I've come to the conclusion that inspiration cannot be chased and caught. It's an elusive little bugger. But when you least expect it, it can whack you upside the head with brilliance. Just don't duck. ;-)My reasoning behind the comment was that we writers cannot sit at our desks, don a tin foil cap sprouting antennae and expect to intercept brilliant inspiration as though it were radio waves. We can't just throw on our baseball caps, lace up our cleats and hold out our gloves to catch inspiration as it falls from the sky.
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More times than one, I've waited at my desk, hoping, yearning, pleading for a visit from my muse. I've gone walking and driving, knowing that she usually drops by at inconvenient hours and places. All to no avail.
While I believe that inspiration cannot be chased and caught, I also believe it frequently answers active invitations. The key word there is active.
An active invitation requires movement: fingers typing, hands scribbling or eyes reading. Rarely am I inspired while watching movies or television. Such activity leaves my imagination dormant. It sits there, content to watch what someone else has already created.
It is, in my opinion, the act of creating that invites the muse. We may end up tossing every single word we write while waiting, but the waiting will often not be in vain.
So the next time you're finding inspiration elusive, chase it by actively inviting it. You may just catch it.
i think you forgot to pay me...that's why i was away from you for so long...you know, cause i'm your muse in all. no? ok. but you did have an awesome quote you wrote. savor that!!
ReplyDeleteSomebody must have forged your signature because the check cleared! :)
DeleteI completely agree with you. There will be days where I am just not up to working on art, but I force myself to start sketching or coloring anyway. The longer I do it, the more pumped up I get to finish whatever piece I'm working on. (Take that, muse!)
ReplyDeleteFunny how that works out, huh?
DeleteDoesn't she visit you in the middle of the night? I keep a pad and pen by my bed just in case. I tell myself I can remember, but I can't so take precautions. As for when you are driving, you need a recorder of some kind.
ReplyDeleteHer nocturnal visits to me are generally wasted. The last time she succeeded at waking me, I wrote my "I Hear Fictional People" blog post. That was a year ago this past March! LOL
DeleteWonderfully said. Sometimes inspiration strike me, but most of time I have to work for it. Usually that's the best kind of inspiration :)
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Good things come to those who work for it.
DeleteMy muse has this habit of visiting me at all odd hours of the day and night. Just keep writing.
ReplyDeleteWhere can we find muses that work on OUR schedules?
DeleteI find that the more I write and use my imagination, the more ideas come to me.
ReplyDeleteRather like exercising, I suppose. At least exercising imagination doesn't leave me feeling my age. :)
DeleteAnd inspiration strikes us all differently. I find that music and movies do inspire me. Right now I'm working over an idea inspired by a song.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely in minority regarding writing while listening to music. I so wish I could do both simultaneously.
DeleteI'd like to think my crazy imagination doesn't ever turn itself "off" but just goes into sleep mode every once a while. It's still there, waiting to be tapped into, just needs to be shaken awake. And I agree, once I start writing or even thinking, about writing, inspiration comes.
ReplyDeleteJust shake gently, Jaybird. Mustn't alarm the imagination or weird things result. :)
Delete*slowly removes the tinfoil hat* Oh, so that doesn't work? *laughs*
ReplyDeleteLately, I've been having too much inspiration. There's too many characters in my head with stories trying to get out. It makes it chaotic and noisy. Of course, I'm not really complaining because I know there will come a time when it'll be much quieter.
If you've been wearing the tin foil hat then DO NOT take it off because it's obviously working for you! :)
DeleteAll that work on my aluminum hat...now you tell me!!! I've always had the best thoughts when my mind is still. And one of the only ways to quiet it is to do something boring, like drive a car, mow a lawn, wash dishes. Fortunately with my house full of teens, I am always supplied with work to keep the creative juices flowing.
ReplyDeleteLove the quote. It's sticky note worthy.
Not sure sticky notes are large enough to hold any of my quotes unless they're produced in a contract's fine print. :)
DeleteVery true though about a quiet mind being conducive to inspiration.
Hey, Jeff.
ReplyDeleteEXCELLENT advice. I know when my writing muse is dead... I pick up other projects. I ALWAYS need some sort of creative outlet and I am thankful for my various talents in the other arts. But as you say, anything to spark the imagination. I've had great ideas even cleaning. LOL/
Thank you, Michael! It's great when a person is able to be creative in more than one form or art. One of these days, I'm going to be able to paint pretty pictures. Until then, I'll paint them with words. Stay creative!
