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Five Ways For Poets And Writers To Find Inspiration
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.”
Helen Keller
THE DILEMMA WE FACE AS WRITERS
This article is for all of you who need some inspiration. We hear often about writer’s block, the strange malady that affects us all from time to time, where our brains shrivel up and ne’er can be found an inspirational thought.
I have said from time to time that the quickest way to destroy writer’s block is to simply write. Wasn’t it Edison who once said that invention is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration? If so, he still needed that one percent, and it is that one percent that we will discuss today.
Where do we find it? Where is that slick devil hiding when we sit down at our computer and try to force the words out? We squeeze our brains and twist our minds up into pretzels and still the elusive inspiration remains unfelt. What do we do?
Perhaps these five suggestions will help. If not, fall back on Plan B and just write. J
FIND INSPIRATION FROM THE WORKS OF OTHERS
We all have a special writer who inspires us, right? I have several who I fall back on when I need the little boost. Harper Lee will always be my number one go-to, but there are others. Leo Buscaglia gets my juices flowing as does James Lee Burke. I can read five pages of Steinbeck and my brain starts to explode with ideas, and Og Mandino also has the ability, through his writing, to kick start my mind when needed.
Who is it for you? If you have a favorite author then call on them for help. Teleport yourselves into another place and time through their writings, and experience all that they want you to experience. You just might find that inspiration lies in the words of another.
FIND INSPIRATION THROUGH YOUR SENSES
Hey, you have five senses. You might as well use them. See me, feel me, hear me, smell me and taste me. Okay, a little weird but you get the point. Put on some of your favorite music and soak in the sounds. I can put on a song by the Beatles and my mind starts to wander, and pretty soon I’m walking the streets of Liverpool with the Fab Five.
Take a walk in nature. Smell the flowers, touch the leaves, watch a hawk fly overhead and listen to the sound of the wind rustling the trees.
Do some cooking and let the aromas stir your imagination. When I make a grilled cheese sandwich I am reminded of growing up in Tacoma, Washington, and my mother lovingly making that lunch for me during the summer. Those memories, in turn, inspire me to write about childhood and life in the 50’s and 60’s. After sixty-four years I have a treasure chest of ideas in my mind, and sometimes I need to ask my senses to bring back some of those memories. They are all in my head waiting for me; they just might need a little stimulus.
FIND INSPIRATION THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE
Every single one of us has a story. We are a walking, talking compilation of experiences.
Go talk to a neighbor about their childhood. I had the most fascinating couple living next to me when I was growing up. Sam and Delores Conrad arrived in Washington state as kids having crossed the country in a covered wagon. Talk about inspiration!
Of course, you really don’t have to talk to anyone to find inspiration. Simply observe people who are out and about. Why is that young woman smiling at the bus stop? Why does that old woman look so sad? How did that homeless guy reach that point in his life, where his only possessions neatly fit in a grocery cart? You are surrounded by stories. All you have to do is be receptive to them.
FIND INSPIRATION FROM WITHIN
How many of you meditate? How many of you do yoga? These are wonderful techniques that allow our minds to empty of distractions and tune in to the internal messages.
Learn proper deep breathing. Close your eyes and clear your mind. Find total relaxation and then let your mind wander. We are bombarded daily by a never-ending onslaught of sights and sounds. Oftentimes we have sensory overload and it is damn near impossible to find inspiration. Our minds are running a ten-mile race in a hundred square foot room.
FIND INSPIRATION THROUGH YOUR FAITH
No, I am not necessarily talking about formal religion. I think we all have faith in something. During my time in Alcoholics Anonymous I have heard many stories of addicts finding a Higher Power that they can consider more powerful than themselves. For some it is nature. For some it is another person that they respect and yes, for many it is a God of their understanding. Some find faith in their family and some find it in acts of courage that they have witnessed.
Whenever I need to get in touch with the core of my faith I travel to Mount Rainier, an hour’s drive from my home. There, sitting among the towering evergreens and listening to the sounds of nature, I am one with my faith and I am instantly inspired.
Are you experiencing writer's block?
