The Mundane Inspired Writer

By Kate Brown Fisher

Some people think the life of a published writer is sunshine, roses, and exploring your “muse” under a large oak tree by a babbling brook. Well, maybe it is for some of us, but the large majority lead-get this- ordinary, average lives. Some of us even have “day jobs” to support our addiction to writing.

There is nothing wrong with leading an ordinary, mundane life, right? Websters defines mundane as “common-place, ordinary.” That does not always mean boring. For me, it usually means a nice morning of cleaning up after my three pets which I call kids from time to time. Followed by that is laundry, vacuuming, and all the other household duties associated with my “day job”. Most of our characters lead mundane lives until the action in our stories start. Much like a story, all the ordinary stuff connects the extra-ordinary. We wouldn’t know excitement or yearn for it if our lives were always fireworks and cocktail parties.

Before you give up on me, I want to stress to you that sometimes it is the mundane in life that gives us the incentive to be creative. That’s right! Sometimes my best ideas for my novels come when I’m slipping away in a sink full of dishes or folding clean socks. It might sound ridiculous at first, but I urge you to try it. I think the creative part of a writer’s brain can kick in to gear better when we aren’t trying to force ideas. My brain seems to come up with wackier but workable ideas when my brain is in chore-mode. Plus, you get the benefit of the dreaded household tasks being done faster (and more entertainingly).The more mundane the chore, the better.

Many people I know don’t really enjoy scrubbing toilets, but as a way to get creative, I cannot stress enough what a day or two of all-out mundane cleaning-out-the-garage will do for you. Mundane chores have even broken my writer’s block.

I have listed steps that I use when I do my “chores”. I sincerely think you should try it, who knows what you’ll come up with.

1. Just concentrate on the chore at first. Don’t force the ideas. Fold underwear, scrub the tub (don’t slip), clean out the monster junk-drawer. Just let your mind go blank and ideas will begin to pour in.
2. Let your mind wander. Okay, say you just thought up an ending to your latest novel. Go one step farther. Two steps. Think up an alternate ending. Get really whacky. Get even wackier!
3. Speak out loud. Narrate your story. Go all out. Parody your favorite actor or someone and pretend they are recording your “book on tape”. Act out the character’s dialogue with inflection, tone, and accent. Be a total ‘Drama Queen’ or ‘King’. Not only does your story become more real, but your kids will really think you have lost it. (not recommended for grocery shopping or dog-walking. They will think you are insane and who could blame them?)
4.  Ignore the phone. That’s what answering machines are for. Don’t interrupt your “story time”. If it is your agent with that big book deal, by all means, please answer it.
5. Type or write out your ideas ASAP! Every one has a good time to type or write their ideas out. Mine is usually when the toddler is napping in the afternoon or late at night when all (including that big baby hubby) are sleeping.

GOOD LUCK! You are going to have the cleanest and most organized house in town! Not to mention a best selling novel!