Decoration for Inspiration

As writers, we all know it’s important to maintain interests outside of reading and writing. If we have no interests apart from our books, we run the risk of getting bored to say nothing of burnout. The journey of an author is a marathon, not a sprint, and needing fresh sources of inspiration is par for the course. Hobbies can help. For me, one such hobby has become decorating for the holidays.

There’s been a lot of talk on social media this year, people asking their friends whether, in the midst of the pandemic, they still intend to decorate for the holidays. Whenever I see such a post, I always reply with a resounding “Yes!” For me, it’s a no-brainer. I love the holidays! As a proud homeowner, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to decorate a place I can truly call my own. Prior to owning a home, I enjoyed collecting antiques, and I’ve enjoyed finding places of honor for all of my treasures as we’ve settled in. More recently, I’ve begun purchasing holiday decor, whatever appeals to me. I know my style and I’m certain I’ll cherish my finds for years to come.

There’s something to be said for living in a home with up-to-the-minute seasonal decor. Admiring those glass pumpkins in the window, I’m reminded that Thanksgiving is around the corner and I’m warmed with the memories of seasons past, either of which could inspire an idea for a story. Though I haven’t written a holiday romance to date, many of my stories contain reference points to various holidays. Who’s to say where the next great idea might come from?

Though decorating for seasons and holidays requires a bit of discipline, I find doing so to be a great habit for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is it forces me to be organized. In order to keep the decorations circulating, I need to know where they are, and I need to be able to get to them easily or else I run the risk of the project taking way longer than it should. Once I’ve decorated, I like to stand back and admire my work and it’s nearly impossible to do that when the house is a mess. This encourages me to keep it clean. The result is magical–beautiful seasonal decor everyone in the home can be inspired by.

Organization is a skill we writers are familiar with. It’s critical to keep the components of our stories laid out in an organized fashion until our books are in their final form. Yes, this applies to both “plotters” and “pansters.” Also, we write best when our minds are clear. What sounds more inducing of a clear mind: living in a disorganized home full of clutter with decorations from last Easter that never got taken down, or a well organized home in which you never question what time of year it is because you’re (subtly) surrounded by brilliantly selected reminders?

It’s healthy to have other interests apart from our favorites. But that isn’t to say one can’t inspire the other. As a writer, I’ve come to appreciate inspiration wherever I can find it. The right to make my living space a source of inspiration is something no one can take away!