In to the unknown!

    As some one who is trying to be a writer, creating a vivid and engaging setting for your story can be a daunting task. Whether it's a fictional fantasy world or a familiar city street, the setting can make or break a reader's immersion in your story. That's why I've found searching out landscapes online from travel blogs to be an incredibly useful tool for inspiration. Social media algorithms work in such a way that once you start digging into travel and landscapes, you'll see more of it, so let the wormhole begin!

    The internet offers the ability to virtually explore places that you may never have the opportunity to visit in person. Travel blogs, social media, and photography websites offer a plethora of images and descriptions of stunning natural landscapes, bustling city streets, and quaint towns all over the world. Even if you're not planning on traveling, these resources can provide a wealth of inspiration for your writing. It's an inspiring journey to traverse the mountains on one page and then dip into the waters of a beach on the next.

    When trying to plot out the path of my book, I found myself struggling to create a vivid and engaging setting for the story's climax. I knew that I wanted it to take place in a natural landscape, but I wasn't sure what kind of environment would work best. That's when I turned to travel blogs and started browsing images of different landscapes. I was searching high and low for something that would spark a fun idea for a chase scene.

    That's when I came across a breathtaking photo of the Grand Canyon, with its winding river and towering red rock formations. Suddenly, I could picture my characters navigating the treacherous terrain, hiding from their pursuers behind towering rocks, and ultimately making their escape down the winding river. The landscape became a character in its own right, adding depth and complexity to the story. It painted a path to where I want my first book to end. Pairing a chase scene with the finale of a book creates a sense of accomplishment and success, leaving readers triumphant and wanting more.

    Using travel blogs for inspiration provides a variety of different types of landscapes to fit any story or mood. If you're writing a romantic story, you might search for images of beautiful beaches or quaint European towns. If you're writing a horror story, you might search for images of abandoned buildings or creepy forests. The possibilities are endless. For me, it's a lot of oceanside and mountains that are taking me on Nordic and Sicilian voyages!

    Of course, inspiration is not the same as imitation. While you may be inspired by a particular landscape or setting, it's important to make it your own and incorporate it in a way that fits your story. Use the images and descriptions as a jumping-off point, but don't be afraid to put your own spin on things. It'll be what makes your work have its own flavor and style.

    Searching out landscapes online from travel blogs can be an incredibly valuable tool for writers. It can help you create a vivid and engaging setting for your story and provide a wealth of inspiration for your imagination. So the next time you're feeling stuck on your setting, take a virtual trip around the world and see what landscapes inspire you!

The Gloose is loose

    Writers draw inspiration from a variety of sources, and animals have been a popular muse for countless artists, writers, and designers in the fantasy genre. From the beauty of their form to their unique features, animals have given us endless themes to play with. Sometimes, however, they can also lead to the creation of something strange and unusual, like the Gloose - a fantasy creature that is a cross between a goose and lizard.

    At first, the Gloose may seem like an unlikely combination. However, both geese and lizards have interesting traits that could make for an intriguing fantasy creature. Geese are known for being noisy, territorial, and sometimes aggressive. They are also intelligent and social animals, forming strong bonds with their mates and flock mates.

    On the other hand, lizards are known for their scaly skin, their ability to blend into their environment, and their unique movements. They can also have a fascinating range of colors and patterns, from bright greens and blues to earthy browns and grays.

    What would a creature that combines these traits look like? Perhaps it would have the annoying honking of a goose, but with the added ability to camouflage itself like a chameleon. Maybe it would have scaly skin, two arms instead of wings, and a long, sinuous tail for balance and agility. And imagine if it had the intelligence of a goose, but with the added ability to problem-solve and adapt like a lizard.

    The Gloose can teach us many things. We can be inspired by its unique features and the way it has adapted to its environment. Like the Gloose, we can learn to be resilient and adaptable in the face of challenges. We can also embrace our individuality, no matter how strange or unconventional it may seem. But mostly, we will learn about how obnoxious a goose can be if you give it arms and make it much, much faster.

    Regardless of how you interpret it, the Gloose is an excellent example of how animals can inspire us to think outside the box and push our creativity to new heights. Many writers create their own creatures by taking real-world animals and tweaking them a bit. How would this thing work in a tropical setting? What if this mammal had wings? What if I mixed the annoying birds on my lawn with the geckos that are always around? You never really know when inspiration will hit, so the next time you're stuck in a creative rut, take a look at the world around you and see what interesting creatures you can find - who knows what kind of inspiration they might spark!

Little critters!

    Something happened that I can take directly to write in my book! an encounter that will allow me to expand and add to my fantastical world! It all starts with armadillos. Walking at night with my dog has been amazing for stress relief and weight loss. These also can also lead to some interesting encounters with creatures that are typically hidden away during the day. On this night I ran in to quite a few creatures that sparked some interesting ideas for my book.

    This brings me to the armadillos. These fascinating little mammals are known for their unique armor-like shells, which are made up of overlapping plates of skin and bone. They are primarily nocturnal, so spotting them during the day is a rare occurrence. The damage that they have done to the ground and the fences in the area is always the talk of the neighborhood. I don't begrudge them for doing it, because I know they are just living the way that small critters live.

    But Armadillos are just the beginning. Walking at night has also allowed me to see other creatures that I might not have encountered otherwise. Bats, for example, are a common sight in the night sky. Watching them dart and swoop through the air is truly mesmerizing. I would love to create a bat house to bring a few more to the area. They are fun to watch and the ones near me also eat bugs. If I had to have something flying around, I definitely don't want it to be mosquitos!

    And then there are the bigger creatures that roam the woods at night. Deer are a common sight, and I've had the pleasure of seeing them up close as they graze in the moonlight. Large owls are also frequent visitors, and their hoots and calls are hauntingly beautiful. Which is what brings me to the experience that translates to my book. The haunting call of the owl mixed with the light crunch of the deer's hooves, all happening just outside of my range of vision. My skin tightens in to goosepimples just thinking of it. That's what I want to create in a couple moments of the book. Moments that translate in high stakes. That I create an expectation of danger and then follow it with a worthwhile creature, character, or challenge.

    The creatures that I want to create will be heavily influenced from my walks. Taking the animals I meet, editing them slightly, and then placing them in a fantasy world. Using the armadillos as an example. I want to mix them with their current appeal, an armored body, wiggling body and mix them with something larger. Having a medium sized dog (45-65lbs.) armadillo would be very alarming. Given their nature they wouldn't be aggressive, but their propensity to dig and burrow could cause major damage in populous areas. Their armored bodies protecting them from most predator's, which gives me the chance to create monsters that will be able to call these massive armadillos prey.

    Hopefully I don't come fact to face with anything like that! Walking at night does come with its own set of risks. It's important to be aware of your surroundings and stay safe. But with the right precautions, it can be a wonderful way to connect with nature and experience the world in a whole new way. Overall, my nighttime walks have allowed me to appreciate the natural world in a new way. From armadillos to deer and everything in between, there is always something new and exciting to discover when you take a walk after dark. If you're looking for a unique way to explore the world around you, I highly recommend taking a nighttime stroll and seeing what kind of creatures you might encounter along the way! Whos knows, you might even find something for your book!