Friday, April 13, 2012

The Most Interesting Thing: Hunting Inspiration

"Words are often seen hunting for an idea, but ideas are never seen hunting for words."
--Josh Billings
Does that quote make sense to you? Lately I haven't been feeling very inspired, so this month I'm on the hunt for inspiration. Books, music, poetry, and movies are my usual hunting grounds. I also find inspiration while tromping through the forest or working in the garden. Last week I discovered an interesting movie, Pandaemonium which sparked my curiosity about the 18th century poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. I've been  gorging on his poems ever since. But I'm always on the lookout for new hunting ground.

What has inspired you lately? Where do you go when you need to fill your creative well?

18 comments:

  1. Yeah, that quote definitely makes you think! Lately, I've been inspired by music. I have to listen to the type of music that fits the mood I'm trying to create in my writing! Since I've been working on my YA horror, it's been darker stuff like Switchblade Symphony and Portishead, lol. But I also get inspiration from going on walks and being out in nature. For some reason I can really let myself go and just relax and let words flow. :)

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    1. I actually talk out dialogue between characters out loud while walking in the woods. Wonder what the bears and mountain lions think. LOL.

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  2. I'm usually inspired by movies or books, but recently my daughter inspired me with a song. I've had a story idea since 2010 that I haven't acted upon, and she introduced me to a song last week that she thought could inspire me to write the story. The song is Paradise by Coldplay. :)

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  3. I wish I could tell you what and why things rattle around in this empty septic tank I call my brain. I have no idea. All I know is I have regular visitors who whisper silly ideas to me. :)

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  4. I like to read about/watch about other places. That seems to get things going. Just started a book that takes place in Maui. Seemed rather benign until the descriptions started rolling in. Suddenly, new idea! =) Don't worry. You're filling the well. It will pour out on you soon.

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  5. Photography inspires me, sunsets and amazing landscapes. Thunderstorms and, of course, chocolate ;)

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  6. Angelina, most definitely, taking long walks in the forest with Roxy inspires me. I try to stay present, take in nature, bring all my senses into play. Soon, my muse has joined me and I'm filled with creative energy. Lately, I've been thinking it would be a good idea to invest on a small voice activated recorder. There are times when we don't have pen and paper and methinks this is a handy way to record our thoughts. What do you think?

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    1. For some reason, your comment ended up in my spam file. Sorry! I've thought about the voice recorder, too. Hard to write when you're walking in the woods, my favorite place for inspiration.

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  7. Oo, excellent question. Lately I have been going to you tube and itunes university...listening and watching things on the Titanic , Quantum Mechanics and Ghost Hunting. Odd, yet true.

    Another place I like to wander about is Project Gutenberg...reading olde textss on a variety of subjects, quite often folk and fairytales in particular. AND--this place is great too... http://archive.org/index.php

    K, I am done :P

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    1. Thanks for all the cool suggestions, Deb. ^_^

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  8. Same as you, books, movies and music. It's so weird, I took my daughter to a movie last night and the preview of a cartoon movie came on called Brave and I was totally inspired! I guess you never know where that inspiration will come from:)

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  9. Like you, I hunt down inspiration in books, movies, and music most of the time. But sometimes when the business and busyness of life gets over-stimulating, I simply sit in a quiet place and let inspiration come to me.

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