How to Be Inspired

Recently a writer friend emailed me with this: “I noticed on your Facebook post this morning that you said you had ideas ‘again.’ Does that mean that for a while you didn’t?” She was feeling such pressure to be inspired and write another book, and it just wasn’t coming together for her. Do you ever feel this way? Yes? Welcome to the club of Almost All Writers Almost Everywhere!

Inspiration is a slippery thing. Sometimes I have way too much of it to be practical, and other times, I am bone dry. Here’s what I shared in response to my writer buddy’s email: “Yes, friend, yes, for a while I did not have any ideas. I was completely burned out, and the pressure to perform also sucks the creativity from me. In fact, my publisher sat me down for dinner last year in Chicago and asked what I wanted to write next—anything was fine—and I could not come up with a single solitary answer. I had nothing. Also, I’ll tell you that I’ve had some false starts on my way to my current ideasthat are totally pumping me up. I spent lots of time researching a couple of topics that just fizzled out because I couldn’t get passionate about them. So if you’re having half-hearted ideas, keep looking for something that captures your FULL heart. You might not find it right away. And remember that reading good books is part of your process. Fiction and nonfiction. Just read. Sooner or later you’ll find something that snags you, and you should just pull on that thread and see where it leads. But try not to put pressure on yourself to find that gem right away, because then it isn’t fun anymore. Just explore.” This is not just what I told my friend, and what I’m telling you right now—it’s what I tell myself, many times. For those of you who have a fondness for lists, as I do, perhaps this will be helpful for you as well:

Seven Steps on the Journey to Inspiration

1. Read.

As I mentioned earlier, this includes fiction and nonfiction. I was inspired to write my Heroines Behind the Lines Civil War series when I was reading dusty archival materials in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. But the ideas I have brewing right now hatched because I read the little cards next to displays at a museum my family visited. Read books on writing. Read good books. Read.

2. Ask questions.

My favorite question to ask while plotting always begins with “What if…”. If you’ve got your story and characters lined up but it all lacks a certain spark, interview your characters. (It’s OK. You’re a writer. Having conversations with fictional people is part of the job.)

3. Watch your favorite movies.

Write down what you love about them. Characters’ virtues or flaws? Story line? Plot twist? Dialogue? What makes that story great? Can you do that in your own writing?

4. Pay attention.

People watch. Listen when people tell stories about their lives. Read newspaper headlines, and the buried articles, too. Watch human nature react to different situations. All of this is ripe with possibility.

5. Think hard, without distractions.

This means separating yourself from email, Facebook, Twitter, phone calls. Shut it down, writer. Interruptions are not conducive to creative genius. Some of my best thinking has been with a notebook and pen in hand.

6. Take care of your brain.

Brains function best when we get enough sleep, eat the right kinds of food, and get a moderate amount of exercise. Many writers go for walks, bike rides, or jogs to rev up their creativity. Me? I watch my kids try to do a pilates video while I sit on the couch. That counts, right? No, seriously, I only did that once. I actually do break a sweat a few times a week now just in case it will make me think better.

7. Pray.

We should all be praying every step of the way that God will guide us to the stories He wants us to tell, and then guide us as we tell them. And now: repeat. Ironically enough, inspiration is not something I can guarantee with “seven easy steps” after all. You may have to go back and repeat this entire thing, and perhaps more than once. But if you invest in the process, you’ll find your inspiration. Be ready to grab hold!