Where do I find inspiration?

Inspiration is a fickle thing. It flies around and teases our creative souls all the time. Sometimes, she just wants to play games with us and by games I mean torturing us with her absence. I can imagine her sitting on the curb or lounging around on my comfortable bed and laughing her ass off because she’s giving me the silent treatment. 

Well, she’s not only tough one in the relationship. I found ways to make her come to me and I feel generous to share those ideas with you because I’m awesome like that. 

I love to run. I get a lot of weird looks when I mention that I’m a bookworm that lives quite active life. Basically, I fell in love with running a few years ago and I realized that it clears my mind and I can draw inspiration from that. This may sound funny but the book I’m currently working on is fantasy, so when I’m running I will blast some bad-ass music and pretend I’m the heroine and  I’m training for the big battle. I feel invicible and I’m able to come up with a lot of new ideas. Also, I tend to zone out and completely forget about running and just plotting in the calm realm of the park.

This is closely connected with running because, again, it is about clearing your head and mind and completely stop stressing over things you have to do. When I have troubles with plot holes or chapters, I like to take a break, sit on my balcony (when it’s warm, definitely not in the winter), close my eyes and just turn everything off. There is something peaceful and magical about focusing only on your breath and let the inspiration and ideas flow through your body until they nest in your head. After a good meditation I will be energized and the plot holes are no longer such a problem. Though I know that meditation isn’t for everybody, give it a try, you’ll be surprised. 

From time to time, writing, either blog post or a story, can get… not necessarily boring but certainly overwhelming. Tiresome. Basically, we need other hobbies otherwise we would get crazy. Also, how can a person have just one hobby, when there’s soooo much to explore? 

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I got into coloring books and it’s a nice new hobby because I could never draw and this way I feel like Leonardo da Vinci. Okay, that’s a little bit far-fetched but it’s fun and you can relax, get your mind of the writing and maybe some of those pictures will inspire you. 

Whatever you choose, make sure you can relax and think about something different than the constant need to be inspired and creative. Sometimes it’s just okay to enjoy yourself. 

This is one basically tells you to go seek other forms of art to get inspired. There’s a difference between getting inspired and copying so make sure you do the first one. When you feel like you don’t want to write or draw whatever your creative outlet is, make sure you take time to appreciate the art of others. 

It may be a new book that can inspire a plot twist in your own novel. 

It may be a movie that will inspire you not to do that kind of love triangle. 

It may be a drawing that will inspire you to create a new character. Actually, I find inspiration mostly in books but also in the drawing of a very dear friend of mine. She has a talent and I just adore her creations. 

Whether it’s blogging or writing, we all need a break sometimes. Whether you choose to take break in the form of meditation or running or just a quick walk, it doesn’t matter. What matter is that you go out, you clear your head, you stop focusing on the things you have to do and just breathe. Those things will wait for you, they won’t run away, so try to focus a little bit on yourself. It won’t be easier if you force it so you might as well take a break and come back to it later with fresh mind and a good mood. 

Helpful ideas for breaks: go on a trip with friend, go walk your dog/cat/hamster… yourself, go visit your family, go to the pool, go sunbathing, go build a snowman, go bake something delicious, play a game, go train a dragon… or slay a dragon, go to the zoo so you can gush over how cute the owls are (because I know you want it)… the possibilities are endless.

Now it’s your turn. Where do you find inspiration? Tell me, I need new ways! Also, do you live active life or not? What is your favorite hobby or do you like to pick up a new one? Tell me everything.