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Inspiration is a big part of writing, although I’ve found that it’s better not to wait idly for inspiration to come to me, but to forge on ahead and meet it in the middle.
Still, some experiences are simply more inspirational than others. As writers, it’s important to work those inspirational experiences into our busy schedules because they contribute directly to our productivity.
Here are some things that I find inspirational (and make time for whenever I can):
- Reading. For a writer, reading is a must. So much so that I almost made this post all about the importance of reading for writers and others, but I’ve been on that soapbox before.
- Nature. I love the outdoors. I’m not the camping, sporty, athletic-type–but I do love to be in nature. I find myself inspired by beaches, gardens, mountain views, and of course, sunsets and sunrises.
- Art. Great art speaks volumes. I could happily spend an entire day in an art museum. I’m also the kind of person who will see something different in a piece each time that I view it.
- History. I’ve admitted to being a word nerd before, but you probably don’t know that I’m also a history buff. I love to learn the “story behind the story,” which probably explains my fascination with biographies.
- Friends and Family. There’s no question that having the support of understanding friends and family can be a great source of inspiration. It’s especially good if you have a friend willing to give you feedback.
- Rest. While some writers claim to thrive on stress and very little sleep, I am NOT one of those. In my case, loss of sleep does not equal a surge of creativity and quite frankly, serves no practical purpose.
I’ve shared some of the things that inspire me. These are things that I try to work into my schedule on a regular basis.
What inspires you?
7 responses so far ↓
1 Samantha Bangayan // Feb 22, 2011 at
I love the idea of “meeting inspiration.” =) I’ve been the waiting kind for some time, but just like you said, I’m also coming to realize that I need to make time to be creative and seek inspiring moments. For me, silence seems bring a rush of creativity. There are millions of thoughts already running through my head that I can often develop into something beautiful when I give myself time to reflect on them.
2 Twitter Trackbacks for Six Sources of Writing Inspiration : WritingThoughts [writingthoughts.com] on Topsy.com // Feb 22, 2011 at
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3 Laura Spencer // Feb 22, 2011 at
Hi Samantha,
I’ve found that waiting for that perfect and fully formed idea is not necessarily a productive thing. Often, I take a half-formed idea and as I start on it my inspiration grows and becomes much more than what it was.
But, like you point out, silence and calm are essential.
4 Debra Stang // Feb 25, 2011 at
I’m a hospice social worker, and I’m constantly inspired by the challenges faced by my clients and the creative ways they overcome them. My “day job” has inspired some of my best freelance articles.
5 Laura Spencer // Feb 27, 2011 at
Thanks Debra!
I agree that some of the best writing comes from our daily experiences. 🙂
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