From our home in Dawson County, my husband and I enjoy some wonderful views. My office window looks out over the feathery tops of pines and hardwoods with rolling hills and mountains in the distance. Inspirational? You bet. But not quite in the way friends and family have suggested.

I often hear statements like these:

Since you’re living in the foothills, all you have to do is sit down at your computer and the words will come.

Now, you’ll have so many inspired ideas, you won’t have time to write them all.

With your views, you’ll be writing some of the best books of your career.

Of course, I hope that every one of these comments proves true – and they might. But inspiration doesn’t quite work that way for me, and I’d be willing to wager the same for most working writers.

I’ll never deny that nature inspires me. It does. Give me a beautiful day and I’ll find time for a vigorous walk. A waterfall always puts a smile on my face and peace in my heart. Glorious views of mountains silhouetted against the sunset give me goose bumps. And, when nature impacts me that strongly, I’m definitely happier and more eager to write.

But I assume that most people are referring to creative inspiration – that force that keeps an artist focused and on task. I think they’re referencing the energy that releases the muse and brings insight and depth to the work. And, if I’m correct in that understanding, then I’m here to say that blooming dogwoods and Pileated woodpeckers can put an artist in a good mood and set the stage for him/her to work, but neither has the power to unleash the insurmountable dedication needed to WRITE.

On my webpage I have this quote from the late Madeleine L’Engle: “Inspiration usually comes during work, rather than before it.” Amen, to that. I can only speak for myself, but when it comes to writing, the fewer the distractions, the better. True inspiration is when the mind and heart are stimulated and working in tandem. Like all other conflagrations, it starts with one spark. For me, that can be a scene unraveling before my eyes. Or perhaps I finally recognize the core of the story I’ve been trying to write for three months.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to convince anyone that inspiration isn’t grand. It is.  But it usually appears when I’m knee deep in concentration and experimentation. If I need a satisfying ending or a better way to introduce a character, those ah-ha’s will only happen after a truck load of thinking and an immersion in the writing. If I leave the computer and wait for a lightning bolt, I might be waiting a long, long time.

Now sometimes the subconscious serves up a solution when I least expect it, like in that dreamy state between sleep and awareness. Or it might provide an answer when I’m washing dishes. But even my subconscious won’t come to the rescue unless I’ve put in my fair share of wondering and testing options. Thankfully, part of my brain is still sifting through possibilities even when I’m relaxing.

I’m thrilled that my husband and I will be able to admire scenic Georgia for the next thirty years. I’ll sit for hours staring out my office window, drinking up as much of its beauty as I can. But there will come a time every day when I will look away, think about the word on the page and write. And I hope that deep in my work, I will create engaging stories with strong themes. Now, that’s inspiration!

Author's Note:  Reading Between the Lines is a new column about books, reading, children, writing and an occasional book review. It will reflect my experiences as a teacher, consultant, writer, published author and workshop facilitator. I hope these musings bring you to a closer appreciation of words and what they can do for all of us.

Lola Schaefer is the author of more than 200 books for children, as well as a national writing consultant in elementary and middle schools. You may visit www.lolaschaefer.com to learn more about her and her work.