Thank you for an inspiring blog. That elusive thing Inspiration… It is very interesting to study the way we have regarded inspiration throughout history. Check out this video:

http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

You ask what your readers do to invite inspiration into their writing. The number one thing that inspires me is reading. Reading good books or blogs. The next thing is travel. Writing stems from a deep-rooted need in the human being to narrate. We especially feel this when we are subjected to new impressions. Sometimes I can’t afford travelling. Then I “travel” in my own surroundings, I go to museums or galleries, I take my camera for a walk and photograph stuff. Sometimes I have an inspiring talk with a friend or family member. Or I play the piano to get in touch with my passions more strongly. And from that comes the writing.

“…before you know it, you’ll forget that you ever were a writer. You’ll convince yourself that writing is unsustainable as a career and not that important even as a hobby…That this is what you were meant to do; that it gives you energy for every other part of your life. And you’ll tell yourself that it obviously wasn’t right for you.”

I’ve been passionate about writing for years, but this past summer that passion left me. It’s completely gone. Creatively I feel dead inside. I hope to find my way again…

BigW

I’ve just put in a comment about Natalie Goldberg elsewhere on this site-
then I read this post. Brilliant! Couldn’t agree more.

I have managed to post something on my blog each week without fail for a whole year – can’t quite believe it! Having written also, on and off, all my life, 2008 was the year when I finally got it together as a writer.

That brilliant, inspiring writer on writing, Natalie Goldberg, was a huge help in keeping me focused. Here is the link to read my intro to her work :
http://anne-whitaker.com/category/writers-are-you-now-or-have-you-ever-been-distracted/

Best wishes
Anne Whitaker
‘Writing from the Twelfth House’