L. Saige Johnson

I’ve talked recently about my current writer’s block slump that I’ve been trapped in. It’s no fun, let me tell you, to have lots of ideas and no clue how to put them anywhere. I have a few projects plotted out, but actually getting it out of my brain is where my biggest struggle is. Lately, I’ve been avoiding working on anything new trying to get myself to work on one of my current projects, but I realize now what a hinderance to my process this actually is.

On Monday, I had a dreadfully boring required work training that was the most “this could have been an email” meeting I’ve ever experienced. It was over seven hours of mostly redundant and simple information, but my ass was getting paid so you know I was sat. I always bring a little notebook with me wherever I go, and in the midst of this meeting, inspiration struck.

You see, I’ve had this idea for a while to play with the idea of changelings, and what they could mean in a world full of fae, as well as where the real world concept of them came from. I’ve read stories where changelings are driven away and the original child being brought back, but what if someone were to raise the changeling? That this fae is just different, and with the original child being saved, this innocent fae needs a home?

I really liked this concept, as well as playing with themes of differences not always being bad. I’ve seen speculation that the mythos of changelings originated around neurodivergences in children, and parents believing that there is no way their actual child could be far from their expectations. Many changeling attributes include preferring isolation, unique speech patterns, vocal tones, lack of emotions or physical affection, and other tendencies that can be reflected in those with autism, ADHD, or other neurodivergent conditions. The mythos side of changelings always seemed so interesting to me, since typically they didn’t make the decision to be crib swapped themselves. They are a trade with the human baby, and innocent in their role. What’s to stop the changeling from receiving love that they deserve?

One other idea I’ve tossed around is where I can fit in a main character who does not have romance at the forefront of their plot. Or even at all. I’d love to be able to write an aromantic character and show how there is still so much meaning and joy in life that does not stem from romance. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some good romantasy, but in a time where that;s what’s flying off the shelf, could I make a novel without any still stand out?

So, how can I bring these ideas to light? How can I have a changeling that is innocent to their role in the disappearance of a child and still have them be seen as their own entity still deserving of love, as we all are? How can I combine this sentiment with a character who won’t have romance central to their character? The ideas were starting to come.

Inspiration struck during this boring training, and in the back of the room, I scribbled down multiple pages of notes, characters, relationships, and a mystery that even I am still piecing together. A story of a stolen prince, a witch summoned to find the real babe, and the changeling that would become her family. Finally, the perfect conditions had come together and I was doing it: I was writing.

Well, plotting. Which is basically the same thing. But the pieces are still coming together in a very exciting way, and be assured that more details will come about this project as it begins to manifest.

All of this bring me back to the title of this here article: the relationship between inspiration and boredom. In a world where we tend to always be alleviating boredom, through the overconsumption of media, usually, I think it can be hard for inspiration to find the right time to strike. But in those moments where we are deprived from such stimulation, I think that can be the best time for inspiration to strike. Just like me during my meeting last week. Driving home from work is another time where my mind can wander to new concepts. And thinking back on it, much of the story for Of Voyages and Virtues came to me while I was walking laps in gym. I’d plot adventures for the main characters to explore on the new continent. And while the shape of the project has gone in another direction, I owe a lot of the ideas to those boring class periods without earbuds.

What is unfortunate about this is that truly boring situations can be hard to create. It makes me consider a lockdown browser and making my boyfriend hide my phone so I’ll actually do work when I sit at my computer, instead of doing the Wordle or crossword for the day. Discipline is something I’ve been hesitant to place upon myself, because I want writing to be something that never feels like work, but I’m realizing now that I need to find some sort of happy median, where I can keep the joy of spontaneity with some more structure.

So! I think this new burgeoning project is the perfect time to experiment with this. Through the next few weeks, I hope to try applying a bit more rigid ‘writing time’ into my schedule, creating a vacuum that can only be filled by actually writing and plotting. In a few weeks, I hope to have a positive update to share with you all, and maybe even a new official blurb to add to my current works page.

Until then, stay bored! Inspiration strikes when you least expect it.

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