A common question people ask writers is, “what inspires you?” I can’t answer for every writer, but for me, it is a resounding, “EVERYTHING.” I have been inspired by song lyrics, daydreams, phrases said in passing, facial expressions, and everything imaginable. A butterfly keeping pace with the wind, an inside joke, the unconditional love of my dog… they have all inspired me to write.
That is the key to being a creative person, I think. Not just writers, but artists in every medium and genre discover ways to find their own inspiration. Creativity is one of the few things that can exist in a vacuum, because inspiration comes as much from within as it does from without.
The key is translating the inspiration to something tangible, transposing the mundane into Art. For a writer, it is finding the words to capture that fleeting idea and type it or write it or even map it out, making it Real.
It can be overwhelming, but there is no lack of fresh ideas in the universe. If you are open to inspiration from all sources, you are unstoppable.
Stay tuned for more “Behind the Poem” entries throughout the month of April, and if you want a sneak peek at tomorrow’s poem, check my Patreon. (It’s free!)
Happy reading,
Sibyl