NOW SAY GOODBYE TO WRITER’S BLOCK
Well, hopefully you can say goodbye to writer’s block after using some of these suggestions. As writers we need to be inspired. Without inspiration we would all sound like a recital of the encyclopedia and heaven help us if that ever happens.
I am not certain of this next statement but I suspect it is true. Given enough time I’m willing to bet that I can teach a chimpanzee to print letters of the alphabet. Given enough time and patience, I’m even willing to bet that I can teach that chimpanzee to write a few words. However, that does not make him/her a writer. Technically they might be writing words but they are not writers. Yes, they are lacking intellect and reasoning, but they are also lacking something that is unique to the human species and oh so important to writers.
They are lacking inspiration.
May you find the inspiration you need to go forth and achieve great things. Remember that the world is waiting to read your words. Remember that the world needs the beauty that you can provide through your words. We can educate, motivate, inspire and elicit laughter through our words. All we need do is tap into that inspiration that is within each of us.
2013 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)
Comments
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Me too, Sha!
Bill, I strongly believe in Kismet!
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My pleasure, Dianna! I hope you are well and have a great upcoming week.
Thank you for the inspiration and the tips. I have writer's block on occasion and need this advice.
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Mary, the writer's prayer had me laughing. Sounds like a hub to me. :) Thank you my friend and have a great day.
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Paulo, you are very welcome and thank you!
Totally inspirational! Just reading this hub could cure writer's block. It hits different people at different times, the writer's prayer should be, "Lord remove this block!"
Voted up, useful, and interesting.
Great hub! I really find hard writing something that I am not truly inspired with it. so thanks.
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Career, it is interesting that I wrote this since I have never had writer's block, but it seemed like something that would be worthwhile for others. Thank you once again.
Nice tips billybuc. Thankfully, I don't get writers block too often, but if it tries to creep back in I will be sure to pull from your suggestions. Thank you for another great article!
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Karen, I say the same thing, and I keep hoping I didn't jinx myself too. LOL Thank you!
Billy,
Very interesting hub topic. I voted in the poll that I have never had writer's block, but it was scary. I hope I didn't jinx myself! Voted up and sharing.
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Glimmer, I had a problem with it yesterday but now today I am fresh and pouring out words. I usually write the title down when I think of something and then return to it later when I have time. Great minds think alike. :)
Well with what I write about you'd think it would be easy to find inspiration, but it hits everybody. It seems like when I least expect it is when I get that inspiration. Then I write it down in my handy dandy notebook.
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Chris, I actually ran into this yesterday. The inspiration just would not come, so I shut it down and went for a walk, and I will tackle it all again today with a fresh mind.
Have a great snowshoe walk my friend.
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Ann, hooray for you. I hope you have a wonderful trip and adventure and I am excited to hear about it when you return. Thank you as always for your kind words.
Bill, thanks for the ideas for gaining inspiration. It can be so frustrating sometimes when I want so badly to express something, but the something just isn't there. I think I'm going outside for a long snowshoe today. We will see what happens after that.
Now booked to see the Northern Lights on 13th-27th! Different company, needless to say, so all is not lost (in fact we're financially in pocket so not complaining LOL). Will try to get some hubs out before I go.
It's always a pleasure to visit your pages, bill; I know it's going to be quality writing. Cheers! Ann
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Ann, it is always so nice when you visit me. Thank you! How do i write so much? This is my passion. I don't write on HP to make money because I only make a dollar a day. LOL I write because I love to write, and sometimes something that I write about helps others.
I'm sorry about your cancelled tour. That is just terrible. I look forward to reading about it when you write that hub.
Take care my friend and it was nice to hear from you.
bill
Hi billy! We all need reminders like these to get us going again. I was looking through your list of hubs wondering how on earth you manage to produce so many so often. But then I'm a bit lazy and I don't rely on mine for income, lucky me. Nature, family and the places I love are my inspiration, as well as my teaching experiences. Writing about what you know and what you love provides so much. When stuck, looking around you (as you say) can be so inspiring. I like the idea of looking at our favourite writers too. I'm just recoiling from a cancelled cruise, having been on the ship in dock for 2 days before they told us; that's given me inspiration for all sorts of things, one of them being human nature when faced with setbacks!! Up etc. and shared. Brilliant as usual! Am way behind with reading hubs due to the holiday thing and trying to re-book something but these things are sent to try us. All the best to you!
