Mar 3, 2008
31 Ways to Find Inspiration for Your Writing
Photo courtesy of Seedling-Chaos
“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” - Jack London
No matter how much you love writing, there will always be days when you need inspiration from one muse or another.
In fact, I would argue that inspiration is not just a desirable thing, it’s an integral part of the writing process.
Every writer needs inspiration to produce inspired writing. And sometimes, it can come from the unlikeliest sources.
I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite ways of finding inspiration — some of them obvious, some of them less so. But it’s always good to have reminders, and if you haven’t used a few of these sources of inspiration in awhile (or ever), give them a go.
- Blogs. This is one of my favorites, of course. Aside from this blog, there are dozens of great blogs on writing and every topic under the sun. I like to read about what works for others — it inspires me to action!
- Books. Maybe my favorite overall. I read writers I love (read about my current loves) and then I steal from them, analyze their writing, get inspired by their greatness. Fiction is my favorite, but I’ll devour anything. If you normally read just a couple of your favorite authors, try branching out into something different. You just might find new inspiration.
- 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.
- Magazines. Good magazines aren’t always filled with great writing, but you can usually find one good piece of either fiction or non-fiction. Good for its writing style, its voice, its rhythm and ability to pull you along to the end. These pieces inspire me. And bad magazines, while perhaps not the best models for writing, can still be inspirations for ideas for good blog posts. These magazines, as they don’t draw readers with great writing, find interesting story angles to attract an audience.
- Movies. Sometimes, while watching a movie, a character will say something so interesting that I’ll say, “That would make a great blog post!” or “I have to write that in my writing journal!” Sometimes screenwriters can write beautiful dialog. Other times I get inspired by the incredible camera work, the way that a face is framed by the camera, the beauty of the landscape captured on film.
- Forums. When people write on forums, they rarely do so for style or beauty (there are exceptions, of course, but they’re rare). Forumers are writing to convey information and ideas. Still, those ideas can be beautiful and inspiring in and of themselves. They can inspire more ideas in you. I’m not saying you have to read a wide array of forums every day, but if you’re looking for information, trawling some good forums isn’t a bad idea.
- 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.
- Music. Along the same lines, it can be inspiring to download and play great music, from Mozart to Beethoven to the Beatles to Radiohead. Play it in the background as you write, and allow it to lift you up and move you.
- Friends. Conversations with my friends, in real life, on the phone or via IM, have inspired some of my best posts. They stir up my ideas, contribute ideas of their own, and they fuse into something even more brilliant than either of us could have created.
- Writing groups. Whether online or in your community, writing groups are great ways to get energy and motivation for your writing. My best short stories were done in a writing group in my local college (a great place to look for such groups, btw), as we read out our work to the group, critiqued them and made suggestions. The work of the other writers inspired me to do better.
- The Pocket Muse
. A book full of writing inspirations. Can’t beat that!
- Quotes. I don’t know why it’s so, but great quotes help inspire me. I like to go to various quote sites to find ideas to spark my writing, turns of phrase that show what can be done with the language, motivation for self-improvement. Try these for a start: Writing Quotes and Quotes for Writers.
- Nature. Stuck for ideas? Go for a walk or a jog. Get away from sidewalks and into grass and trees and fields and hills. Appreciate the beauty around you, and let the inspiration flow through you. Sunsets and sunrises, of course, are two of my favorite uplifting scenes of nature, and anything involving water is also awesome (oceans, rivers, lakes, rain, rivulets, even puddles).
- History. It can be unexpected, but great people in history can inspire you to greatness. My favorites include Benjamin Franklin, Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller, Leonardo da Vinci, and other greats.
- Travel. Whether it be halfway around the world, or a day trip to the next town or national park, getting out of your usual area and discovering new places and people and customs can be one of the best inspirations for writing. Use these new places to open up new ways of seeing.
- Children. I have six kids, and they are my favorite people in the world (my wife and siblings and parents being right up there too). I love to spend quiet time with them, taking walks or reading. I love to have fun with them, playing board games or having pillow fights. And during these times I spend with them, I’m often reflective, about life, about humanity, about love. I suggest that children, with their fresh outlook on the world, can change the way you view things.
- Exercise. I get my best ideas most often while running. There’s something about the quietness, combined with the increased flow of blood through your brain, combined with being out in the fresh air with nature, that really stimulates the mind.
