Setting Inspirations: Remote Locales

Posted on July 20, 2017 by SloanParker

If you can’t see the embedded images above, check them out at the original blog post.

Fave Photos: #onthetrail with Sloan

Posted on July 11, 2017 by SloanParker

In the past year and a half, my wife and I have become obsessed with trail hiking. It’s a peaceful, quite time for us to rest our minds, take in the beauty of nature, and even have important life chats when we’re in the mood to discuss something that’s been on our minds. Being out more often in nature has also boosted my creativity and productivity. I can’t recommend it enough for writers or other creative types. It’s a wonderful way to fill your creative well.

Here are some of my fave photos from our trail journeys, in no particular order:

I love seeing deer.

A woodchuck hanging out on the rocks.

One of my favorite trails.

A singer, writer, cowboy, and more character inspirations

Posted on May 18, 2017 by SloanParker

License for all photos: CC0 Public Domain

Our Beautiful World: Mountains, Skies, & Seashores

Posted on April 11, 2017 by SloanParker

License for all photos: CC0 Public Domain

If you can’t view the embedded images above, check out the original post on my blog. You can also view more images from my ‘Our Beautiful World’ series at Pinterest and Tumblr.

Recent Finds: Setting Inspiration

Posted on May 18, 2016 by SloanParker

Whenever I write a scene, I picture the setting in my mind, whether it’s a room or an outdoor wilderness locale or a bustling city street, with as much detail as possible. Then I describe one or two specific, concrete elements to give the reader a sense of the place, which is often more effective than describing every detail.

Usually I can imagine that setting clearly in my mind, especially if it’s a character’s home or another important place for them. Other times I like to use a real place that I’ve visited as inspiration. When that isn’t possible, I’ll use a stock photography site to gather images. I might describe the setting the way I see it in the photo, or that picture might spark my imagination to go in a completely different direction. If the photos I find seem like a great setting idea but don’t match my current project, I’ll save them for later use.

Here are some of my recent inspiration finds for settings: