Writing Inspiration: A writer for all seasons

Magazines are already looking for articles for Christmas. It may seem strange to write festive stories in the current heat wave, but magazines usually look for articles and stories three months ahead. If you want to make money from writing, a good approach is to consider seasonal stories. 

Seasons, celebrations, commemorations and events can be an excellent hook for a wide range of writing, from articles to short stories or novels. Here are some tips to inspire you:

• Be original - there are already many Christmas stories out there - to catch the editor's attention yours needs to stand out, and give a different slant on the holiday. 
• Be different - look at other holidays and special days/ The UN has a calendar of special days and international observances. Researching and writing about one that appeals to you is another great way to write a sale-able article or story. 
• Be creative - did you know that today (Friday 7th of August) is International Beer day? In addition to the UN days, there are calendars of weird and wacky and different days that you can either write about, or include in your story. 
• Be commemorative - every day of the year links back to an event or war or disaster of some sort. Looking for events 'On this Day' can be another valuable source of story ideas. 

Next steps: 

• Research: Once you've found your inspiration, do some searching to find out more about it. If you are going to write an article, your research needs to be extensive. If you're simply looking for inspiration for fiction, then read enough to have accurate information for your story. 
• Imagine: Spend some time thinking about what it was like to witness the event. Concentrate on what you would have sensed if you were there - sights, sounds, tastes, feeling etc.  
• Write: start to write, pulling together everything you have read, researched and considered. 

Happy writing!