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Rajan, obviously you do not need this information and I hope you never will. Thank you!
A very useful read though I haven't faced this yet. Your hub should inspire a lot of ideas in those in need.
Voted up and useful, my friend.
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Hey Lizzie, good to see you again! Have you been gone or did I just miss your newer hubs? I'll have to swing by and find out. Thank you and I hope you are well my friend.
Hey there, Billy! Long time no see :) Glad I found this article...... Inspiration is always needed here, LOL! Wonderful points, I like the one about getting inspiration from within yourself. My favorite way of getting inspired is to dream :)
Thanks for sharing these points with us...... Take care!
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Vinaya, I don't experience writer's block, and I am of the age where I can't afford to procrastinate. Who knows how many years I have left?
Thank you Vinaya!
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Monis, the only time I run into block is when I am working on my novels. Then I just have to walk away from them and let the story formulate of its own accord.
Thank you again for your visit.
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Eddy, I love that story. The subconscious is a marvelous thing. I find it will turn on if I just relax and allow it to do so. A walk, some yoga, a hike in the mountains....a nap. I usually wake up from a nap with several ideas. Strange but I am grateful my subconscious is always working.
Thank you dear lady. Have a wonderful Saturday!
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DDE, it is my pleasure and thank you for the visit.
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Michelle, I hope you have many months with no writer's block. Thank you!
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Martin, at times that is my biggest problem. :) Thank you!
I'm a kind of writer who rarely face writers' block. Life and living inspire me all the time. However, problem with me is procrastination. I have ideas, but I'm lethargic to elaborate my idea. I'm battling with this problem.
Nice work. Writers block is the worst. I had it for about 10 years... And all of the sudden I sat at the computer and started writing again, just like that.
Another great hub Billy full of brilliant advice.
I have written throughout my life I suppose but for the first four decades just for my family;nothing ever left my front door.
Oh hang no that's not quite right. When I was in school my teacher's entered many of my stories to competitions and I did win many prizes ;certificates etc. my favourite was always the one I wrote under the heading 'Kindness to animals.'I won first prize throughout the county for that one.After Val's passing in 1999 I wrote twenty poems in Welsh and had them printed. Then I didn't write anything at all until Erin's passing in April 2009. I tried but no words came but it wasn't a big deal writing was not foremost in my mind back then.Then from 2009 on I wrote and wrote;I think it was in the August of that year that I joined this wonderful community which has become my second family by today.
I can remember one day I shall say in 2011 when I just couldn't think of anything to write on "Writer's block!!" It lasted for about a week or so I think.I thought and thought but no words came. I can remember one morning getting up and thinking "Right I shall compose a poem on writers block!! "
This is what I did ;I ended up I think with quite a lengthy poem which flowed out at its own pace;it ended up humorous but with a very deeper meaning. I can remember one comment from whom I am not sure : "You must be the first person I have known to compose a poem about not being able to write.!!"
It certainly worked and I haven't stopped since.
Well thank you so much for this one again my friend and I know many will benefit from reading.
Also thank you for bringing that memory back to me. Have a wonderful weekend.
Eddy.
Brilliant ideas here billybuc, for any writer and you must mena what you say,thanks for this informative hub
The block hits at the worst of times. Thanks for the share!
Thank you for this. May I also mention having too many ideas, which can feel like writer's block.
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Janine, it was strange not hearing from you in the morning. I figured motherhood delayed you. :) Thank you for stopping by in the evening. You are appreciated.
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Thank you Ruby! I never really know where a story will come from, but they always do come. Have a great weekend my friend.
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mckbirdbks, thanks for the heads up on Edison. My mind was thinking one thing and my fingers another. When you are 64 you will understand. LOL I do get a lot of comments. You just discovered the reason why I stay on HP...lots of friends. :) Thank you!
Wonderful article Bill and all your tips are truly great ones in helping get past writer's block and lending a hand in giving inspiration to writers all over. Thanks for sharing and sorry I am late to the game tonight. Just was a busy, crazy day, but I am so glad I finally made it!
