Unlikely Sources of Inspiration

A good friend of mine wrote to me to bust my balls about not posting updates here more often. What was interesting about the note was the subject line. It read, "In need of some inspirational words..."

The purpose of this blog was never to inspire anyone. If anything, it's a chronicle of my own quest for writing inspiration. Despite this, at least one person uses it as a source of inspiration. I've written before about alternative places to find inspiration, but now I realize that lists of places to find inspiration miss the point.

As a person interested in the creative process, I'm sure I've read hundreds of pieces on places to find inspiration. Most of them look very similar. Occasionally, I'll find something in one of these lists that I hadn't thought of, but more often than not, I read them and nod. Most creative types experience the same thing. They read these things about what they are supposed to do, and finish them realizing that they already knew it all. The reading isn't really informative, it's comforting. It's reaffirmation.

In that sense, looking to writers and other creatives for a laundry list of places to find inspiration is useless. There is nowhere I can tell you to look that you won't hear and think to yourself, "Duh." The reason for this is that inspiration is everywhere, but it's different for everyone. I read this blog and see a writer struggling with his own limitations. My friend reads this blog and sees inspiration. I never would have thought to tell someone to read this as a source of inspiration. Similarly, I can find inspiration in my breakfast, but I don't think anyone has ever included "Your morning meal" in any list of sources of inspiration.

Inspiration is everywhere, and no one can tell you where to look for it. Be open to it and it will hit you. This doesn't just apply to writers and artists, it applies to anyone who wants to think creatively. You can find the inspiration for the solution of a work problem in the most unlikely places, too. Open yourself up to new experiences - even if these experiences are things you never thought you'd do - and find your unlikely source of inspiration.

And stop reading those list posts. Nodding along never inspired anyone.