Occasionally I come across a comment from one of my followers, and the comment goes something like this: “I’m just not feeling inspired lately, so I haven’t written in a while; I can’t seem to think of anything to write.”
And I want to scream at that person, “For the love of God, inspiration is all around you,” but then my kinder angels intervene and allow me to be a bit more understanding.
The thing is yes, there is inspiration all around us but, still, there are competing forces which block that inspiration on a daily basis. Our muse is constantly doing battle with the bills which must be paid, and the job that must be found, and the kids who need meals fixed for them, and trips to the Vet and family members who want to talk and phones and social networks and bad health and deaths and taxes and . .
I’m exhausted! How about you?
So, this is a message for all of you who are experiencing constipation of the mind: It’s all right! Don’t fight it! Allow inspiration to wash over you at its own pace.
I WAS WATCHING A DOCUMENTARY THE OTHER DAY
I watch a lot of documentaries, so the fact I was watching one isn’t news. This particular doc was about a husband and wife who took a rundown piece of property, about five acres, barren and unused, and turned it into a lush forest/jungle with twenty years of loving determination. It was inspiring and it gave birth to an article idea.
OUT TAKING A WALK
Lady passes by, going the opposite direction, takes a look at my dog Maggie, and asks what kind of dog Maggie it. “Northwest Farm Terrier,” I reply, “a fairly new breed started in Port Angeles about thirty years ago,” and the woman remarks she is thinking of buying a dog for her son, who is autistic, how she’s thinking a loyal dog companion would help her son to navigate through life.
I guarantee that woman will be in a short story or novel one of these days.
LISTENING TO THE OLDIES
I’m sorry, but I’m stuck on the Oldies. I will occasionally listen to some current music, but I would guess 90% of the time, it’s music from the 60’s and 70’s I listen to as I go about my day. And the thing is, I can pretty much tell you the year of every song I hear, and I can relate to you an event in my life which happened while that particular song was playing way back then.
That’s how important music is to us all. It’s like a time machine made up of notes.
Inspiration through music – we all are capable of it if we can just find a way to clear our minds and allow it to happen.
AND THAT’S REALLY WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT FOR ME
For this writer, finding inspiration is really as simple as allowing my mind to go blank, and being open to the messages being sent my way. Now granted, that’s easy to say, but not nearly as easy as do. Back to those bills and dwindling bank accounts and illnesses and deaths, the everyday stuff which overloads us, at times, and prevents inspiration from flourishing, and I understand totally, but still . . .
Where do you find your inspiration?
PODCAST UPDATE
I wish! I just can’t carve out the time to do a podcast. It’s still there, waiting for me to do it, and I better figure it out soon. I ain’t getting any younger. The good news, though, is that I’ll be finished with my newest novel, “Shadows Across The Pond,” in two weeks, and then I’ll begin the process of formatting it for publication on Amazon.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Good to see you back, Bro. We are talking about muses and inspiration here and I don’t figure on you being short of them. Took a rest? Another fine piece of writing and oh yes, you’re still a young man. Lol… but really.
Thanks, buddy! Take a rest? No, just busy doing other writing projects. I just realized how long it had been since I posted on this site. 🙂 Take care, my friend, and be safe.
Bill, I owe you an apology. I took on a full-time job during COVID. I still work from home, but am doing web design services, hosting and more with a Full Service Website company. While I love my new role, definitely busy. Plus, my husband has been home from work, working from home and looks like his company is staying remote through the end of the year still. Plus, both my girls are doing full remote learning. So, been just a bit crazy here. I am still here though just crazy times. However, one quiet moment here and happy to ready your lates blog post. Thanks for the reminder that inspiration still is out there for all of us. Wish you a great week now, my friend.
Janine, I was just thinking about you the other day. I figured you were all right but just unbelievably busy. What a mess, this time we live in. I hope things settle down for you soon. We have to believe things will get better, right?
