Creativity, Imagination, and Inspiration

I've never been particularly creative. Most of my hobbies to date have been either working with my hands (working on whatever was around) or enjoying someone else's creativity (reading, listening to music, watching movies). Over the past three years, I have been forced to write many, many papers. Some I even enjoyed researching and writing. I recently sat down and began writing fiction. While I would love to channel my inner-Stephanie-Meyer, I highly doubt that I will be famous or even paid for this first work. I realized while I was writing that I actually enjoyed creating a world full of interesting characters and writing about their behaviors; I suppose that is not much of a stretch, as I spend at least eight hours a day observing and attempting to change behaviors in real individuals.  

I have been reading a lot about writing, writing books, how to get published, finding an agent....all the stuff that I feel like I need to know to continue "living" in this pretend world for bursts of time. Unlike the papers I've written throughout the past several years, my pen flies over the paper when I am writing this book. I am sure the first draft will not be perfect, as I am not the greatest writer. However, I enjoy the process and am already looking forward to the day when I have a finished product. 

I liked the post below; it gave me the inspiration, encouragement, and confidence to put pen to paper and actually start writing the first day. It's on Bethany Joy Galeotti's blog, dated 12/30/2010 - www.bjgofficial.com

Inspiration is an elusive mistress. She strikes at her own whim, she pours out in abundance or withholds for unbearable lengths of time. She is never where you want her to be and seduces you until you are shackled and enslaved to her without even knowing how it happened. You simply wake up one day and you crave her... you need her... you're a failure without her.

The problem with being a creative person is that most of us are driven by Inspiration. We have these massive bursts of energy wherein we create, craft, mould and model and then bask in the glow of our work. And then, we have a drought. We get depressed because we don't feel inspired. So we wait and wait and wait for her to come light a spark. Aside from this, artists love to use the excuse of Inspiration to get away with treating themselves and others poorly.

I do not feel inspired today. In fact, I'm sitting in the car while Michael runs into Home Depot for something and I'm forcing myself to write this right now because I know you all wait for updates and it's not fair for you to be subject to Inspiration's whim. Subject to personal time or illness or holidays or any normal preventative circumstances... yes. But not to Inspiration. I hate waiting for her too, and besides... she's a bitch ;)

So for all of you right-brained kids out there who live and die by the strike of her match, I challenge you to kick Inspiration to the curb-- make her follow YOUR rules for a while. If you're writing a book and you've stopped because you're waiting... just START again. It doesn't have to be good or even fit into your story, but you can take control and choose to be a disciplined person. If you're a songwriter or an artist or a photographer or any sort of creative vagabond-of-the-soul... pick yourself up by the boot straps and get moving! There is a reward in discipline!