The Story So Far - Inspiration

After blogging for the last few days, I realise that the words flow through my body onto the screen as if the literary fairies have sprinkled some magic dust over my head. It has certainly been an exciting week, for my inspiration has soared and my motivation to put pen to paper, so to speak has put me on the next rung of the proverbial writing ladder. I would like to thank all of those who have taken the time to read through my work, ‘like’ or comment. Your support is valued greatly as I continue my journey on this road of writing. A road which occasionally seems to veer off into unexpected territory (see my first ever poem ‘Dream’).

I think most aspiring and indeed established writers would agree that the most important thing about writing is…writing. Putting words onto a blank document. An empty page is like a demon of misery, grinning at you as if to say ‘I’m so clean and white. I will suck all the inspiration from you so you can’t dirty me with your words’. Despite this little demon I have found a way to defeat the ugly blank page and have inside my head what I wish to write before I open a blank document.

Inspiration can come in many forms whether it’s a conversation I have ear wigged while waiting for the bus. Taking a stroll through the suburbs or simply laying in bed, in that weird half-awake-half-sleep state. There are no rules to what I write, in fact the more I box myself in (‘I only write fiction’ is what I used to say with conviction) the more my creativity suffers.. That is the reason why I have blogged a poem. The words popped into my head, the structure came as I began typing and the rest was history.

I don’t feel experienced enough to give clear cut advice but if I’m talking from my endeavors so far I would say this:

• Keep an open mind to all types of writing, all genres and all formats. Go with your heart not your ego.

•  Don’t be fixated with perfection. Just write what you wish to. It’s true that my work is probably riddled with grammatical errors, its not a big deal. It’s about the content.

• Let go and set your heart free. Let the words flow from your mind, through your finger tips and onto the page. 

• Don’t put pressure on yourself. It’s all about having fun.

I would like to summarize this entry by saying that being inspired is nothing more than getting in a quiet place, free of distraction or noise. A place where images will enter your mind and morph into words. This is what I have managed to do with my recent work. The inspiration behind ‘dream’ was based on own experiences of chasing a passion. ‘Horse’ was inspired by a small picture in a magazine and ‘Lemons’ by nothing more than a casual metaphor. All tiny things but nevertheless they have ignited my creativity.

Trust me, all you have to do is open your mind to creative writing. The literary fairies will visit you just as they have with me. You don’t have to find the words, the words are already there, just waiting for you to get quiet and put them onto that ugly, clean ,white page. Until next time.