DeleteIn Mexico there is a saying "Money attracts more money". I guess that works for you with your inspiration. "Creation attracts creativity." So do create, my friend. Create as much as you can in any way you can. We'll talk about greatness later. ;)
ReplyDeleteCreating is tilling the ground so inspiration can take root and grow. Money attracts money, huh? Can you spare a few pesos for a knight in need? ;-)
DeleteDarn it! I paid good money for this tin foil hat!!! :)
ReplyDeleteSo true, Jeff. Sometimes, we have to make our own inspiration and, like the old Fixx song goes....'one thing leads to another'....
Don't get rid of the foil hat, Mark. It's still good for blocking those aliens trying to control us through brain waves.
DeleteI keep this quote on my desk by Daniel Pink ,"Muses are for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work." It reminds me that inspiration is a vague concept but sitting my butt in the chair and doing the work is what will move me forward. OK, that and a little wine.. a lot of wine...
ReplyDeleteI hid that quote, Julie. If my muse saw that sitting on my desk... :) It really does come down to Nike's slogan: Just Do It!
DeleteI think it must be different for you than for me. I actually find inspiration in the strangest places and hardly ever while actively writing. It's when I'm watching a movie I haven't seen in years, or playing a video game. Maybe I'm reading a book and some idea just strikes me down because it came from the book itself. Other times, I'm trying to wake up to the day and have to haul myself out of bed to write down what just flew into my mind. It's when my mind isn't in a position for me to write anything at all that inspiration strikes me.
ReplyDeleteDifferent yet similar, probably. I think reading primes my inspiration and creativity because my imagination is fully engaged. The author gives me the brushes and pigments that I use to paint the pictures in my mind. My imagination doesn't have to work as hard while watching a movie although inspiration can follow afterwards. And music captures my attention so completely that imagination doesn't have a chance.
DeleteI think it works best if it's organic. Seems to free up the mind so it comes on when you need it to. I love your comment, by the way. Well said and quite eloquent, too!
ReplyDelete~ Alex's #3 minion of the month
Thanks for the compliment, Nancy. The "when you need it to" part is the real trick. We have to keep those imaginative muscles in shape.
DeleteWell said.
ReplyDeleteMany of my non-writer friends often ask me this question: How do you find creativity every day?
My answer usually is: By creating.
We never hear people comment on how creative the unimaginative people are. When we squelch that creativity, for whatever reason, we deaden those nerves most sensitive to inspiration. I think, at least for me, your answer is spot on.
DeleteSo true. We have to invite it in, and we have to be prepared to listen and use it. Baseball cleats and glove doesn't mean you know how to play the game. It's all the practice that makes instinct kick in when it really counts.
ReplyDeleteMarathon champions don't wake up one day and decide they'd like to go win the race. They practice, relentlessly, for years to just be able to finish it. The gray matter muscles aren't that different.
DeleteMy Muse works the night-shift. She demands coffee as tribute and is a slap-happy fan of film scores for inspiration...should she ever run out of music, I'll be actively searching for a new occupation:)
ReplyDeleteYeah, those muses can be sadistic little creatures, always dropping by at the worst possible times. A night-shift muse would be welcome in my home. :)
DeleteYou're right. Sometimes it can be really hard to just sit down and write, even when we know most of the words we put down on paper are going to get tossed eventually. It seems like a waste of time, but it's a necessary step, although we may not always realize it at the time. It's only later, after the scene or chapter has morphed into something good, that we understand. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ken. It is true. Even words we toss aren't really wasted.
DeleteHey Jeff,
ReplyDeleteYes I know. Sorry it has taken so long for me to finally arrive with one of my eagerly anticipated comments. Just wanted to thank you for doing the "IWSG" aka "I Was Seeking Gary". All of you doing this are way too kind. Thank you, Jeff.
Sometimes inspiration is right in front of you. Heck, I get inspiration from staring at the ceiling. Makes for some writing that demonstrates that things are looking up.
Y'all have a good Fourth of July.
Sadly, I must go now.