- Religion. Many of you aren’t religious (and many are) but it doesn’t matter much — the great religions in the world have ideas in them that are beautiful and inspiring. I’ve studied some of the writings of not only Christianity and Judaism but Islam, Bahai’i, Buddhism, Taoism, and many cultures with multiple nature gods. I can’t say I’m an expert at any of these religions, but I can say that any time I’ve spent reading the ideas of religion have paid off for me in inspiration.
- Newspapers. I used to be a newspaper reporter and editor, and I’ve become jaded to newspapers. The news seems like an endless cycle of the same thing, happening over and over again. However, if you know how to look, you can find human-interest stories that are inspiring. Stories about people who have triumphed over adversity. (Edit: I had “diversity” instead of “adversity” here and have now corrected … thanks for the catch, Bill!)
- Dreams. I’m not very good at this, but at times in my life I’ve tried keeping a dream journal by my bedside and writing down what I can remember when I wake up. Not because I think it’ll tell me something about myself or my future or past, but because dreams are so interesting in their complete disregard for the rules of reality, for their otherworldness and plot twists.
- 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.
- Del.icio.us. This popular bookmarking site is a treasure trove of great articles and blog posts and resources. I don’t do this much, but sometimes I’ll browse through these links to find examples of great writing by others. While you shouldn’t steal these ideas, you can often adapt them to your particular blog topic, or use the ideas to spark new ones of your own.
- Poetry. How can poetry inspire prose? Through its beauty and flow and style and use of rhythm and play on words. Through its use of language and music.
- Shakespeare. He’s not the only playwright, of course, but he’s undoubtedly the greatest, and the greatest master of the English language as well. While his writing can be difficult for those not used to the language of his time, a study of even one of his plays pays off immensely. The Bard wrote beautifully, used the largest vocabulary of any English writer, invented his own words, made up interesting phrases that are used to this day, had more puns and twists of words than any writer I know. There is no writer more deserving of our study and more inspirational to other writers.
- Google. Stuck for ideas? The old standby, Google, has often helped me out. I’ll just search for the topic I’m writing about and find tons of great resources.
- Freewriting. One of the best ways to get unstuck if you’re uninspired. Just start writing. Anything. It doesn’t matter. Don’t edit, don’t pause, don’t think. Just write and let it flow. You’ll end up with a lot of garbage, probably, but it’ll help you get out of your rut and you might just write some really good stuff among all that garbage.
- Brainstorms. Similar to freewriting, but instead of writing prose you’re writing ideas. Just let them flow. Speed and quantity is more important than quality. Within this brainstorm of ideas, you’ll most likely find a few nuggets of greatness. One of my favorite ways to get ideas.
- Flickr. If fine paintings and sculpture inspire you to greater heights, photography of some of the most talented people in the world can show what everyday humans can do if they try. I like Flickr.com, a real wealthy of amazing photography. Just browse through to find some wonderful inspiration.
- 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.
- Success stories. Another of my favorites. When I was training for my first marathon, for example, I read all kinds of success stories of people who had run their first marathon. It inspired me to keep going. There are success stories for writing, or anything else you’d like to do, that will inspire your brains out. :)
- People watching. This is an interesting activity for any writer. Go to a busy public place and just sit and watch people. They’ll amuse you, inspire you, fascinate you. There’s nothing more inspiring than humanity.
“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.” - Vincent van Gogh
If you liked this article, please share it on del.icio.us, StumbleUpon or on Digg. I’d appreciate it. :)
69 Comments, Comment or Ping
Debra
Wow, what a great set of ideas. I’ll have to bookmark this post and come back to it the next time my Muse goes on strike. I also loved the opening quote by Jack London, one of my favorite authors.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Bill
“Stories about people who have triumphed over diversity.”
I think you meant “adversity” there. :)
Mar 3rd, 2008
Leo Babauta
Lol … great catch Bill! :) Will correct now.
Glad I have you guys to help me proofread. :)
Mar 3rd, 2008
shane
Thanks Leo. Going through a writers block at the moment and this is nice to read. I’ve actually started rereading my old diaries and finding them to be a amazing source of inspiration. I can’t believe how much my world view has changed in a decade.
Mar 3rd, 2008
--Deb
This is a FABULOUS list, and includes some ideas I’ve never thought of–which is always helpful (grin).
