Four special tips on inspiration
Inspiration is the flame that lights the will to achieve and the strength that drives us to move forward, even in the face of the most difficult challenges. But it is not lit every day.
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It's 4:20 pm on a Thursday, coffee has been brewed and here I am sitting in front of that stupid machine, as my father would say the computer. Thinking about what I could write that might impact people, or waiting for inspiration to come, as if she were an entity that I would embody and make my fingers tap the keyboards so fast I couldn't keep up.
Between a sip of coffee and another look at the blank screen, while playing Flowers on the record player and be amazed: where is the naughty inspiration that doesn't appear? The Velho Fernando mode is starting to be prepared to activate, after all, it's only me that this happens to. “Your ass, unhappy”, shouts the Fernando that I am trying to be, looks at the blank page, and thinks that it is necessary to do what needs to be done.
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If I lose to inspiration, who will I beat?
It's not a game of lose and win, but one of our biggest saboteurs is the one we find in the mirror, at least every morning, and with the help of another lazy guy: our brain. He's not a bum, on the contrary, he's a rogue because as he doesn't know what awaits him up front, he'll always work to save energy.
In addition, it seeks to “release dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for providing us with a sensation of pleasure”, according to Marcela Teodoro, on July 20, 2021, on the website “Metodo Supera”. That is, it's more pleasant to be surfing the internet, distracting ourselves with something we're not focusing on, or else it makes us lie on the couch waiting for Calliope to arrive.
Namely, this girl with the exotic name mentioned above is considered one of the muses of inspiration, the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Specifically, she inspires us, mortals, in the area of art and science. In total there are nine inspiring girls.
The cool one is now a bum using one more excuse to not do things and will still leave the blame in Calliope's lap. But let's get back to what matters, at least for me, I decided not to wait for inspiration to arrive.
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Be true to your dreams
When I decided to write and make it not just another hobby, but to be able to live on something I've always dreamed of, I knew that the challenge would not be small. Also, I was fully aware that I wouldn't wake up every day with inspiration from high above.
Especially because, we agreed on one thing: life is not a movie and it's really easy, it's just the soup your grandmother makes for you while she tells you a beautiful story. That is, most days it's working hard and making it happen in the best way with the conditions you have at the moment.
In my specific case, it's writing. So, it's sitting on your butt in a chair, putting a record on the record player, two ice cubes, and two fingers of whiskey in the glass, while I line up the page on the Olivetti typewriter. And get out whatever has to get out!
Is it what you want, is it your dream? Fuck, the concern of others and the opinion of those who have never created absolutely anything. If we still cared about everything others say, we'd still be sitting around the campfire after a day of hunting. Make it happen, do it your way.
Explore new sources of inspiration
If your work depends on the creative process and like this one who writes to you, you don't wake up every day with your fingers itching to strum the keyboard, get moving. Find inspiration in different places than usual.
It won't be sitting on the couch watching TikTok that will take you to the next level, nor in the lotus position waiting for Calliope to blow in your ear. Go outside, see people, read something different than Marvel comics, or stop choosing books based on the number of figures and the thickness of the publication.
Have you considered talking to that neighbor who is sunbathing on the condominium patio? If I've already done it, you can do it easily and still get to know some very interesting stories. These new experiences can help you think differently and generate new ideas.
Keep an idea journal
So you don't turn up your nose, it doesn't have to be a diary-like those with a padlock, scented leaves, and flowery frames. By no means, just the notepad on your cell phone will be of great value to jot down interesting ideas that you have at unexpected times.
I don't know if there's any scientific theory to this, and if there is, I don't know, but the best ideas will come when you're in the bathroom or taking a shower. And before you even consider washing your hands, you'll have forgotten, unless you have something to jot down when those ideas strike.
So, when you're feeling uninspired, review your notes in your journal, cell phone notepad, bathroom tiles, or wherever you jotted them down. Finally, save old ideas, even if they are not used right away, they may be useful tomorrow.
Force yourself to create
The subheading above was just not to write do what needs to be done, whether you like it or not, you'll read that sentence a lot around here. For what differentiates the dreamer from the idealizer is precisely the action.
Just start doing what you set out to do, because your mind can start to generate new ideas and creative solutions and when you least expect it, it's done. It's also important to note that not all creative work needs to be perfect. Bad luck, I write again to see if you can record:
“Better the imperfect done than the perfect not done.”
Not once or twice have I had to put a whole page out because I didn't think it was right, and away go two more ice cubes and a shot of whiskey while I put the paper in the typewriter and straighten it so I can continue. It's part of it and it's okay.
Hold on, there's not much left
Honestly, I don't know which writer said it when asked what he did when he had no inspiration. The answer was that she wrote every day to be ready when she arrived. The idea is precise, to be prepared for whatever happens, regardless of the area in which you work.
It's always doing the best you can do with the conditions you have. Because if you're going to wait for the right moment, you'll get good at just making excuses. With or without inspiration, do it, because, in the end, you may have written a text with more than 1140 words, for example. As well as some phrase or word that motivates another person. What are you waiting for?
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If you think coffee can improve my mood, I’ll take a Ko-Fi. Maybe it helps, it’s true.
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Every writer will tell you that when inspiration doesn’t show up, just push through and write anyhow. I find this very difficult. There are days when I simply don’t feel like writing and for me, that’s okay because it’s not my job. Sometimes reading will reignite the spark I need to continue.