2 CommentsThe January/February 2011 issue of Poets & Writers focuses on “Inspiration.” The issue is stacked with fabulous articles on the subject giving insight to the age-old question typically asked of writers and other creative individuals, whether at conferences, coffee shops or in airplanes: “Where do you get your story ideas from?”
Most writers will respond by saying that their ideas come to them from life, talking to people, observing and through reading, but in his article, “The Greatest Mystery: Where Writers Ideas Come From,” contributing writer, Kevin Nance digs even deeper into this subject.
We agree that inspiration cannot be confined or commanded and its nature is so unpredictable and random, it makes it much more difficult to analyze.
Many writers regard inspiration superstitiously: when they are inspired by an idea they will not share it with anyone until the work is written or sold, out of fear the idea might be stolen.
Typically, says Nance, ideas are triggered by the real world – “Sometimes by events that occurred in the distant past, as recorded in historical books and records.” Others might get ideas from their own personal lives, whether they are writing fiction, nonfiction or poetry.
Some writers get their inspiration while traveling. One of my favorite poets, Yusef Komunyakaa, says: “Strange hotel rooms at midnight in cities I would never have dreamt I’d see, as a boy from rural Louisiana, are, in such moments, places of revelation.”
For myself and other writers, such as poet David Rivard, sitting in public places like coffeeshops help to generate wonderful ideas. “There’s something about the slight distraction of being in a public place that really works to help generate ideas,” he says. Other writers, like Charles Baxter, get ideas while driving.
The trick, says Nance, is knowing which ideas are useful or worth pursuing. Oftentimes, he says, the new idea is the keyhole, the room that contains the poem, story, or novel, has already been under construction for some time. The idea has appeared as an emissary; the room is asking to be entered.
Writers like T.C. Boyle and Anne Rice are both fascinated by how so many of their ideas stem from obsessive concerns which oftentimes they might not be aware of during the writing process. There’s no doubt that these two, are obsessed by particular subjects which appear over and over again in their work. It seems there might be an upside to being obsessed, particularly if it generates powerful and wonderful work.
Ideas might do not necessarily reveal their potential right away, but only after a lapse or period of contemplation. In general, inspiration comes from having passion, whether its seen on the surface or more deeply-seated. Inspiration helps us feel alive, connected and energized and comes in many shapes and forms. Sometimes it is difficult to find inspiration, but the key is to use all of your senses as much as possible. In other words, keep your ears and eyes open.
So what inspires you, my valued reader?
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