Waiting for Inspiration to Strike
Where does your inspiration come from? Writing, blogging, painting, creating… how do you get there? Do you ever have those one-off days when nothing comes? Nothing. Ideas seem forced and your efforts look about as appealing and creative as a piece of gray cardboard.
I can’t predict what will inspire me or how to make it happen with great frequency. Blog ideas come from all kinds of unexpected places and at the least expected moments. I’ve learned to keep pen and paper by the bed for those restless middle of the night epiphanies. I always think I’ll remember them in the morning…. and rarely does that happen. I carry a notepad for just those reasons. A funny moment on the street, a snippet of overheard conversation, a picture; all might provide some inspiration which ultimately leads to a good post.
This morning’s post for Delicacies was inspired by a so-so movie, the idea came to me at 5:30 AM as I was thinking about one of the scenes in the movie. After a long day of work on a client’s project, I went to bed last night without a single thought for any of my blogs. And, I let it go, hoping that inspiration of some sort would appear this morning.
It helps to keep a running list of ideas for blogs. I have a list for each blog which I try to review and add to on a regular basis. But, just like with a book I’m about to read, I find that suddenly the subject isn’t as appealing on any given day and then the search begins again. If your blog is a specialized one then the search for inspiration might necessitate a wider or narrower focus. For my personal blog I search sites: The Onion, The Daily Beast, Jezebel, NPR, and the major newspapers for ideas. I often find a story to share or find inspiration for a tangential post loosely connected to something I saw. This morning I’m watching my cat play with the little plastic circle from a milk bottle and I know there’s fodder for a post there, I just don’t know exactly what angle it might take….yet.
The busier I am with work, the less creative I find myself in blogging. My brain gets into one mode and shifting is difficult. Right now I’m redoing web content and at the paste/cut portion…it requires attention, though it’s a mechanical job at this point. But my attention is so focused on links and steps, and setting the right categories that all else is pretty much driven from my brain. Great work if you need to lose yourself in ‘routine’.
This evening I plan to go outside, sit with my feet in the sandbox, glass of wine in hand and notepad near by. I’ll scribble a few thoughts, random and rambling. And, I just might find inspiration there. If nothing else it’ll be relaxing.
What do you do to get the ideas flowing?
Photo by Doug88888 at Flickr.com
If you want to join the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog with us, send me a note or comment here. We start on September 19. Can’t wait!!
I also have a difficult time switching gears, and find that when I’m in the middle of a project my creativity seems to ebb. For my blog, I jot down ideas as they come and start a draft on my dashboard, to be finished later (sometimes much later). For musical ideas I try to hum or sing a melodic idea repetitively so it sticks in my head until I can get to a piano.
I still wish I could do your 31 days group. Best wishes for it! Hope you do it again sometime when I can join in.
Keep watching, I will do it again. And, if you want you can start with us and do it at your leisure…as if you’ll have time with a new baby!
I carry a notebook with me and jot down anything I see that catches my interest: a sign on a bus or store window, a guy’s T-shirt, the special of the day at a restaurant. It’s all become fodder for my writing. I also take photos with my iPhone and review when I sit down to write.
I decided awhile back that everything can be an inspiration; I just have to choose from the possibilities.
Hi Sandi,
Thanks for stopping in. Isn’t it funny what we get creative ideas from. And, how wonderful too.
I’ve started taking pictures w/ my iPhone as well, things I want, prices I need to remember, ideas for posts. I also use the voice memos to save an idea.
I’m usually inspired after having had an experience somewhere that was odd in some way, no matter how trivial. I can usually make something out of it. I’ve had some blogs of past experiences but I can’t write too many dismal posts in a row–I have to write funny/sad/funny/sad or else it’s unbalanced. When I can’t think of what to write, I don’t write and just wait for something. I’ve learned it’s better to wait and write something good than write a bunch of anything just for the sake of taking up space.
You’re probably the wiser, on this blog I post every day regardless… I’m a little less likely to just write anything on my ‘work’ blog….
I love your stories and am enjoying the memoir-like ones. Thank you for going there.
You said it well “I let it go, hoping that inspiration of some sort would appear…”
I am thinking more of choreography than of writing since dance has been my form
of expression in years past and it fits for both.
If nothing came to me when I was trying to choreograph something I would simply put on the music
and do my best to keep the judge and jury in my head from blocking my creativity. At the very least I was able to put some movements together to use at some later time.
Does it work that way with writing too?
I think so, free-writing exercises, either with or without a “prompt” can help someone find that elusive spark. Sometimes!
Traveling and eating are what inspire the most. I love to people watch while traveling, it always gives me ideas as well!
That’s clear when I read your posts. I love people watching myself… and envy your wonderful travel plans, most recent and upcoming.
I think any blogger can relate. I certainly have had off days and even weeks. Pioneer Woman had a post last week about this. Let me go find it…hold on…..here it is:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/blog/2010/09/ten-important-things-ive-learned-about-blogging/
she’s one very successful blogger!
She’s funny. I’ve seen the blog in passing but never really stopped to read. Thanks for sending that.
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