So, here I sit in front of this blank screen. I had an idea in my head for a post, opened up the page to write it down, but . . . poof! It disappeared. All I can hope is that it will resurface in time to stand up and be counted. Or written, whatever.
Ideas that escape are fast and slippery and not likely to be hunted down. ~Carrie Latet
In the meantime, though, let’s think about that whole “inspiration” thing, shall we? So much of writing–or any creative endeavor–is about finding a kernel of an idea and nurturing it. The idea is the spark used to light the fire, but if you feed it too quickly, blow too hard, or make any of a number of well-meaning mistakes, the spark goes out and you’re left with . . . that blank screen that faced me at the beginning of this post.
Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable. ~Francis Bacon
Trying too hard can be the death of the idea. Which, when you think about it, sounds counter-intuitive. There are so many analogies that talk about the sheer work of creation, comparing it to childbirth or any of a million similar, extreme-effort activities.
Labor gives birth to ideas. ~Jim Rohn
Writers already know about the hard work involved in nurturing that glimmer of an idea. And yes, dragging it into the light can be similar to labor–and not just the “giving birth” kind, either. Ideas are twisty and they struggle to escape. Maybe not all the time, but so, so often. Forcing them onto paper (or a computer screen) is tough.
Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead. ~Gene Fowler
Still, though, that initial idea–that little gift from the Muses–is priceless. Indefinably precious. It is also something that doesn’t require actual work, per se. All the writer needs to do is be the conduit for the idea, open to the possibility. (Although, I’ll be the first to grant you that it can be an effort to stop thinking long enough for an idea to float its way to the surface.)
Everyone who’s ever taken a shower has an idea. It’s the person who gets out of the shower, dries off and does something about it who makes a difference. ~Nolan Bushnell
Pulling the idea into the light and nailing it down onto paper? That can be work. But the idea itself? Magic.
Sometimes imagination pounces; mostly it sleeps soundly in the corner, purring. ~Leslie Grimutter
Are you interested in some more great quotes about writing? Click here.
Ha, your first sentence caught me. I thought to myself, “Poof? Oh yeah, I can relate.” Then I was mentally running down the list of all the things I do to capture ideas before they’re gone.
Post-it notes, baby, post-it notes. Follow that up with a to-do list, a whiteboard near the computer and on my fridge, and a scrap of paper with a pen by my keyboard. I’m debating a voice recorder for the car.
Then, of course, is the problem with figuring out what the hell I jotted down two days after the action. “Nod 65 for Copy… What the hell? Harry, what’s this for?”
“Nod 65? What the hell is that?”
“I have no friggin’ idea. Apparently I was supposed to write something about it…”
So it’s not lack of ideas that are my issue. It’s managing them 🙂
An amusing muse om muses
Love the quotes!!!
Yes, writing is a hard work, sometimes I can feel like having so much idea, but sometimes that’s just doesn’t come out.
I wrote a post before, I can’t remember where, suggesting the idea journal! Bring with you wherever you go, that’s how you can write down the ideas, and put it into an article.
Great quotes, thanks for sharing!
I can definitely relate! I used to get writer’s block and I used to have a great idea that went “poof”.
Now I’m in the boat of having so many ideas that I want to write about, I get stuck on choosing one and getting writing.
I don’t know if there will ever be a good balance or if I just need to get over the list and pick something. I’m seriously contemplating a dart board for choosing ideas whenever I start looking at the list. Maybe a dart in an idea would solve the analysis paralysis problem?
Oh true, true, true Deb!
That elusive idea glimmer that seemed so clear until you tried to reach out and hold on to it. And then it turns to slippery silk: you can sort of hold it but can’t really get a grip on it.
Not, of course, that I’ve ever had this problem you understand.
The quotes are fantastic and I agree with all of them. 🙂
Great, humorous post. I do find that, like so many other things, ideas breed more ideas. Once I get going sometimes I find it hard to turn my brain off! The trick is, getting going can feel like pushing a train uphill.
I’m big on finding inspiration, so I totally relate. I’m stumbling you up for this one… great article!
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