Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Thursday's Children - Where Did the Inspiration Go?


I’ve missed a few Thursday’s Children blogs recently (darn that annoying day job), but I’m back.  Maybe not with a vengeance, but back nonetheless.

The Thursday’s Children blog hop is focused on inspiration and what stirs us to write and create.  This time I’m going take a slightly different route…

See, I’ve been experiencing a lack of inspiration for going on about a month now.  A complete and utter lack of inspiration.

Usually I have a few things that help when I’m feeling uninspired.  Music is almost always a surefire way to get me, well, fired up.  Reading something that someone else has written is another one.  A lot of times I’ll go back and re-read one of my favorite books and that will help get the mind moving again.  This time, nothing seems to help.  I don't want to read.  I don’t want to write.  The idea of writing makes me feel squeamish.  Even writing this blog has been an exercise in sheer willpower.

As frustrated and disheartened as I am, I know that this too shall pass.  I’ve gone through periods of little or no inspiration before (although not this bad) and I’ve made it through.

But I’m not very good at waiting for things to happen on their own.  I’m more of a “make it happen” kind of person.  I see the outcome I want and I go after it.

So, the fact that I’ve been trying to get inspired and have been failing miserably is nothing short of soul crushing.  (And yes I’m aware that I’m being overly dramatic – it’s my inspiration crisis and I can be as dramatic as I want.  J )

I have some serious goals for this year, two books that I want to finish.  Both books are plotted and started, so I’m not going at this without a foundation.  But that’s a lot to work towards, I know that.  And I’ve lost almost a whole month already.  I need to figure out how to turn this around and get back on track.

What do you do when you are suffering a lack of inspiration?  Do you have any tried and true tricks that help pull you out of it?

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7 comments:

  1. Maybe it's seasonal? I'm going through more or less the same thing right now. I've concluded that I just have to start writing-and that will get my neurons firing. Initially what I write might very well be crap, but at least I'll have something to work with. Oh, and walking always helps me too. You are NOT alone! LOL. Here's to inspiration *lifts coffee mug*

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  2. Yeah I've definitely been there. I once had a run where I would only come up with story ideas in short little spurts — like when I was camping or something — and could only write in short spurts too — like during long weekends.

    So maybe that's something to try. Change your environment and change the context. Go somewhere where you don't usually write. Go on a field trip to somewhere completely different than.... work. Or change the time that you try to write. If you're usually a morning person, try writing at night.

    Mix it up — maybe that will spark something!

    Thanks for sharing, hope to see you here next week!

    John

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  3. I know you don't consider yourself crafty, but sometimes doing something else creative frees up your brain for writing. It doesn't have to be knitting or sewing. Rhiann's idea about going for a walk is good. And so is John's idea about changing things up. I know someone who writes longhand in a notebook instead of on the computer when she gets blocked. You could always poke around on Pinterest - that always helps me. :D

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  4. Kirsti it's so tough when the inspiration dries up - *sends virtual chocolate and sympathises*. However I'm with John, when it just won't flow I'll try and write something else, or skip to a different scene. When all else fails I fall back on editing. It's often enough to scare my creative self back onto the page.

    Best of luck though!

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  5. I've been there too. For a while I was convinced that I had forgotten how to write. But you will get your mojo back. Hang in there!

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  6. I love watching movies that are in a similar genre, era, location etc. I'm not naturally a very visual person when I'm brainstorming on my own, so the visuals of costumes and scenery help bring potential characters to life. ...And being patient with yourself. Good luck!

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  7. Sorry I'm late to the party this week! Thanks for joining us ;-) I totally hear you. I just went through a little winter of my discontent phase myself. This time what I found really helpful was actually to take long hot baths and try to clear my mind and see what ideas came to me, quiet myself until I felt that pull that *this* was what I needed to do next. Finally, I figured out but I was pretty miserable to live with until I did!

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