Writers are fortunate enough to have the world presented for their muse. Sometimes, though, we can forget how and where we once found such stimulus for our craft. Next to life’s novel experiences, the existential allure of nature, and caffeinated slavery to the stubborn pen, here are the three biggest sources of inspiration that I can vouch for on personal practice and third-party oath.
Books: The classic impetus. What’s your preference? Young Adult, Romance, Mystery, Classic, Fantasy…it doesn’t matter. Whatever your favorite genre, writers rarely fail to be inspired when presented with writing to which they connect. Blind dates with books are great with this, as the reader is given a line or passage and nothing else to tempt prejudice. I never would’ve given Wuthering Heights another try were it not for the magnificent language of Emily Bronte’s prose: “You said I killed you—haunt me then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I can not find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!” Great writing sparks the dullest of muses, so grab a book and start digging. Exploration is the butter to creativity’s bread.
Music: One of my favorite things to do is shut out all unnecessary noise, plug in the headphones, and focus on the emotion unsaid. Music evokes feelings that words cannot, which is why I urge you to seek out instrumentals for your muse, particularly classical. Listen to an arrangement that fits your current mood, or the mood you wish to articulate. Write a narrative that follows the melody of the music, a syllable for every note. You can also write to the atmosphere itself, but the key is to be as free-flowing as possible. Let nothing be thought of before it’s written, lest you overthink and miss the purity of unadulterated prose.
Art: A picture can be worth more than a mere thousand words; just ask F. Scott Fitzgerald. The world-renowned Francis Cugat painting of disembodied eyes against a blue skyline moved Fitzgerald so much that he wrote it into his novel. Paintings, sculptures, and photographs make wonderful spurs of creativity, not only for stories, but for anecdotes, phrases, concepts, and anything else you wouldn’t have articulated before laying eyes on the piece. Spend a day at the museum with your laptop or notebook and study a work that truly speaks to you. Ask questions about the piece. What is the artist trying to say? Is he saying anything? What does a black and white style achieve that color detracts? What are the main focuses? What are the subtleties? The devil’s in the details, which is just as true of art as it is for writing. Work them into your own art.