Mar 3rd, 2008
Kris
What a great list-I’m always amazed at what ‘people watching’ brings about.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah)
Great post, Leo! I think finding inspiration applies to everyone, not just writers. It’s something I’ve thought a lot about before:
“We all need to start seeing the world from a different perspective. That comes from going out everyday and keeping our eyes open to all the possibilities. It comes from learning new and exciting things that force us to stretch our minds and move outside our comfort zones. Put practically, there are a lot of ways to do that. Turning off the TV would be a good start. Pick up a book, a newspaper, or a magazine that doesn’t have yet another celebrity’s drinking problem on the cover. Go to a museum, a gallery, an exhibit, a film festival, a theatrical production, a classical concert, or a jazz concert. Take a dance class, a cooking class, or even an investment class. Do a crossword puzzle. Do a jigsaw puzzle. Learn a language, learn an instrument, or plan an exotic holiday just for fun. Phew! I’m sure you get the idea.”
(Extract from Work in Progress)
Mar 4th, 2008
Jesse Hines
Reading is clearly one of the greatest sources of inspiration…your list reflects that: blogs, books, magazines, forums, newspapers, etc.
I was motivated to write a post once after reading road signs while driving around town, and my most recent post came about after reading the copy on a Hardee’s bag.
Reading truly is key to finding inspiration.
Mar 4th, 2008
Jim - Just a Guy
Try writing a blog asking your readers for ideas. You never what crazy challenge you might be in for. Great article by the way.
Mar 4th, 2008
Pixel Kid
Great list! Definately travel is what inspires me to write. There’s something about travelling through a place your not familiar with that gets the creativity going!
Mar 4th, 2008
Terry Finley
Great list.
Some I would not have thought of.
thanks
Mar 4th, 2008
Jennifer
This was a great post! And I’ve found inspiration from a lot of the things you mention here. In fact, most of my short stories (I’d say at least 75 percent) have been inspired by John Mayer songs. Quotes are another major inspiration for me as well.
Thanks for the additional ideas! I’m going to try them out this week :)
Mar 4th, 2008
Kristi Holl
Great list! I never thought of using Flickr.com!
Mar 4th, 2008
David Niall Wilson
Another one that I’ve written about recently over at Storytellers Unplugged is memories. Not just the ones that you can recall easily, but those places, or times - things - that stuck with you. Right now I’m writing a story that was born of times spent walking down a railroad track in Illinois with my grandfather, gathering persimmons from a grove hidden back beside the tracks, hickory nuts and walnuts…glass insulators…and the bones of animals that weren’t faster than a train… I didn’t have a story in mind, just images of the tracks…it was enough to start the fingers dancing.
DNW
Macabre Ink
Mar 4th, 2008
Allena
holy crap~ 6 kids~!!!! you go!
I came here to make sure you mentioned travel, which is my #1 fave
Mar 4th, 2008
Marjee
I’d like to add a hybrid of “children” and “nature” to say pets. After grieving a pet for a year, I recently welcomed two rescued puppies. Watching them wordlessly express their own innocence, curiosity,excitement, and occasional puppy-zen has made my heart find new rhythms. They are cuddly little muses.
Mar 4th, 2008
Melissa Donovan
I’ve used all of these at one time or another, but freewriting is one of my favorite methods for coming up with ideas. Photos and art are also high ranking because they have the added benefit of providing a visual foundation, which makes it a lot easier to see a story or article taking shape in my mind. Having said all that, real life experiences can’t be beat. A trip to the market, the hospital or doctor’s office, or even a walk down the street can serve up tons of new ideas ;)
Mar 4th, 2008
Chris Austria
Leo–I am with you on kids and Shakespeare…They both inspire me a lot.
I’m surprise you didn’t mention the beautiful island of Guam. I was there 15 years ago and I still vividly remember the ocean reclaiming the beach after a low tide.
Mar 4th, 2008
Lyn Hopper
Thank you for this! It’s a ubiquitous problem, but we all need different solutions…appreciate the smorgasbord of options…
Mar 4th, 2008
Brett Legree
Leo,
This is a great list. I have my own to add, which may seem strange:
I sometimes write to turn a negative into a positive. Perhaps I’ve run into a very negative person, or read something that is negative in the news - so I’ll take inspiration from that, and try to turn it around.
