Looking for Inspiration
Quote for today:
“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”
Jack London.
There was a time some years ago when I was frustrated with the small amount of writing I was producing. The desire was there, the passion was there, the skills were basically there (though they needed some honing) and sometimes even the time was available.
But the writing never came. Some might call it writer’s block. Some might call it procrastination. Some might call it fear. Whatever it is called, it can be devastating and crippling. Some may even say ‘I lack the inspiration to write.’
Waiting to be inspired in order to write is living in a fantasy land. And only writers and other artists allow themselves to suffer in this way. Can you imagine lying on the operating table and the surgeon says, “I don’t feel inspired enough to operate today.” I think you’d quickly find another doctor.
I find that when I don’t feel like writing is just the time I should get down and write. Anything. It doesn’t matter if it is garbage. Get writing and then an amazing thing often happens. The very act of writing often brings the inspiration. The act of putting down words on a paper or a screen gets those creative juices flowing. What you write may not be award winning stuff, but at least you are writing. The the process of writing stimulates thoughts, ideas, concepts and then you are away.
And if Inspiration should bless you with a visit one day, enjoy her presence and draw every ounce of energy from her while she is there. And if she fails to visit, go after her, pursue her relentlessly by putting down word after word after word until she becomes so curious she has to visit.
Setting priorities with your writing
Life can be frustrating at times.
- I am trying to maintain a regular, daily posting on my three blogs. In this I am largely succeeding but it does take quite an effort.
- I am also trying to check out lots of other blogs for ideas and help with the whole concept of blogging.
- I get heaps of e-mails every day and that takes time to deal with.
- I recently conducted a major review for a medium sized organisation and have just completed writing a lengthy report as a result of this review. The whole process was enough to make my head spin and my brain hurt with the sheer scale of data to analyse. It was self inflicted pain because I tried to cover too much ground when I formulated the questions.
- I need to be getting several short stories sent off to publishers.
- Ditto several dozen poems.
- Ditto two novels for children.
- Ditto several picture book texts for children.
Then there is the long list of writing ideas I have for stories, novels and other writing projects, not to mention a history book of our church for its centenary celebrations in about five years, something I haven’t even started thinking about.
Then yesterday my daughter asked me to write several articles for a family history book due to be published later in the year. Now this last writing project is relatively easy – she has given me a deadline, and there isn’t much time left to write them. So they will have a higher priority than other writing projects.
See – it’s all about setting priorities and having deadlines.
Some tasks naturally have higher priorities than others, so they get done sooner – or should. Deadlines have a habit of focusing the attention. Match procrastination with a deadline and the focus gets sharper still. Throw in a few suggestions of panic – and it’s amazing how focused one becomes and what one can achieve.
Poem #24 Love Blues
No Comments »5th February, 2007; Category: Poetry
Love Blues
A lonely heart
Wandering in a park,
With nowhere to go –
And nowhere to stay.Leaves autumn gold,
No warm hand to hold,
On-coming winter’s snow –
There’s no-where to pray.Chill wind and rain,
Like ice on his brain,
And tears begin to grow –
As his love melts away.
All rights reserved.
Copyright 2007 Trevor W. Hampel.