Write ON: 5/6M Writers Share their Stories

the search for inspiration

The view from here was breathtaking. You could see where the crystal clear water met the sky. The sea was calm and the sunset was reddy-orange. The sand looked like a million pieces of glimmering gold and if Nellie leaned out the window far enough just near the edge she could see where long ago the ocean had carved its mark into the stone. Maybe just maybe, she would find something special that would inspire her to  begin the painting for her generous, yet demanding sponsor. He had asked her for something new, something fresh that had never been seen before. She had tried, she really had, but it just wasn’t right. That's when her mother suggested to go to the beach house. Nellie could feel that somewhere out there she would find the inspiration for her masterpiece. Tomorrow she would wake up early and go searching for it, she was determined to find it, nothing could stand in her way.

Nellie woke up to the sound of a blimp swooshing pass. What was a blimp doing here in an isolated beach? She didn’t care. She had never been out of the city before and she wasn’t going to waste a minute of it. She ran outside, she could feel the  smashed shells between her toes and smell the salt water. She closed her eyes wishing that this moment would last forever. She stood there in the sand until the water tickled her toes. Finally she opened her eyes and ran towards the sandstone cliff where the  blimp was majestically hovering above. Was someone getting off? She ran closer to see him more clearly.


“What are you doing here?”she yelled but the man was too high to hear her.
The man slowly made his way down and as he came up to her he held out his hand, which Nellie shook.
“The name’s Bill. I’ve been working down this coast for two weeks now, and you are?”
She hesitated for a second. Bill’s hands were callused and his eyes were sincere

“My name is Anelie , my mother owns that house over there. I am here to search for something to inspire me. Do you know of anything here that is unique?”
“Well, Anelie, I..”
“Please call me Nellie”
“Well, Nellie, everything here is quite special but if you really want to be blown away you should see it all from above”
He was pointing to the blimp.
“Oh no, I am terrified of heights”.
“Come on, nothing will happen to you I promise”.
“Fine”.

She climbed aboard. It was true everything looked extraordinary from up there. You could see everything. Maybe the very thing she had been standing on was what she was desperately searching for. She had been blind and hadn’t realized that the  key to her future was right in front of her. Bill had been the one that made her step out of her comfort zone and by doing this she had  finally found her inspiration.