Writing something positive to act as a balance for that one negative thing in the world.
My thought is that it helps, in the grand scheme of things.
Mar 4th, 2008
Jon Pape
Great list of writing resources. Thanks for sharing.
Mar 4th, 2008
jackie
some very awesome tips, i especially like the one with breaking away the routines.
Mar 4th, 2008
Monica Ricci
Leo, as usual, you totally rock! :)
Hugs,
~Monica
Mar 4th, 2008
Jenny Blake
Hey Leo,
I love this post - particularly a fan of quotes/quote books to get me started writing on a topic. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, but just in case you are your readers are interested, I’ve really loved the book ‘Zen Soup’ by Laurence Boldt.
Thanks for all of the great writing you produce on this blog!
Best,
Jenny B.
www.lifeaftercollege.org
Mar 5th, 2008
Jenny Blake
*correction: you OR your readers. Sorry about that!
Mar 5th, 2008
Kelly Rigby@ SHE-POWER
Add reading this post is inspiring! I’m going to bookmark this too.
Generally I rely on free writing, blogs, books, movies, music, exercise, meditation, other people’s stories and stuff going on in my life.
Now, you’ve added a few more options there for me to try. Thanks.
Kelly
Mar 5th, 2008
Positive Quotes
My 32 way is go to this site - http://www.forhardtimes.com
and just zap through the posts randomly.
I always find something new and inspiring over there.
Ethan
Mar 5th, 2008
Darwin
Leo, An idea for each day of a long month. If we make it a point to use one a day to come up with a topic for writing, by the end of the month I believe it will be a habit and the excuse of having nothing to write about will be obliterated. Thanks.
Mar 5th, 2008
J.D.
> inspired writing
Perfect phrase!
I use questions for inspiration — e.g. ‘what did I learn that I didn’t expect?’ … ‘what’s the most useful nugget I can share?’ … etc.
Mar 5th, 2008
David Parker
I’ve always gathered inspiration for writing by just doing it:
“We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.”
Frank Tibolt
Mar 5th, 2008
Geld Lenen
I always find it time consuming when I want to find inspiration on other blogs, social media sites etc. Just because I get lost, and forget what I was looking for in the beginning!
I write when I have inspiration, I don’t write when I don’t have the inspiration!
Mar 6th, 2008
Internet Marketing Joy
Wow! This is wonderful! I will surely bookmark this one. Thanks a lot!
Mar 6th, 2008
dandellion Kimban
Thanks for the great list. (You probably missed to place a link about your favourite writers, btw).
I would add one more thing here… Nothing is so beneficial for inspiration and good writing as daily writing. Just train your brain to write every morning.
Mar 8th, 2008
TI
Johnny Cash’s lyrics are wonderful and help me trigger (inspire) many stories.
Mar 9th, 2008
Rick
Hi Leo
I’m always sending reminders or notes via text to my inbox regarding story ideas, inspirations, etc. I’ve published two books myself and am gathering ideas for my next novel. Someone above mentioned favorite authors. A writing style can be a tremendous inspiration. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read a great book by an author with an original style and had it generate more ideas than I can jot down in one sitting. My first book was inspired by a novel I had read whose author had a somewhat unconventional way of writing a story. Her writing was poetic and compelling and I applied what I learned from her. It was a personal success for me. The best advice I can give any potential (or even established author) is to read. Read everything and anything that catches your fancy. Your writing will only improve.
Rick
Mar 10th, 2008
ThomasD
Leo; I love this post, and wanted to comment specifically about number 2. I’ve always loved reading, but have only recently started blogging. I’m finding that I get most of my good examples, 90% of my good quotes, and more than half of my ideas from books I read. (Especially history)
Churchill, Plato, and all the classics are excellently thought-provoking
Enjoying your blog daily,
Thomas
Mar 10th, 2008
W/B
I just started writing. Your ideas were very inspiring and will help me a lot.
Thanks
Mar 14th, 2008
Kristy
Great website. I’m certainly going to try a few of your suggestions. Some I knew about-and have used, but others were not. And since I’m kind of stuck in the middle of a story right now, I need all the help I can get! Thanks. :o)
Now I’m going to be like “Bill.” In idea number 28 you might want to remove the ‘y’ from wealthy???
Mar 16th, 2008
Reply to “31 Ways to Find Inspiration for Your Writing”