5 Unique Ways to Get Inspired With Your Writing
“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” - Pablo Picasso
DESPERATELY SEEKING: INSPIRATION!
After the year we’ve all had, it feels like the tumble down to 2021 is long overdue and eagerly anticipated. Instead of feeling the sinking dread that another year has zipped by in the blink of an eye, I find myself feeling excited for what might come - it’s got to be better than 2020, right?
In a year that’s seen most of us cooped up indoors, day after day, with minimal social interaction, inspiration for our writing might feel at an all time low. There’s a lot that can (and has) been written about the global events of this year. I don’t know about you, but I’m not especially drawn to writing about this year as such. I want my writing to be reminders for other ways we have or might live.
One of the interesting things I have discovered over the years is that the writing is generally better if I am feeding my creativity through a mixture of ways. I’ve been feeling a little limp with my fiction writing this year, but a couple of experiences lately have seen me return to my keyboard once more, warmed up with a few ideas I’m keen to explore:
1. I attended a party where I didn’t know anyone.
More than any other experience I’ve had this year, this one gave me a lot of fuel for writing! Similar to people watching, simply being around new people (especially people who are from different backgrounds and demographics to you) is a great way to get inspired. Hearing other perspectives, little life anecdotes, and engaging with others left me with a heap of little notes and ideas for new stories. As we come out of lockdown, safely connecting with people - new and old - is a great way to inspire some writing.
2. I spent an entire day working from a cafe in a different part of town.
I often work for a few hours in the week at one or two local cafes. They’ve become shelters of familiarity and the staff know me well enough to know to keep chit-chat minimal and the coffee flowing. It’s a good distraction-free scenario. Recently, I picked a new cafe and worked from there instead for a full work day. The newness and opportunity to (again) meet a few new people, observe a different part of town, and people watch in an unfamiliar place definitely helped to get me inspired.
I know that in many parts of the world both of these are not viable options right now, so instead:
3. Change up where you write.
In both my experiences above, it was the new environment that played a role in helping to jog my inspiration muscles. If you’re used to writing in one set place/room in your home - mix it up. Write in a different room or from the garden or the balcony or the car - if you have to!
Change and unfamiliarity kick-start the brain as we have to pay more attention to our environment and problem solve (if you try and write from your car, you’ll know what I mean by problem solve!).
4. Create without writing.
Many writers also indulge in other creative pursuits. This could be painting, knitting or sewing, or making music - pursuing one or more different creative outlets can help to cultivate a ‘reset’ mindset. Essentially, you’re tapping into different parts of your brain and challenging it to think differently.
If inspiration feels a little dry, trying something that doesn’t require words could be a great way to open a little doorway.
5. Check out an art gallery or museum.
Again, conscious of COVID times, but many art galleries and museums are offering virtual exhibitions and/or tours. Immersing yourself in a new (virtual) world and hearing about others points of inspiration can be a great way to inspire your own.
I’ve been loving clicking in to various artist talks, learning about other approaches, and letting it sink into my own ways of thinking to see what little inspiration nuggets might arise.
Inspiration - how we seek it and how we cultivate it - will be unique to everyone. Finding the ways that help you tap into that creative muscle is key for overcoming writer’s block or a dry spell.
But it’s also worth remembering that you don’t always have to be seeking inspiration or always writing.
It’s also okay to take a break, decide to step away from your writing for a time, and come back to it all at a later date, when you feel fully ready and motivated to immerse yourself once more. That’s the beauty of both inspiration and writing - if it calls to you, it will always call to you.
Don’t be fearful of resting a little every now and then.
