All writers dread those times when inspiration eludes us. Stuck in a creative dry spell, we write mechanically, our words shriveling up on the page and our ideas evaporating into thin air. In these moments, we are restless, fearful, superstitious. We wonder how long we will be stuck in this desert. We know inspiration is the key to our escape. But where is it? And most importantly, how can we coax it to return?
The definition of word “inspiration” sheds light on its mysterious nature. It comes from the Latin “inspirare,” which means to breathe or blow in. Inspiration feels like an exhilarating creative “breeze.” It bursts into our consciousness with a heady rush–much like a blast of pure oxygen. But it also flies out of our minds just as quickly. How many times have I regretted an inspirational burst that was not written down and vanished into thin air? So, I have learned to pause and heed it. Not surprisingly, the word “spirit” is also derived from this same Latin root because the Romans and the Ancient Greeks believed that inspiration came from a divine source. The Greeks personified it as lithe and lovely muses–daughters of Zeus and Uranus.
So how can you summon your elusive muse? Here are some suggestions which have worked for me:
1. Take a Walk. The simple act of going out and observing life can stimulate your creative energies. Some of you will find inspiration in the woods, like Thoreau; others will find it by observing people.
2. Browse through Creative Websites. You can bookmark sites that have thought-provoking and inspiring posts. Two of my favorites are Maria Popova’s Brain Pickings and Tiny Buddah. And don’t forget great Word Press blogs like Mirth and Motivation and Pairings:: Art + What Goes With It.
3. Take a Trip to the Library. Don’t eliminate the obvious choice of wandering through the stacks and thumbing through an oversized book on the art of Van Gogh or the wildflowers of Provence–for example. Not long ago, I visited the rare book room at the Boston Public Library and read through Sacco and Vanzetti’s correspondence to friends and family while in prison in the 1920’s. In a corridor up on the third floor, I also spotted Gutzon Borglum’s bas relief of these 2 Italians who were found guilty of murder and executed in 1927. How perfect was that for my research and inspiring too!
Bas Relief, Sacco and Vanzetti by Gutzon Borglum
4. Use Writing Prompts. The editors at Word Press post daily writing prompts, which can jump start your creative engine. Some other sites like Writers Digest list a collection of weekly prompts.
5. Visit Museums & Antique Shops. Famous works of art have inspired writers like Donna Tartt and Tracy Chevalier. Perhaps they will awaken your muse too. Or maybe, you’ll spot a dress worn by an Egyptian princess or a knight’s suit of armor, which sets your mind whirling. My personal choice is to visit antique shops, where I hunt for vintage postcards. I especially like the ones which tell a story.
6. Read Calls for Manuscripts. Editors are often looking for creative writing on specific topics. Sites like Poets and Writers post monthly lists of editorial requests for poems, short stories, and creative fiction. The ads include the topic, word length, deadline, and payment. You may already have a manuscript in a drawer on this topic or you may be inspired to write something new.
7. Be a Good Listener. Perhaps you overhear a conversation in Starbucks between two co-workers who are complaining about their horrible boss. Or, perhaps a stranger in a hospital waiting room tells you about her son, who was rushed into Emergency with a drug overdose. Recognize that these stories are creative gifts, which have just fallen into your lap. Afterward, take notes on what you’ve heard. These creative “seeds” may spark new works.
8. Jot Down Your Dreams. Sometimes inspiration sneaks up on us in the middle of the night. Heed the good and wise doctors Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, two of the greatest minds of the Twentieth Century, who tell us never to underestimate the power of the unconscious. Keeping track of your dreams may open doors to new creative worlds.
“The Architect’s Dream.” Charles Pilkey, Art Prize Entry, 2011, Grand Rapids Michigan.
9. Watch an Inspiring Film or Video. Some movies can jump start your creativity, especially those that you can watch over and over. My personal choices are Casablanca ,To Kill A Mockingbird, and Fargo, which never fail to trigger new ideas. Short inspirational videos like this one by Ira Glass from NPR can also provide reassurance when you’re at a creative dead end.
10. Talk to Other Creative People. Do you have friends who are artists, musicians, and writers? Meet them for coffee and ask them about their work. Sometimes kindred spirits can inspire each other. If you live in a creative wasteland, consider online social networking sites like Zoetrope, started by the filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. You may also want to check your local Meetup groups to see if there are other creative types in your area.
11. Keep a File of Creative Inspiration. Start a collection of news stories, magazine articles and photographs that get your thoughts spinning in new directions. Maybe you have letters, cards, photographs, and even paper napkins where you’ve jotted down ideas. Keep them handy in a folder. From time to time, take a look at them.
And finally, my last suggestion:
12. Be Patient. These creative dry spells do not last forever–even though they may seem like an eternity. Sometimes we must simply wait for them to pass. I often think of the great writer, E.L. Doctorow, who described a time when he was in a creative funk, and was simply staring at the walls in his attic office. Finally, in desperation, he started to write about these bare wooden walls, which led him to describe his house, and then his village in Westchester, N.Y. Eventually this description became the first few pages of one of his finest novels, Ragtime.
