Inspiration

I'm not as good about writing as I should be. Writing relieves my soul in a way, it takes off the weight of things I have wanted to say but haven't, and I end up with words that will someday, after they've sat unread for an appropriate amount of time, give me happiness. So I should do it more. But sometimes I sit down and I feel like I've forgotten how to write, or like my feelings are so generally confused that I can't even pull out an emotion or two to string into sentences to create something. I also feel the pressure of writing exceedingly well. I feel like I have to make masterpieces with every stroke of my pen. I make no allowances for off days, first drafts, or other such things. When I allow myself to write for the simple pleasure of it I later critique and criticize and proclaim that what I have written is simply empty and ridiculous. I feel that I shouldn't write until I've become sufficiently good at it. But that will never happen, will it, unless I allow myself to write? I guess, in a way, I'm waiting for inspiration. But inspiration can't be predicted. And to be honest, I don't know what it is. What is inspiration?

The last time I felt a random inspiration was just a few nights ago. I was dancing with a group of other girls, and we were all dressed for a masquerade. We were all of us shy and not good at dancing. We moved sort of stiffly and gave each other awkward looks. One of us, though, was looking for something. She wasn't happy to dance with us in our group, she wanted to find where the most action was. She couldn't quite see out of the eyes of her mask so her head was tilted up, and it looked like she was sniffing the air to find the most interesting place to go. I wanted to write her into a character right then and there, not just the way she was at the dance but the way she was all the time. Something about her at that dance just completed her personality. The next day I wrote about that dance. I don't think I did it well because I wrote only about the dance and not about how she was as a whole. I thought I could write just about her sniffing the air for action, but it was just a puzzle piece in who she is. And to be honest, I didn't realize that until just now, so I have a whole new inspiration to write about.

Anyway, I guess I got a little off track. What I mean to write about is what exactly is inspiration? So many writers, or artists in general, wait for it. But waiting is the wrong approach. I think recently and for a while I've been waiting to write something good. Maybe I should just give myself the time and make myself write. So obviously I'm not the expert on this, but writers who are experts have lots of expert advice. Most of the things are pretty simple, and will improve other areas of your life besides your writing ability. I just finished one of the most difficult school years of my life and moved straight on to an academic, five-week summer program. Besides that, this year of my life has been the most eye-opening I have ever been through. Some combination of the classes I've taken and the people I've gotten to know has taught me that the world isn't exactly as I thought it was. So in total, I've been stressed and overwhelmed for so long. So why didn't I write? I guess I just didn't give myself the time.

So here's how to not be like me, and not avoid writing! The following tips are from the blogs Write to Done (the first four) and Live Write Thrive (the rest). For more of their tips, check out the blogs!

1. Overheard dialog. If I’m anywhere public, whether it be at a park or a mall or my workplace, sometimes I’ll eavesdrop on people. Not in a gross way or anything, but I’ll just keep quiet, and listen. I love hearing other people have conversations. Sometimes it doesn’t happen on purpose — you can’t help but overhear people sometimes. If you happen to overhear a snippet of interesting dialog, jot it down in your writing journal as soon as possible. It can serve as a model or inspiration for later writing.
2. Art. For the writer aspiring to greater heights, there is no better inspiration that great art, in my experience. While it doesn’t compare to the experience of seeing the art in person, I like to find inspiring works of art and put it on my computer desktop for contemplation (Michelangelo’s Pieta is there right now). It doesn’t have to be classical works, though — I’ve found inspiration in Japanese anime, in stuff I’ve found on deviantart.com, in local artists in my area.
3. Writing journal. I highly recommend this for any writer. It doesn’t have to be fancy, or something you write in every day. Just a plain notebook will do, although a nice journal can be motivating. Write down thoughts and inspirations and quotes and snippets of good writing you find and pieces of dialog and plot ideas and new characters. Then go back to this journal when you need ideas or inspiration.
4. Breaking your routines. Get out of your rut to see things from a new perspective. If you usually take one route to work, try a couple others. If you usually get up, get ready for work, and leave, try exercising in the morning or watching the sunrise. If you usually watch TV at the end of the day, try reading or writing instead. Shake things up.
5. Meditation. Are you finding no ideas at all? Just try to relax and think of nothing. This is the moment when inspiration may come, and new ideas can sometimes appear unexpectedly.
6. Take a look at something green or blue. Researches claim that these two colors can influence our creativity. It happens because we associate a blue color with sky or ocean (openness in general), and a green color gives us signals of growth.
7. Engage in sports. During exercise, we not only strengthen our body but also liberate our brain. In addition to the physical benefits, we also develop better willpower, patience, and a sense of purpose.
8. Do not wait for a muse. If you have already tried all the methods described above but your inspiration has not come back yet, start writing anyway. At some point your muse will approach from your back and peek over your shoulder, wondering what you are doing without her. Then, she will give you one hint. And then...she will take your hand softly and lead you to the place of inspiration.

I think my own writing advice would be this:

1. Don't censor yourself. Sometimes if you start writing imagining all the people who might someday read what you're writing, you try and write in a way that will please (or at least not upset) this future imaginary audience. I know I do that, maybe it's just me! But if you're writing, don't be afraid to say whatever you want to.

2. Make yourself feel cool. Sometimes I like to write best when I'm wearing a dress, sitting in a coffee shop with an iced tea, and I have a really thick notebook full of blank pages. Maybe this doesn't exactly make my writing better, but it's fun and it seems to make writing a little easier.

So that's it for inspiration! Maybe I should go take some of my own advice. 

The two blogs that helped me:

http://writetodone.com/31-ways-to-find-inspiration-for-your-writing/

http://www.livewritethrive.com/2014/03/31/20-things-that-can-help-you-find-inspiration-for-writing/

Special thanks to Carly Fuller for the cute photo!