Down the Rabbit Hole: Approaching the Challenges of Inspiration
I have a funny relationship with inspiration. I think a lot of people do, whether you consider yourself a creative or not.
You get it when you least expect it.
And sometimes it’s only there for a second and then leaves you forever.
Looking for it can be hit or miss — and then you’re stuck wondering whether you should push through, or take a break.
But what about when you DO find it? What about when you’re inspired, and it’s taken you down a new path? What happens then?
I get inspired a lot by words – the way something is written, or the way someone has articulated their perspective.
Making that inspiration real means expanding on it. How does this piece or sentence or idea relate to me and what I’m working on? How can I make it my own? Can I make it my own? (Sometimes I feel like I cannot – maybe it leans too close to “plagiarism” than “taking inspiration” – so I let it go.)
As simple as this very loose process seems when written down, in reality this can take me days, weeks, and yes, even months. Sometimes it sits there and I’m not sure what to do with it just yet, and sometimes it’s a flurry of keyboard strokes and misspellings just to get my thoughts out.
It’s one of the hardest things you face as a creator: you can’t always force good ideas, let alone force inspiration to help create those good ideas.
It’s also one of the greatest things you face as a creator: getting inspiration from something unexpected, creating a spark of an idea, and making it your own to share with others.
That’s creativity, baby!