“Inspiration Exists but It Has to Find You Working”
Pablo Picasso
Inspiration is a core ingredient of creativity and often a subject for writers.
I have two quite different images of inspiration described by authors I find inspiring.
On the one hand, Liz Gilbert writes in her excellent Big Magic (a must read for anyone interested in creativity) how a poem would come rushing to the poet Ruth Stone as she was out working in the fields (p64). She would run back as fast as possible to the house hoping to get to a pencil and paper there in time to catch it.
At another extreme for me is Hope Jahren, in her superb book Lab Girl (a must read for anyone interested in science and the creative process) who finds new ideas for research by looking around, for example in the middle of an Irish bog (p316–320) with her science collaborator Bill, looking for something that stands out, something that shouldn’t be there, something that catches their attention. When they find it, they’ll be able to start working.
In both cases the ‘would-be inspiration recipients’ were on the look out, they were aware that something could be out there heading for them if they were ready.
Part of being ready is about alertness, about noticing. Another part is about having some catching gear. The inspiration that comes flashing to you is probably not going to stick around for long. In fact, it may be gone in a flash.
Have you ever tried retrieving an interesting dream that is slipping away? When you were half asleep it felt clear and tangible — no need to get yourself up to write it down. But once you are awake it starts ebbing away. For me it feels I could almost reel it in (like a fishing line) if I could just get hold of the smallest part of it.
I have two simple ways of catching these ephemeral wisps of thought — the first very old school and the second more contemporary.
- PEN AND PAD
It’s as described on the tin — just that — for which a shirt pocket is a very useful holder. For years I have favoured a particular brand of pad. When recently I realised I had none left, others seemed to work as well. For me the pen has to be 4 colour Bic pen which probably merits a separate Medium post all to itself. The 4 colours provide ample variety in note taking and mind mapping and ensure that you have at least one colour working for a long time.
The pen and pad are readily available to record any fleeting thought — whether from within or without. When we run courses and workshops the pen and pad are often called to action. If I’m walking by the sea and a thought arises, in a few moments it is caught. After the event I can go through the pages and retrieve anything of interest — and mark the pads that have been reviewed.
This is the simplest least distractable way I’ve found to catch ideas that need writing. It has a second bonus I’ll come to later.
2. THE SMARTPHONE
I would be wary of proposing this as a standby for idea catching — partly because it can be harder to stay focused on the thought, but also there are some situations in which it might not feel appropriate to reach for a phone and starting tapping away. And, I think that something different happens between mind and writing when you put pen to paper compared to when you tap on your phone.
However, the smartphone possesses one function which is invaluable here — the voice recorder — invaluable if you have words or melody for a song in your head that you have to get down before they float away.
The few songs I’ve written in recent years have all started life that way. On one occasion I kept humming the melody over and over to myself until I could get to my phone.
The voice recorder has the added advantage of being able to play it to another person — like a pianist friend.
3. THE BONUS
The pen and pad can also serve as a ‘light on the ground’, off-grid mobile office for those unexpected short amounts of time. Perhaps you have a few minutes to prepare for a meeting or to jot down some thoughts for a project. No time or place for the laptop or large pad. Just take out your pen and pad for a few minutes of focused thinking and possibly inspiration.
Think you’re not creative? Grab a friend and try this simple pencil and paper activity.
