Melissa Marr: Chasing Impulses

Writing, for me, is about curiosity and impulses. Seeing a documentary on hauntings led me to the Mojave to spend a weekend at a ghost town. Complimenting a musician led to passes to a few shows. Getting tattoos led to learning how a tattoo machine works. Most of this leads to getting to meet people and hear their voices—and all of it ripples through my writing sooner or later.

For me, writing isn't practical or orderly. It's not about attending workshops or reading "how to write" books (although a good grammar & style handbook is a wonderful thing). It's about living, being, and pursuing passions. Breathe in art & energy. Listen to the muse. Live. Talk to people. Gaze on oceans or ruins or art. Curl up with Faulkner or the history of architecture. IMHO, that's the best recipe for storytelling in any medium: curiosity and experience.

So, what sparks your curiosity? What makes you sigh? What piques your interest? (And please do feel invited to share. Hearing people's words and interests fascinates me). Exploring that is the secret to writing…at least that's how I do it. My impulses lead me to experiences and people and places that enthrall me. That's how I nourish Ms. Muse. When my muse is nourished, she dances—and so the words flow on to the page. Whether it results from what we learn or who we meet, paying attention to the impulses can give us what we need to create a story (or song or painting or sculpture). Plus, well, it's just fun.

Melissa Marr
Author of Wicked Lovely (June 2007)