Be well, stay safe and healthy, and thank you for finding the time to check in with me.
I agree with you Bill. Inspiration is all around us. But then if the mind is not quiet…a human tends to focus more on their problems rather than keeping an eye out for what’s going on out there.
For those…whose mind is doing the chatter…I recently wrote an article on uncluttering it before looking for ideas/inspiration.
A podcast sounds good. I wish you luck in that venture.
Thank you Ruchira! You just described my wife….a mind which is not quiet. I think I’ll have her read your article. It might help.
I nearly doubled over laughing at constipation of the mind.
You are right, inspiration all around us. I think what happens in part when nothing comes to mind is that we get stuck with the idea that we have to conjure up a story out of our own minds and forget that it’s okay to draw from real-life situations. I’ve done this before. Things from my childhood, and my adulthood. I didn’t write down the exact stories, just chose characters or themes from my lived experience. And certainly, we can draw from other people’s experiences.
All true, Lori! We have to find what works for us. Inspiration shouldn’t be hard work. It should come uncalled and without stress or effort, or so it seems to me.
Have a rainy, happy Wednesday, my friend.
Constipation of the mind? I like that, Bill – and I do think sometimes you have to scream at people. You have my permission. Have at it. Anyway, thanks for the encouragement during these times. It´s always good to hear a positive voice speaking out from the rubble.
Oh, I have my days, William, when I’m not terribly positive, but I try to keep those days at a minimum. Thanks for checking in. Have a great week!
Bill
I know what you mean about inspiration, it is all around us, trouble is we are often so busy we just can’t ‘tune in’.
By the way, if you’re interested in a podcast Facebook has a thing called Facebook Live that allows you to put videos up on your Facebook page. I’ve used it a few times and it’s pretty good (and free!)
Thanks for the tip, Lawrence. Yes, I know about Facebook Live…I just need the time to make sure I’m doing a quality job at whatever I do. I won’t do junk, which will happen if I hurry into something unprepared.
Being a big oldies fan I find that when I listen to my favorites I very quickly come up with inspiration for both my poetry and for writing. UI hope you’re having a great new week.
Thanks for sharing, Rasma! All is well here, and I hope the same for you.
I hadn’t heard from you in while. I was a little concerned about how you were doing on the west coast. I know I haven’t been writing much lately, but it wasn’t because of lack of inspiration but because my inspiration has taken me elsewhere. During the spring it was getting the garden started and the new home established. During the summer it was moving my husband into our home, finishing a few homestead projects, getting and raising chickens, canning the garden, and now it’s getting our home ready for winter. Going back to working at the school as a substitute teacher. Soon I will be able to return my inspiration to writing. Now that we have crossed the equinox, the days are getting shorter and the nights longer so I will have more time to spend writing. Matter of fact, this past weekend I wrote the outline for a new book called The Perpetual Gardener the first book in which could become a series.
Anyway, I am glad to see everything is good with you.
All is well, Donna! I just spent more time on articles and my other blog, and kind of forgot about this one. Too much going on, I’m afraid. As for you, busy, busy woman. Best wishes in that new home and your myriad of other projects.
Thanks! Glad to hear that everything is well with you and yours!
Hey, Bill.
I’m inspired every day, but not always to write. Sometimes, I’ll work on my cross-stitching, or I may get an idea for a crochet project so I’ll work on that. With my son moved out, I’m in the midst of redecorating his room and turn it into a studio of sorts so I can work with fewer interruptions. My latest thing is teaching myself to draw. I’ve been at in for a few weeks doing basic exercises. I hope to attempt to actually draw something by next week.
So, yes inspiration is everywhere and I enjoy going where it takes me.
Have a great day, Bill.
You are a talented lady, my friend, and I agree with you on this. I’m laughing about me trying to draw…not happening. I have nerve damage in my left hand, and I literally can’t draw a decent stick figure. Thank the gods for the keyboard, because I don’t seem to be affected by the nerve damage when typing. It’s just the very fine motor skills that give me problems. 🙂 Carry on, my friend. I want to see that first drawing of yours, please.