I usually get my inspiration from a picture or a past event that touched me, many times i am inspired by writers, such as you and others. My heart is always open, you never know what will appear just out of the blue and a story is born. Thank you for sharing again...
I am pretty sure this is attributed to Edison '99% perspiration and 1% inspiration'. Harper Lee, Leo Buscaglia, James Lee Burke, Steinbeck and Og Mandino all great writers. I have never seen them grouped like this and it brought a smile. Where Buscaglia's goal was inspiration and Og to promote the super ego the others are pillars for aspiring writers. (In varying degrees is Lee, Steinbeck and somewhere further down the list James Lee Burke. Your presentation here has certainly inspired many comments.
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Sheri, anyone who has read Harper Lee's masterpiece twenty times is alright in my book. You can hang with me any old time. :)
Thank you for your kind words, and have a great weekend.
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Sha, I think this falls under the category of kismet. :)
Great Hub Bill. I have just read a book called Accidental Genius and it says to sit and write, the old fashioned way, with a pen as fast as you can for a full ten minutes and don't stop even if all you can write is blah blah blah. The author claims amazing ideas will come from this. I haven't tried it yet but maybe tommorow. I also love Harper Lee. To Kill A Mockingbird is writing perfection. I must have read it 20 times. Thanks for this. You are a very generous person.
You had it before you read my comment on this hub, my friend. You soul reached out and touched two at the same time, whether or not the other soul recognizes it. Thank you. I needed some inspiration and you fired it right up!
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Sha, the mystery is solved. Now I know what you were talking about in your hub. Excellent my caring friend. I hope it works out and that she is receptive.
Have a great weekend Sha.
love you,
bill
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Linda, I have to write the fragmented thoughts down immediately or they are lost. My memory is fading rapidly and I don't trust it any longer. Sad but true my friend.
Have a great weekend and of course, thank you!
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Gail, thank you! Don't encourage Radcliff (Liz)....she will only keep going. LOL....I love her and I'm glad you find her as funny as I do.
Thank you Gail and have a great weekend.
Bill, this is such an awesome hub. First, I must state that I have a picture of the seas at sunset rolling up to shore with Helen Keller's quote that you prefaced this hub with at the bottom of the picture. It sits on top of the hutch of my desk. Too cool!
Next, I comment on the various inspirations for writing. Nature and emotions have always been my trigger. Tonight, I read a hub of a newbie that you recommended and my heart came alive. I reached out to her first, then wrote a hub about the revelation that happened to me when I read her story.
Inspiration is all around us. We just have to open our minds, hearts and spirits to see it.
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Thank you Donnah! I tend to write the title for the hub when an idea comes along and then write it when I have time. I have six just waiting for me as we speak and I'm sure that list will grow.
Thank you as always, Donnah. Have a wonderful weekend.
Great ideas and most I have used in the past. The problem I suffer with the most is not really writer's block but isolating the fragmented thoughts that soar around in my brain at warp speed. Once I can grab the tail of one, I can usually write about it. lol
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Vicki, we all have a different pace that works for us. I think you are doing quite well, so I wouldn't change a thing.
Thank you for your kind words. Have a wonderful weekend my friend.
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Deb, I don't either, but what you suggest will work for sure. Thank you as always my friend and I'll see you at the lake on Sunday.
LOL Radcliff...um, no comment. I do that same thing, donnah75. There are times I have tons of ideas and can't seem to keep up. Then other times when I can't seem to find any ideas at all. These are great tips, Bill. Thanks for sharing them. Voted up and useful.
I tend to have the opposite problem as well. Too many ideas floating around in my head and not enough hours in a day to get them captured on paper or computer memory. Oh well. At least I know I will likely not be bored any time soon. :) I would add, that when I need to clarify ideas, I tend to take a walk. That also tends to help me generate even more material to write about. I have a long, growing list. Always good to read your hubs, Bill.
I think my problem is the exact opposite! I have so many topics, mostly from life experience, that keep nudging me, saying"don't forget about me!", and I wish I could write at your pace, but it doesn't happen! I guess I'm a bit of a plodder, but I just keep going anyway. Great thoughts in this Hub, and your sincere kindness shines through, as always, Bill.
A momentary change of scenery, or an escape into something that interests us can also help with writing something. For some reason, I never want for a topic...
