Inspiring Greatness

Every writer needs inspiration and no matter how easy some people make it seem, some days, the muse just isn’t there. Instead of beating your head against the desk, waiting for that light bulb moment, we have compiled our favourite list of ways to find inspiration around you.

Blogs There are so many great blogs out there, all with tips on various topics. Finding one on writing or ‘how to’ tips can be extremely helpful and might help to find your muse.

Podcasts Like blogs, there is a wide range out there. Listening to fellow writers talk about their struggles and how they overcame them can be beneficial for your own struggle and might inspire an idea or two.

Books Sounds silly doesn’t it? As a writer, I am sure that you have a strong love of the written word and if you are anything like me, can’t walk past a bookshop without spending a large amount. Books are a good chance to be inspired by other authors greatness. If you normally stick to your favourite author or genre, try branching out to different genres and writers. You may find inspiration there.

Writing journal I highly recommend this for any writer. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just something you can carry around with you. Write down thoughts, quotes, great sentences you have read, new plot ideas, and new thoughts about your characters. It is always handy to have something with you as you never know where inspiration will strike.

Overheard dialogue It’s not as weird as it sounds, trust me. Just sit in a public place and listen to the conversations around you. Half the time, you can’t help but overhear anyway. If you happen to hear something funny or interesting, jot it down in your journal and use it later as inspiration for your character dialogue.

Magazines You can usually find a few good pieces of writing scattered amongst the pages of a magazine. They are good for learning or practising style, voice, length and the ability to grab your reader's attention in a few small sentences.

Movies There are moments within a movie, where the character may say or do something that inspires you to write it down. It may inspire something later down the track. Another thing the movies are great for are close-ups of emotions, body movements and landscapes that can help you “show” more within your writing.

Music I don’t know about you, but nothing is as good as listening to “Ride of the Valkyries” while writing a great fight scene. Music moves and influences your mood… why not use it to help inspire that perfect scene?

Podcast Find ones that suit your topic or writing podcasts in general. They, like blogs and books, have great tips, inspiring ideas and may help you break out of the writers’ block.

Writing groups Writing groups are a great way to stir up inspiration amongst like-minded people. It will also get you out of the house and around different scenery which can bring on inspiration.

Online communities If you aren’t a fan of going out and meeting strangers face to face, you can try and find an online community. They, like writing groups, can be fantastic for inspiration, getting answers you can’t find on google and connections.

Inspirational qotes They are called inspirational quotes for a reason. Find one that suits what you are struggling with, copy it out and hang it above your writing space. Every time you are stuck, you can look at it and feel inspired.

History People like Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, Gandhi, and Leonardo Da Vinci have all been remembered as having inspired history and the world with their creativity. Be inspired by their greatness.

Nature Go outside and take a deep breath. See the beauty around you. Let nature inspire you written… or at least give you a break from banging your head on the desk.

Children Children have a unique way of looking at the world. They have a way of making you stop and think about your own views and may even inspire you to change.

Dreams Keep your writing journal next to your bed at night and write down any dreams that you can remember … even the ones that sound crazy. Dreams disregard reality and the rules for normativity so you may even end up with a few plots twists that ties all your ideas together.

Poetry Poetry is beautiful in the way it plays on words, rhythm and emotions. A beautiful poem may inspire a new story.

Freewriting Grab a timer set it for 10 minutes and write. Write about anything that comes to your mind. Don’t stop. Don’t edit and don’t think. Just write. You may end up with rubbish but at least it will get the creativity flowing.

Writing prompts Writing prompts are a great way to start if you don’t feel comfortable free writing. Set up the 10 minutes timer, find a prompt (there are plenty on the internet or Tumblr) and write as much as you can about that prompt until the timer goes off. If you do this at least once a day, you will find that free writing and inspiration comes easier. You may also find a great story hidden in such a small prompt.

Brainstorming Like freewriting but instead writing randomly, you are expanding on your ideas. Don’t worry about accuracy or how many you jot down, this is just the smorgasbord your greatness will come from.

Google Good old Google. The answers to all life’s’ problems or so it seems. Type in your topic hit enter and dive into the world of research. It will surprise you with how much inspiration you find.

Set a time Set aside one hour earlier than your routine in the mornings or one hour after everything has settled at night and write. You may only get a few words out of it, but a little bit of something is better than nothing.

Meditation I know, I know. How does meditating help you find your muse? By clearing your mind, you are allowing new ideas to appear unexpectedly. Just make sure you have your journal nearby to write them down.

Think of something different Sounds obvious, but it really does help. Instead of worrying about the same problem, turn your mind to something completely unrelated – what would it feel like to stay amongst Monks? How would you celebrate the new millennium? These random thoughts may jog that perfect storyline.

And last but definitely not least …

Write: Like all professions, the more you practice the better you will be. You will also develop your own habits and in turn, be less stressed by writers’ block.

By adding these simple things to your daily routine, you are sure to get the creative juices flowing and more light bulb moments.