12 Tips To Release Your Inspiration

by Auburn Rutledge Fox

Writing has been a beloved pastime of mine for more than a decade. But it is work, and I never remember that more than when I’m lacking for inspiration. Between work and home and school, life sometimes leaves you drained, tired, and absolutely unable to think of a single idea as you sit poised before your keyboard.

As a veteran of writer’s block, I’m always eager to offer a few of my own ideas on how to overcome those everyday things that make it difficult to do what you love. One of my personal favorites? Repeat the anonymous quotation “Every flower must grow through dirt.” Here are twelve suggestions on releasing your inspiration:

Find Your Muse

• Read a favorite book. Remember why it was your favorite? Look for ways in which the author captures your attention and your imagination.

• Watch a film. Find something that sparks your interest—a beautiful or frightening or fascinating scene. Try to describe it.

• Listen to music. Whether while you or writing or doing any other activity, music is a stimulating experience. With or without words, in can provide images in your mind worth pursuing in your work.

• Find quotations. So much of my work—from character names to plot points to titles—come from browsing quotations in books and online. When you struggle over a particular piece of your writing, try to find a quotation that expresses what you are trying to say.

Relax

• Lie down. If nothing of substance comes after half an hour at the desk, you might be more tired than anything else. Power naps can be invigorating. (And I’ve even had the occasional dream that gave me a new idea.)

• Take a run. On the other end of the spectrum, exercise can bring a much-needed boost of energy. Clear your mind and enjoy the endorphins.

• Get close to nature. Whether you live in the midst of Jack London’s wilderness or the middle of London itself, there is always a way close to nature. It’s an undeniably peaceful way to refocus yourself.

• Treat yourself. We forget sometimes to have a little fun. It can be little or large, a fancy dessert or a trip. Let go of some of the stress of everyday life.

Approach Writing Differently

• Write by hand. So many of us have taken to the computer for all of our writing, from outlines to drafts to the manuscripts themselves. Do some of your writing by hand in a notebook or on loose sheets, including jotting down ideas and brainstorming.

• Write backwards. Not quite literally. But if you start from the beginning, try approaching from the other end. Think things through from a non-linear perspective.

• Be visual. You don’t have to be a visual artist to express yourself visually. Draw sketches of characters or landscapes, doodles of inventions or scientific principles, or just get out any ideas that might be in your head onto paper. It doesn’t have to be beautiful or even functional.

• Act it out. Whether you sit at the computer and say dialogue or get into full character from lines to movements, you’ll find yourself approaching the story from a newer, better perspective—that of the people you are writing about.

What are some of your favorite ways to find and release inspiration?

Comments (0) 02.08.2010. 17:05

Thanks, Narrative, for the dose of inspiration!

I don't read poetry very often, I have to admit. Maybe I should. Because today I read a poem that was so lovely I immediately had to print it out and post it on the wall above my desk. By David Huerta and translated from Spanish by Mark Schafer, the poem can be found in Narrative magazine. I can't reprint due to copyright restrictions, but trust me, it's worth the click.

Comments (1) 07.06.2009. 21:53