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Rosemay, I'm laughing because right now I have six partial articles sitting around waiting for me. LOL Like you, I will read a comment or read another hub and something comes into my mind and I'm off and running again.
Thank you and enjoy your weekend.
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Thank you Martie! It is always nice to have you visit. I agree, I think being tired or being stressed is a sure way to discover writer's block. Thankfully it hasn't happened to me but then I take steps to make sure it doesn't.
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Kathryn my Boston friend, I find that the only time I experience writer's block is when I'm working on a novel. For articles I have far too many ideas. :) Thank you and have a great weekend.
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Relationship, you make an excellent point. We get so wrapped up in the everyday trials of life that I think our minds go into overload. Hopefully some of these ideas will help when that happens. Thank you!
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Ruchira, you are such a nice person. Thank you, sincerely, for being such a compassionate and caring human being.
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Stephanie, isn't it the truth. I'll be laying in bed at the end of the night and my mind is still coming up with ideas. LOL I think I have the reverse problem. :) Thank you and enjoy your weekend.
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Thanks Marlene! We of course have the ocean here but that's never inspired me for some reason. The mountains, on the other hand, will always do it for me. :) Thank you my friend and have a great weekend.
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Poetic, great point. Stress will definitely shut down our creative juices. Thanks for pointing that out and good luck to you the next time the block hits ya.
A great hub Bill with good suggestions. Inspiration is all around us even in comments, someone will say something and I think 'That would make a great title' and that gets my mind ticking over. Music is a great sourse of inspiration, or just sitting in the garden.
I am rarely short of inspiration. Discipline is my problem, I have a dozen articles half written, which I need to just get on and complete.
Excellent hub, Billybuc. Inspiration is to be found all over. The question is, do we really want it or not. Most of the time writers who can't 'find inspiration' are merely tired or stressed, and in need of a good rest. You've mentioned all the sources of inspiration, well-presented!
I have had times of writer's block in the past, but I always have some form of ideas in my head - just not always relating to the project I'm trying to work on!
Thanks for all of the advice.
These are all great ideas. There is so much inspiration all around us that we can often miss.
Great arenas for a writer /poet to touch base to get innovation.
I agree with you...Awareness within and outside will help a writer get creative and jot down his points.
TGIF :) voted up as useful and interesting. Sharing it across
Voted up and useful! As I read through some of the comments, I chuckled at your comment about not being able to shut your brain off. I feel the same way!! Thanks for the great tips! :)
These are all excellent ideas to foster inspiration. For me, like you mentioned, music helps bring out creativity. Also, when I go out and about I come back feeling inspired by something I saw. I am fortunate to live in California where the ocean can be visited any time of the year. Even the winter ocean scene is comforting.
Great hub, Bill! Lots of good stuff here some of which I've had to resort to at some point and some other new ideas I will have to make note of. I tend to get the block on a regular basis. I've noticed that for me, there is a direct correlation between my stress levels and creativity. So, taking the time to relax or get out into nature as you've mentioned are great helps for me. Thanks for sharing this excellent hub. Voted up and more!
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Vespa, thank you for the visit and the suggestions. I actually like Mozart and I'm not sure if that should bother me or not. LOL Taking a walk is always good for this boy. There is something about nature that opens my mind to possibilities. :)
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Aloha, Stephanie, and thank you!
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Thank you Mark! It's always good to hear from you.
Thanks for the inspiration! Voted up, useful, interesting, tweeting. Aloha, Stephanie
You have some great ideas here and I plan to return next time I have writer's block (which I hope isn't any time too soon!) I love Charles Dickens and periodically find other writers who inspire me. Why you inspire me, Bill! As far as music, classical is usually what turns on my creativity and especially Mozart for some crazy reason. Probably because my mother made me listen to it when I was a kid. : ) Taking a long walk often does the trick but I agree--working through it is the best way of all. Some days the words flow and some days they don't. Thanks for all your beautiful thoughts.
great hub Bill, you are an inspiration to all the hubbers with all your great advice and ways to improve their own work . you are always ready to help .. thanks .
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Thanks, Randi, and Bev and I are doing quite well. It is supposed to be sixty today....our first in six months...so we will be out in the garden this afternoon.
