by: Shannon Redmon @shannon_redmon

With buttered popcorn in one hand and a coke in the other, we search out the best spot to recline back and watch a good movie on the big screen. Some of us do this at home while others still go to a theatre. No matter our location, we all long for a great story to jump right into our hearts.

Inspiring movies don’t happen every day or even every year but when one comes out that leaves us reeling with a dopamine rush and new ideas for our own novels, we need to take notice. The movie that inspired me recently? Top Gun Maverick.

I loved the original—the tension between the characters, the friendship between the hero and his best friend and of course,  the romance with the beautiful love interest, pulled me right into the story. Imagine my surprise when the sequel came out and I loved it even more than the first. I’ve since bought the movie and watched it at least ten times. Some might think I’ve lost my mind but every time the credits roll, I’m inspired to create a story better than the ones I’ve written before.

As a writer, I’ll take all the inspiration I can get. For me, sometimes I can fall into a slump and not be able to dig my way out. My story ideas fall flat or my characters lack depth. I enter the world of writer’s block. Can anyone else relate?

How do we push forward? Let’s take a look at what Maverick would do.

Maverick knows his strengths

Multiple references in the movie address Maverick’s Captain status as if he should’ve moved into a higher position at this point in his career. But our hero knows his strengths are in the field, flying a plane and being a fighter pilot. His talents would be wasted behind a desk, pushing papers, and making administrative decisions. He doesn’t change for others despite their expectations and continues forward doing what he does best.

As writers, we need to know our strengths, what makes us unique, and what skills God has gifted to us. Maybe we are able to write beautiful descriptions that sprinkle in imagery placing our readers right in the scene or we excel at creating suspenseful situations that keep our audience turning the pages. Wherever your talent lies, discover what parts come easy for you and focus on the areas that need work.

Maverick doesn’t take no for an answer

Throughout the movie, others try to place restrictions on our hero, even wanting to shut down his programs or remove him from the Navy all together, but he continues forward. When Admiral Caine tries to stop his Mach 10 project, he flies anyway. When others believe the mission is impossible, he demonstrates that success can be achieved.

In our writing journey, we will receive many no’s, rejections, critiques and discouraging news. Only the strongest writers will continue forward, determined to overcome all the naysayers, and create the story God has given us. God doesn’t promise the journey will be easy. In fact, we know from many Bible stories, the opposite is true. He does promise to be with us, encouraging us in the small moments and helping us to continue forward.

Maverick cares about his team

Writing often seems like a lonely, isolated career and maybe that’s okay with you. I happen to like my time alone but I’ve also realized through the years that I’ve only improved because of the amazing writing community around me. I’m so thankful for those who have invested in my career and I’ve never regretted helping another writer achieve success.

Maverick understood by creating a team, he increased the success of the mission and the survival rate of those young pilots. Only when we help each other will we truly succeed.

So, take my hand and let’s fly into the world of great storytelling, together.

Shannon is a Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author and her greatest hope is for her stories to immerse readers into a world of suspense and escape while encouraging faith, hope, and love in Christ.  She has three books published by Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line–Cave of Secrets, Secrets Left Behind and Mistaken Mountain Abduction. She is also one of the Managing Editors of Acquisitions for Spark Flash Fiction Magazine, where she received her first official published byline. Shannon is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube
Agency.