Finding Inspiration

Today, I'm thinking about inspiration. Where does it come from, and how do I find it? Why do I lose it sometimes? How come there are days when I can't even look at a computer and others where I'm itching to write and teeming with ideas? Is it really inspiration that I'm lacking, or motivation?

After doing a little bit of research--not a lot, mind you-- I came across an article on the scientific study of inspiration and what it means to the creative process: “The Scientific Study of

Inspiration in the Creative Process: Challenges and Opportunities" by Oleynick et al. Mostly, this study was focused on addressing the issues with studying inspiration and how those issues could be overcome. If you're interested in the article, the link is here.

What I found really interesting about this is the discussion of the difference between inspiration and perspiration. The whole idea about inspiration being only a small part of the process and the effort or hard work being the majority of the process was thrown out there. And I know there is a need to back up that inspiration, or it doesn't matter one bit if you have a wonderful idea. In their analysis of creativity, effort, and inspiration, the writers of this study found that "effort is important to the creative process, but its role is different than that of inspiration. Whereas writers’ inspiration predicts the creativity of the product, writers’ effort predicts the technical merit of the product" (Oleynick et al). To me, The technical merits mean the story's structure, the techniques writers use, the grammar, etc. Those are so important to making your finished product a creative success, and you need motivation to be devoted to the end game.

But that's different from the idea that sparks your imagination. And that's what I'm curious about.

I want to know what sparks my creativity. What makes my mind interested in a topic or makes it feel important to me? I've been trying to pay attention to this in the past week or so. I've noticed the following:

1. There are inspirational pieces (drawings, songs, shows, books, sayings, etc) to which I am directly and very obviously drawn. Think, looking at a picture and creating a little blurb that leads to something more solid. Or perhaps watching a movie and then considering "what if," and an idea begins forming.

2. These direct inspirations are not always strong. Some of them stick and are supported and prolonged by my efforts. Others fade quickly.

3. The strongest inspirations are unintentional. The indirect inspirations just weave their way into my writing without warning until suddenly, I'm wondering how I didn't notice it. For example, I've been teaching suspenseful stories to my students, and now, suddenly, my own short stories are becoming a bit more spooky.

4. I can choose to ignore the inspirations, but then I tend to miss the ones I want. If I have an "aha! moment", I need to focus on it and jot it down. I don't usually have time to stop and completely give myself to writing it. It might be hours or even days before I am able to sit down at my computer again. But I can jot things down.

5. 
   

Oleynick, Victoria C., et al. “The Scientific Study of Inspiration in the Creative Process: Challenges and Opportunities.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Frontiers, 1 Jan. 1AD, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00436/full#h8.