Have a great weekend!
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Brian, you have me laughing. Great comment. It sounds like you definitely have no problem with imagination. LOL I started a novel a month ago, and got six chapters into it and hit a brick wall. Had no idea where I was going with it. So I left it alone for two weeks and then one morning when I was showering it came to me. Funny how our minds work. Mine just needed a little vacation. :)
Great, comprehensive article, Bill! I love your suggestions and agree with all of them. I also like to use music to inspire me. It can evoke a myriad of emotions! Thank you for a great hub! I hope you and Bev are doing good!
Up, Useful, Interesting, and shared with followers and on social networking sites.
Those are excellent suggestions for triggering inspiration.
Another that I learned in a writing class years ago is to remember or jot down some of the emotional highs and lows of your life, choose one of them, and then dream up a story or a scene that has nothing to do with the original experience but that evokes that emotion.
I happen to be in need of inspiration. Recently I did some freewriting that resulted in a scene of a thirtysomething couple on their first date. So there they are, chatting and getting acquainted, and I have no idea what story to tell. Should it be about a vampire and a werewolf, each both hungry for love and hungry? Should it be a Washington state eastside westside story? Should a lottery ticket be the MacGuffin? Should I have them go for a stroll, come upon a protest march, impulsively join it, and have life-changing adventures? Maybe I will get the inspiration of a story idea if I call upon the spirits of John Steinbeck, Sherwood Anderson, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, James Agee, P. G. Wodehouse, Carson McCullers, and the Brothers Grimm.
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Carol, I don't experience block either, but there seems to be a lot of writers on HP who do. Maybe these ideas will help them. Thank you for the drop by and have a great weekend.
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Jeff, thank you my friend. I hope you have a great weekend as well.
I never have writer's block when looking for new titles..However I think writers block can come to authors in fiction particularly..working on angles etc. However, some excellent ideas here..Will have to pin this ...
Great ideas Bill. Great inpsiration. Hoping you have a great weekend my friend.
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Eric....LOL....you are too funny and too kind. Thank you my friend and enjoy your weekend with that special family.
Wonderful pragmatic approach to what we should all know.
I was a bit disappointed though with your list of authors. I do not think anyone reading would leave out Bill Holland!
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Hey Suzie, thanks for dropping by. I was busy putting on my blush when you showed up. LOL
You know I appreciate you, right?
Have a great weekend my friend.
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cygnetbrown, great suggestion! I take pictures of scenes downtown and then describe them in my novel. Whatever works is great. Thanks for the comment!
Hi Bill,
Great ideas here to kick that writer's block into touch. It is so true that inspiration is all around us indifferent ways, incorporating all the senses. I love hearing fascinating life stories and cultural differences which often inspire me with ideas, particularly when I look to my travelling and art. Great hub Bill, all very relevant. Vu, Useful, Interesting, Shared around!
I write fiction and like CarlySullens, I use paintings for scene inspiration. when I write a scene for one of my novels, I like to use a period painting and write what I see. Then I start asking "how does this relate to my story", and "what if. . ." In no time, I am up and inspired again!
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Great idea, Carly, and one that would definitely work. I was inspired this morning by reading the paper. ideas just pop into my head....there are days I'd like to be able to shut them out. LOL
Thank you for another visit my dear friend.
Great Hub Bill! I also like to find inspiration in art. Going to an art museum or reading about artists' lives and how they cope through art making. Music is another great motivator for me. I guess I am someone who get's inspired by great esthetics.
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bridalletter, I'm sure you will see some inspiration coming from me soon. I have the whole weekend to come up with something. :) Thank you!
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Julie, I love that you do those things. I'm always a bit surprised when people say they have writer's block. I'm not being a snob when I say that; it's just that I have too many ideas and I can't shut my brain off. I don't know what it's like not to have ideas and inspiration. :)
Thanks for dropping by and have a great weekend.
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Liz, I used to sing that song out loud while in college and then laugh my ass off. LOL You need to stay on the sidewalk young lady, or on the grass behind a bush.....just sayin'
Nice way to open up to new ideas for hubs. I bet we will see some reflecting from your hub. I love the idea of finding inspiration in other people.
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