To see more creative inspiration from the sculptor, Charles Pilkey, check out his website:
How do you summon your creative muse? What has worked for you?
Categories: Photography
P.A. Moed 
Some useful tips.
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Hi Colline! I’m so glad they’re helpful. That’s what I was hoping for!
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Nice tips, especially numbers 6 and 11. Eavesdropping is also a favorite of mine.
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Thanks, Jann. Eavesdropping is a great one.
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Just noticed your tags are the names of blogs (like mine). Curious as to your thinking on this?
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Hi Jann. I’m just linking to your site so readers can find it.
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Thanks for that! Though when I clicked it, the link just went back to your post, with the tag above it. That’s how it worked for me on several of the tags I clicked. I think the tags are intended to work within your site, for your topics. If you want to link to other sites, you need to put the links within your text, or in a “Blogroll” widget which you populate by adding to Links in your dashboard. Excuse the lesson if you know this already, and thanks for thinking of linking! Very kind of you.
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Hi Jann. Yes…I’ve fixed it. Thanks!
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Glad to help.
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I find that doing mundane, brainless activities like running the vacuum, doing dishes or preparing a meal often helps “goose” my creative process. Dunno why. Once, when I was working at an ad agency, I was really stuck on ad copy I was writing, and suddenly the whole thing came to me as I was dicing garlic for a meal. Sometimes when I stop thinking about it is when the best ideas come about. Going to the gym helps me as well.
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Great idea, Steve. I’ve found the same thing. The more mundane the task, the freer my mind is to make connections and come up with new ideas. Interesting, isn’t it?
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Reblogged this on Wine goes best with a good book and commented:
These are some really good tips, and definitely encouraging!
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Hi Caroline! Thanks so much. I’m glad they are helpful! Thanks too for the re-blog.–Patti
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Reblogged this on My world.
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Hi Lindxey. Thanks for reblogging my post! –Patti
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Reblogged this on MAK5 Enterprise®.
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Patti, I really needed to read this today. I’m struggling in so many ways and I can’t tell you how much this has inspired me. So many times I’ve not had the energy to jot down thoughts when they come to me and then regretted it. Then I start to write and I can’t get my head around what I’m trying to do, feeling so discouraged. Not sure why. But this is so helpful. Very inspiring about E L Doctorow, I never knew that. Thank you so much 🙂 Oh, and I just have to say Fargo is one of my all-time favourite films. I never get tired of watching it and I’ve watched it several times. 🙂
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Hi Sherri. I’m sorry that you’re struggling, but I’m so glad this came at just the right time! I hope it gives you the boost you need right now to move forward with your writing. I often think of E.L. Doctorow staring at the blank wall and it inspires me too. Take care. ~Patti
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I like and use most of them, I think I’m a beginner writer now but after reading yours list, I feel that I’m on the right track. Thanks!
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You’re very welcome lockelaton! I’m glad they gave you reassurance.
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Wonderful article with very useful ideas. It is true that, sometimes, you feel like you’re really out of ideas and get annoyed with your incompetent brain, for not functioning like the complex, creative genius it is rumored to be. Thanks for listing down these tips. I’ll surely take refuge in them when I encounter my creative dry spells.
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I’m so happy you found the list helpful, Cherylann! You put it very well….that we get annoyed with our “incompetent” brain…but sometimes it just needs time, patient, and some creative “sparks” to make new connections!
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Great article and inspirations! Walking always works for me. I’m a Pisces, so I always find myself ‘writing’ in the shower, as well. 🙂
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Hi drapersmeadow! Yes, you’re absolutely right about walking and water. They are both inspirational for me too.
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Great, sound advice. The patience is what’s challenging. I also like the listening part.
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Hi Maria. Yes, patience is a challenge. And waiting! Thanks too for your kind words.–Patti
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thank you for your 12 hints. To make a 13th step: Anger often made me creative. Anger often spurred the emergence of new concepts.
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Wow, Frizz! I hadn’t really thought of it as a spur to creativity, but you’re absolutely right…sometimes anger is our motivation and inspiration for writing. We could say the same for love too —Patti
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Thank you for this great advice! It is so perfect for me as I am in a writing slump right now. Too many demands on me to fill out disability paperwork, put up with an unemployed husband who seems to want to interrupt me no matter what, etc. Unfortunately, some of this advice will not work for me as I have great difficulty in walking, but I will be able to adapt some your ideas to what I am still able to do.
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Hi benzeknees. So sorry that you’re in a slump. I hope you can find some helpful tips here that get you back to full writing speed. Best–Patti
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I’ve found that a few glasses of champagne also really helps, lol
Seriously, thanks for the great tips – walking outside in the fresh air is a good one, and, banally, hanging out the washing. 🙂
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🙂 But it is true–that sometimes the most banal tasks somehow get the creative juice flowing! Thanks for your thoughts! –Patti
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Wonderful suggestions! Thank you for introducing me to these creative websites. I’m looking forward to browsing when I need a little inspiration.
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Hi Jackie. Thanks so much! I’m so glad that they were helpful. Feel free to share any that you come across too.–Patti
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