A Writer's Guide to Finding Inspiration in Everyday Life
You’re a writer, you love the process, you love words—but you get stuck. Suddenly you don’t know what to write or how to get started. On top of all that, the annoying critic won’t leave your head—judging everything you think, write, or do.
What’s a writer got to do?
Open to Creativity
First of all, drop the judge off at the door. Seriously, the judge will only hinder your progress and creativity.
Secondly, creativity can be found in everyday things—all you have to do is be open to it.
No matter where you are or what’s going on, there are ideas brewing all around. Creation is happening, ideas are blooming. For instance, you’re at the mall, shopping for a new pair of shoes or sports equipment, this is your chance to listen to conversations. What are people talking about? What about the staff? What’s their story?
Or what about the fifty year old man working at the local grocery store who carries out your groceries? Maybe he was a stockbroker at one time who got sick of the lifestyle and wanted a little bit more Zen in his life.
Creativity Everywhere
What about nature? Camping, hiking, biking, walking—what do you experience when you are outdoors? Do you notice smells, sounds? Is there a taste in your mouth? Describe your experience and create your story.
What about the neighbors? They seem so happy and friendly when they’re outside their home, but what’s really going on inside? What are they hiding over there?
How about at work or school? What’s happening behind closed office doors? Is there a conversation that must remain within those four walls?
Creativity and inspiration can even be found in your dish detergent. Who made the detergent? What hands touched the bottle before it reached you? What about the factory workers? What was going through their minds as they were busy preparing your detergent?
What lives were they leading? Were they thinking about how much they hated or loved their job? Were they thinking what to have for dinner? Maybe they were a closet chef, having an affair, or possibly something more sinister.
You are the Creator
You are the creator here. You decide how you want your story to come alive. You get to decide what type of relationship you want your characters to have and what tragedies and triumphs you want them to face.
You are in a grand position of deciding how your story should unfold. What an amazing privilege it is to be able to write a great story without limitations.
Creativity and inspiration are truly everywhere. All you have to do is reach out and make your choice.
Does your writing need a little creative kick?
Image Credits: Sleep Advisors Ars Thanea PN Liafi
I think depending on what you want to write is where you find your "idea's". A lot of good things you mentioned. Now For any of the writers stuck on finding or wanting to write something different..how about finding a nice patch of manicured lawn that adjoins unhindered nature. Sit down and write like a bug or insect that is straddling both worlds, the untamed nature, and the tamed boring sameness of the modern world.
I liked your post and the ideas given. Also the pictures of course could give a ton of ideas.
Thanks @bashadow
Great advise and a person should be more observant and questioning, although this can still be lacking since you might end up with very "surface" ideas, to make it truly become something a bit more "insightful" a person needs to make connections that you have not made before, thinking about a topic you discovered with a lot of focus can lead to you missing other connections that can enhance your work, so I think mulling it over just keeping it at the back of you mind for a bit will help your thinking, to enhance the story since your mind will have the opportunity to explore all possibilities making seemingly unrelated connections due to diffuse thinking.
Hey man.. Thanks for dropping this very long sentence ;P, I agree that discovery can often lead to missed info but it will be a good start for someone I guess :D
Sorry for that but if it helps I wrote it with a single breath :)
And you are right , half the battle is to start.
You are right @wdoutjah. We are the ones to decide how our story should unfold. No limitation whatsover to what we want to produce.
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Right @evarich, I am the one who decides, and I decided not to join on that channel. Damn! Can you stop spamming?
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