, but they are. I also learned a little more about that push and pull in relationships. How you can be totally into someone, but still feel like you aren’t right for them.
When I first started writing fiction I was very much inspired by producers Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams. In fact, “Buffy” and “Alias” are still two of my favorite shows ever. Those two guys taught me how to write tough chicks, that have soft hearts. That it was okay to torture your heroine, as long as good beat evil in the end. I learned about crossing genres and so many other things that have carried through the last seven books I’ve written.
So what about you? What inspires you? Is there something you saw recently that inspired you to try something new? Tell me, I want to know. 