I can sympathize. I have some nerve damage as well. Three fingers on my right hand go numb once in a while and sometimes I drop things because I can’t judge how much pressure I’m using when grasping objects. Sometimes my hand will jerk slightly which has lead to much erasing. lol It’s frustrating but overall I’m please with my progress. The exercises are dull as dishwater, but they have shown me how to look at objects differently. This should probably help with my photography as well.
Today, I’m feeling inspired to work on an old story. It’s just fluff, mind you, but I enjoy it. I won’t be posting it though. It’s just for my amusement.
Have a lovely day, Bill.
Just for your amusement is a darned good reason to do it, Zulma. As for the nerve damage, we will both soldier through it because, well, we don’t have much choice. lol Happy Thursday, my friend.
There’s plenty of inspiration in this post Bill, glad to see you!
You too, Andrea! Thanks for the visit. I hope all is well with you.
It is the same with art. There are things to see and draw all around me. All I have to do is open my eyes. When someone says they don’t know what to draw my eyebrows raise and my mouth drops open. Speechless. I think it isn’t about inspiration as much as it is about motivation. Some days I’m more motivated than others but always, once I pick up that pencil or brush and begin the motivation and inspiration comes. I like the way you think, my friend. Keep it up.
Blessings,
Denise
Thank you Denise! Maybe it is also about awareness. We see things other don’t see. Perhaps their minds are not receptive in a way ours are? I don’t know, but I love the fact that you and I are privy to it all.
Blessings always
bill
Spot on my friend, inspiration is everywhere if and when we decide to see it.Here I love to sit on the piazza of any of the old towns here and just watch people, Mick laughs at my making up stories about this person or that or a particular building . . .so much in everyday life is there for the taking! Thanks Bill for sharing and have a great weekend xxx
Tell the Mickster to quit laughing at you. Bev and I do the same thing when we are out and about. It’s great fun, isn’t it, Irish?
I hope you both are doing well in your own personal Paradise. Take care, my friend, and hugs coming your way.
Can my husband and I join your party? We do the same over a cup of coffee when were in town.
You betcha, Zulma! It will be great fun weaving our little tales about those who pass by. I’m looking forward to it.
people want the “aha” of inspiration, not the seedling of an idea that plants itself right in front of you.
Thank you Adrianna! Those seedlings are everywhere one looks.
Hi Bill. Working through commenting on some posts I’ve read from my other account, as this one was very familiar. These days, I’ve been listening to a lot of “oldies” too. Classic country and rock, older pop and hair bands. But also the true oldies like Frankie Vallie (sp?). I’ve always enjoyed his music.
I agree that inspiration is everywhere. I laughed aloud about the woman ending up on the story. Back on New Year’s Eve 2014, some friends and so went to a local Japanese restaurant for dinner. We did the Hibachi thing and I decided I was going to use chop sticks for the first time in my life. It was disaster out. This young kid and his dad were at the table with us and my friends looked as he laughed at me and said, “Careful how much you laugh. You’ll end up in one of her stories!” The little boy totally missed their intention and spent the rest of the dinner asking me questions about writing and how fun it was to be a ghostwriter. I gave him a nod in a script I wrote the next year for an author who wanted her book expanded into a script. He shall go down in history for whoever watched that film! Hahaha
It’s truly all around us. Sounds, views, people, song lyrics, sounds, blogs, conversations, thoughts, journal entries, memes. Anything can become a story if we just allow the pen to glide across the paper and release the story contained within the ink!
It is so true, my friend. I have a casual friend in Portland, flamboyantly gay, quite the character, and he ended up in my first novel. Ten years later he is still bragging to his friends that he is a literary character. lol I love that my writing brought him so much joy. Just one more reason for me to continue.