Gary :)
Thanks for stopping by. IWSG (I Was Seeking Gary) would not have been nearly as much fun if Gary hadn't shown up! :-)
DeleteHope you're having a wonderful birthday!
Excellent post. I'm coming to learn that every aspect of writing needs some level of proactivity, from writing the first draft to querying, to marketing, even producing a cover. We can't simple write something and sit on our hands once it's done. The process never ends, nor should it ... but that's me. :)
ReplyDeleteProactive is an excellent word choice for it!
DeleteI agree! I find reading vaguely-research-related books help - such as reading fiction and non-fiction set before or after the time frame I hope to write a story in...
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great way to create the mood and set the stage.
DeleteOhhhh... thanks for this, Jeff. I haven't been up to my usual pace, so this is really inspiring. And I think you're spot on. Great post. :D
ReplyDeleteI just love it when folks agree with me. Makes me feel all smart. ;-) Thanks!
DeleteGreat point, Jeff. I've found my Muse has to be romanced and seduced sometimes by taking long nature walks, or visiting new places. Breaking out of my routing always inspires me. Coincidentally, tho, I find inspiration from movies all the time. I don't watch a lot of TV, but movies often barely graze the surface of an idea that I prefer to go deeper into, which then spawns a shiny new idea. :)
ReplyDeleteDoes the inspiration tend to strike during or immediately afterwards? I get too engrossed. Reflecting afterwards sometimes sparks a though or two though.
DeleteHey! Guess where I saw a link to this post? Inkpageant. I feel so involved. Well done. This was a fantastic reminder. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I figured it had been too long since I submitted a link over there. Thanks!
DeleteBetter get creating, then!
ReplyDeleteGreat point. I think in some cases one can be hit by inspiration relatively out of the blue, but that person still has to have creative inclination at the least.
Out of the blue inspiration hits me about 50% of the time or so. I love the unexpected inspiration when it hits though.
DeleteI do agree with you because you definitely are "all smart!" Now I'm gonna have to search through the insightful comments you've left on my blog to turn them into thought-provoking posts!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Well, if you find anything I've said that's insightful, please let me know! I've always wondered if lightning could strike twice. :)
DeleteGreat post, Jeff. First, thank you so much for the correct usage of "were" as opposed to "was" (as though it were radio waves). Second, loved the "act of writing invites the muse." Wonderful insight!
ReplyDeleteM.L. Swift, Writer
You're most welcome, Mike. :) It's good seeing you around again. Hope all is well.
Delete*tosses tin foil cap in garbage* Guess I should do some writing then :) This post reminds me of something Tom Robbins said at a writers conference. He was talking about how he writes in his study every day at the same time and added, "that way my Muse knows where to find me." I'm pretty sure he was saying just what you are. Just keep writing!
ReplyDeleteNo, no, no, don't throw away the cap! It's still good for blocking alien brain waves. :) It sounds as though Tom Robbins knows what he's talking about. Take care!
DeleteI agree. Sometimes I have to sit and write a page of absolute nonsense before something comes, but eventually the muse shows up . . . well, sometimes not the same day, but eventually. I sat and wrote four pages the other day with nothing, and then bam . . . I had an idea and ran with it for two pages.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Shell Flower will make me a cool cap for blocking alien brain waves. :)
It really does make a difference. Sitting at the desk waiting is not the same as sitting at the desk writing aimlessly. It really does kick-start the creative process--at least for me.
DeleteMaybe Shell can launch a little business on the side selling them. It would be tough for anyone to prove they don't work. :)
My best sense of inspiration comes when it is the last possible moment to do something. Sure, I'll start a school project early on, but it's the last three days that 75% typically gets done. The inspiration comes when I need it most, even if it isn't convenient. Of course, if I sit down at my desk long enough and force myself to start typing, I tend to find inspiration, whether it's fifty or five hundred words worth of inspiration. The last few days I've given myself a tiny goal: 200 words per day, and right before I get to bed I write them, if I haven't by that time.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I've finally decided to jump onto the IWSG bandwagon come August.
There is something about a deadline that excites the muse. Well, maybe is panics the muse-beseecher.
DeleteWelcome to IWSG. I try to mix up insecure posts with encouraging posts. I'm uncomfortable whining unceasingly, but there's also little point in joining Insecure Writers Support Group if I never mention an insecurity. ;-)