Monthly Archives: March 2008

I read regularly Joanna Young’s blog, Confident Writing. On March 14th, she posted a group writing project that appealed to me. The guidelines are simple: write four sets of four things that inspire me to write, due March 28th. I thought it would be fun.

The same day I read the post, I wrote my first draft. Then yesterday I rewrote my list. It was interesting to note that everything from the first didn’t show on the second draft. The changes of course offer fodder for another musing day.

I know there are many things more than on this list that inspire me. What I’ve included are things that open my creative pathways to my idea palette. They provide me spirited time away, out of my workspace, which helps me to write more. I return with ideas spilling out of my head and I am challenged then to capture them as fully and quickly as I can.

4 x 4 Writing Inspirations

Here’s my list of things that get me writing. It’s not definitive, but certainly a great representation of my sources that continue to pour into my writing wellspring.

Nature: When I have time to sit and take it in, it infuses me.

1. The majesty and awesome fullness of weather: a good rain or a shimmering sunny day
2. The profound serenity of trees
3. Birds swarming, swimming, dust bathing, visiting flowers
4. Plants that I can grow

‘Other’ activities: These next activities made the list because their writing mojo is in the distraction and exertion they deliver.

1. Stretching
2. Playing
3. Cooking
4. Drawing

Permission to mess up: When I know it’s okay to write badly, then I can get beyond the voice that says Don’t even try.

1. When it’s only a first draft and there’s time to revise
2. Writing in my journal knowing no one will ever see it
3. When I can’t think of anything productive to write and I have to begin the action of writing
4. When I’m taking notes collecting information, my thoughts and ideas

Photography: I’m inspired by pictures that speak to me, both mine and other photographers’ work.

1. Magazine and blog photos
2. My photographs that return me to where I shot them: The picture that adorns this blog’s header section is one example; it takes me back to Boston, Massachusetts where I took shot it
3. People, candid shots: Below is my brother Kemic and his baby daughter



4. Taking pictures: I immerse myself in getting the right composition and perspective to capture the story inside the shot, and I revel in the fact that it often boils down to luck

I can turn to these activities, or sit with a picture, and it takes me out of place, giving me room to breathe deeply and regroup. They each give me a break from the work of writing, which is the only way that I can do my best. As writer, Dr. Kirk Byron Jones says, “No sitting, no soaring.”

This 4 x 4 Sources of Writing Inspiration: Group Writing Project really was a lot of fun to do. Thanks again to Joanna Young for sharing the activity. It’s always good to know how to spark your inspiration—for times when you just can’t sit and wait for it.

If you’ve not yet done so, think about it and let me know what you do to fuel your writing fires.

I’m a copywriter and I think my job is great! How many times do you hear that? How many people do you know do what they really want to do for a living? Not many, right?

Sometimes It Really is Work

As much as I love writing, as much as I love my job, there are times when I just don’t want to do it. It’s not my curtain call or my final departure from the page, it’s just that there are times I don’t want to do the work of writing at that particular time. Other things may be distracting me, or the load may seem overwhelming.

What’s My Problem?

I know you’re probably thinking if I love writing, can I really not want to do it? The thing is there are times when several deadlines converge on the same day in the same hour. And I know when I meet them all, the cycle only begins again. Basically, the list of stuff I gotta do looms larger than it really is. I have to add back into the mix, breathing space, room to rest and resume, because, as a friend says, No sitting, no soaring.

What’s My Solution?

Inspired by the need to press on, I’ve developed a few strategies to keep writing. I use these to infuse my writing sessions with space, room to breathe throughout my writing projects. These 7 are my favorite guides and breaks.

1. Have a schedule. Sounds obvious but many skip this part because writers are supposed to be free-wielding I guess. Keeping my goals ahead of me is how I pace myself.
2. Know the audience. Not only the external audience, but also know the owner audience. These help to set the tone for your project. After all, who wants a blog post that sounds like a white paper? And, more egregious is the reverse.
3. Follow idea leads. Researching often reveals tangential topics that interest me. I allow myself to follow these to some end. I record the related links with brief a explanation in my Google documents.
4. Take time to think differently. Draw. Make things. Graphic design and Lego® blocks work well for me. Meditate. I take a couple of minutes to do a B.R.E.W. meditation to clear my head.
5. Exert yourself. Take a brisk walks. Take a camera on your walk. At home, safe from laughter, I dance too.
6. Write notes. There’s life apart from writing and sometimes things that really need to get done insist on intruding on my thoughts. When that happens, I entertain them long enough to write them down.
7. Write junk. Write drivel and nonsensical stuff. For me it works well when it’s unrelated to my work. I can always delete it after.

Try these if you get struck. As you get more comfortable with working through the sluggish times, you will come across things that work for you. Take note, and save them for when you need them. And if you get time, come back and share some things that work for you.

Remember to enjoy your writing life.