Inspiration through Scrapbooking

I’ve always been fascinated with scrapbooking, and I’ve kept various types of scrapbooks since I was seven years old. Some have been personal scrapbooks with special mementos alongside photos I’ve taken, and others have been collections of magazine photos I liked.

Some of my most recent scrapbooking efforts are pages designed to inspire me as I write my novels! I’ve mentioned this before on my blog, explaining how I collect ideas and imagery for my books and arrange them in ways that enhance the “vision” of my works-in-progress. I typically do this very early in the writing or prewriting process of a book, and it helps to shape the aesthetic feel that I’ll attempt to describe in the story.

I did this for my novella last year, gathering pictures of beaches and and cottages and a homecoming theme to inspire me.

Right now I’m in the most delightful stage of any book–the prewriting process. It’s delicious to dream up a story, and I’ve been mulling over this one for about a month now. I’m sifting ingredients, trying to determine what will make the best recipe for this particular tale. I’m stirring together character traits and settings and time periods and messages and motives. I’m planning out the look and feel of the book.

Which brings me to the creation of these scrapbook pages, designed specifically for my next sweet romance novel! Any guesses on the historical era?

And of course, sometimes I create pages to springboard me to new ideas. One of them helped to cement ideas for a short story I’d like to write.

Do you enjoy scrapbooking? Have you ever considered putting together images for story inspiration?

Recently Read: Christmas at the Circus by Joanne Bischof, The Luck of the Buttons by Anne Ylvisaker, Only Dollie by Nina Rhoades, The Golden Name Day by Jennie D. Lindquist

Currently Reading: Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace, Anne’s House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery, Cousins by Evan Commanger