Upon request...
This is a lengthy one. But for good reason. I have been asked by a friend of mine to think about what inspires me. She told me that it seemed like everything inspires me and that I always have some new spark going on, and she was wondering how I got that, (she likes to do photography but she feels like she's in a rut). So, I am going to divulge, and go into deep philosophical artsy mode. Blame it on that green stuff ^___~ Lol, nah, but really, this is for you girly:
So I've been bringing my A game to my writing lately. Which is odd, cause usually I bring about a middle B. I feel like before I was writing just to write, to say that I did it and not let my skills waste away. NOW though, I'm writing because if I don't I'm going to die. For reals. I think I turned into Hemingway or something. But writing is the single most way for me to not go crazy, I have these quotes visible to me when I write and they inspire me:
-When once the itch of literature comes over a man, nothing can cure it but the scratching of a pen. But if you have not a pen, I suppose you must scratch any way you can. ~Samuel Lover, Handy Andy, 1842
-Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia. ~E.L. Doctorow
-I never think at all when i write,nobody can do two things at the same time, and do them both well
~Don Marquis, Archy's Life of Mehitabel, 1933
Cool no? I think so. See, I figured it out... I think its important to disperse moments of inspiration properly. What I mean by this is that, if the sky inspires you, you look at it, and every time you do it invokes the greatest of feelings to the point where words can do it no justice, then take some time every week to look at it. And just ponder. That's it. Just think about that sky, get that wonderful feeling from it. Then walk away, and ride that feeling to your craft, your passion. But sometimes your not in a position when you can work at it. I'm not always at my computer. Never let that stop you. Never. Let that small fire start in your brain with your idea, and let it burn everything else away that stands in your way. Wherever I am, I am always thinking about a story. No lie. No exaggeration. But in todays world you need to have a plan for all this creation. What are you going to do to make a living off of it? Well use that inspiration for that too. What better time to think outside the box to figure out how to get to the next point in your life. If the road there is crowded then find a way to skip the traffic. Use that movement inside your very soul to sit back and think to yourself how to better yourself, your art, your world. It can do amazing things for a person.
Everyone can create something, but creating something is not a process that should ever stop, it should only be paused. Take care of what you need to take care of, and when things have worked out, when you have figured out how to pay those bills or deal with that angry customer, press play again. It will be tiring. it will wear you out. Sometimes your mind will wander too far and you ahve to dredge it back. But, in good time, it will be the easiest and most natural thing to do. And then when you sit down to paint, film, draw, write, act, sing, compose, talk, laugh, think, anything, you will realize that you have to do any of those things, because nothing else will do. Doing it just to do it produces the hollow victories that produce a sound, but that's not what you want. You don't want a gourd, you want a symphony. You want someone to hear you, see you, read your stuff, see your work, and be amazed. It does not have to be the best performance of mankind. it has to be the best performance of you. People will be impressed and jealous, and the greatest part is, that by then you will make it seem easy. Easy is the hardest thing to do.
But in all of this, it all sounds like work, but these things always do. Sometimes, the best way to get inspiration is to stop looking for it. The sky doesn't cut it anymore, that doesn't mean it will never inspire you again, it just means you need a break. When adult life meets the ideal life and it all gets too cluttered in your head, then its time to calm things down. Make your thoughts take a number and have a seat. The office of "Living my life" is closed, flip the sign boys, let the thoughts know we're out on lunch break. Union rules. When things get too busy in there, take a break. A legit break. Not a cheezy "well I hung out with some friends and complained about what was already stressing me out." (There's time for that later. That's not 'me' time, that's social time). When I say 'me' time I mean, your at home, by yourself for a night, and you are watching everything you like to watch, might even masturbate a little. You take a shower for too long. You read a few pages book you've been putting off (you can put it off again after your night off). And you just lay in bed and chillax. You don't have to do this too much if you don't want to. But everyone needs a 'me' day. I can be pretty social and I looooove me days. A day to literally do nothing productive, and enjoy that your doing nothing productive. Then the next day, get back to creating. It should be fairly easy, because your brain got to think about whatever the hell it wanted to.
Yeah so, that's what I do. I find inspiration in every day things (I like to write, it's like a requirement) but I do have certain things that inspire me specifically. Mark Twain inspires me. The life of Hemingway (the silly raging drunk) and Salinger inspire me. Shakespeare inspires me tons. Friends inspire me awful lots. Plenty of other things, but what they are I cannot possibly remember for now. So yeah, I think thats it. My I got deep there for a second. Well then, I hope this helps not only you but other people who read this who are in the arts or anything that requires that sort of drive. Good luck and good night.