Understanding how to find writing inspiration is essential for any writer hoping to produce a large volume of high-quality work. The truth is that everyone is capable of being a writer, but not everyone is capable of being a good writer.
Good writing requires skill and practice. Why do essays need an essay plan? – when you attempt to write your first text it could be hard for you to create a coherent message. Only after you’ve edited and re-edited your work many times will you be able to produce a piece that resonates with readers.
But you’ll need more than just experience; you’ll need a steady stream of new ideas. This article will help you gain a deeper understanding of how to find the necessary inspiration to become a great writer.
What Is Inspiration?
Before we can dive into how to find writing inspiration, we need to clearly define what we mean by “inspiration.” The definition of inspiration varies slightly depending on who you ask, but for the purposes of this article, we’ll use the following definition: Inspiration is a feeling of excitement or motivation that comes from within. It is typically associated with positive emotions and a desire to create or achieve something.
The ability to inspire others is an important characteristic for anyone seeking to make a name for themselves in any field. Writers inspire others with their words. Politicians inspire people with their speeches. Musicians inspire their audiences with their music.
Where Do We Find an Inspiration for Writing
As a writer, you understand how important inspiration is to produce your best work. You also know that inspiration is key to finding new ideas and ways to improve your writing. Therefore, you actively seek out sources of inspiration in your everyday life. By doing so, you ensure that you are always primed and ready to create great writing.
The following are eight simple tips you can use to find the necessary inspiration to become a great writer.
1. Read Great Writers
One of the most effective ways to find writing inspiration is by reading the work of other great writers. There are countless writers available online, but the works of Shakespeare, Geoffrey Chaucer, Edgar Allan Poe, and Mark Twain are excellent places to start.
Reading the work of others does more than just provide you with examples of great prose. It also gives you the opportunity to explore different genres and topics about which you may have never previously thought. Exposure to new topics and genres can be invaluable for developing your writing skills.
To fill your well and spark new writing ideas, make sure to dive into great writing — the kind that makes you feel, see, imagine and think bigger.
What kind of writer are you? If you’re a poet, read poets. If you’re a novelist, read novelists. Get inspired by reading the works of authors who speak to you and can help shape your voice.
2. Read Interesting Material
Although reading the work of other great writers is a good place to start in your search for writing inspiration, it doesn’t limit your options to just literature. There are many different types of articles available online, including news articles, magazine articles, and blog posts.
The amount of content available online is overwhelming, so it’s likely you’ll need to search through a variety of sources before you find material that’s interesting and relevant to the topic you’re studying. Just because you read a great paragraph in a news article doesn’t mean you should avoid reading all magazine articles forevermore.
However, it does mean that you should read materials that are relevant to the kind of writing you want to do. If you want to become a blogger, reading news articles and other blog posts is likely the best inspiration and education you can get. If you want to become a fiction writer, reading magazines and other news articles will only hinder your development.
3. Explore Your Own Ideas
One of the most effective ways to find writing inspiration and ignite your passion for writing is to explore your own ideas and thoughts. Many writer’s blocks occur as a result of writers attempting to follow the leads of others.
Instead of following other people’s ideas, passionate writers write their own ideas. This doesn’t mean that you need to come up with a completely original concept (although that’s a wonderful goal!) but rather that you should set out to write what you want to write.
When you write what you want to write — even if it’s just for yourself and never intended for publication or public acknowledgment — you’re likely to write with passion and enthusiasm. If you want to write about a particular topic or experience, set yourself up to do so. Research the topic and explore your own experiences if relevant.
4. Start Writing
One of the most common reasons that people don’t write is that they feel they need a brilliant idea first. They feel they need to have an end goal in mind — such as writing a book or blog post — before they can begin typing away.
This is not true.
The easiest way to start writing is to follow the lead of journalists and bloggers who publish content on a regular basis. Instead of trying to come up with the perfect idea, set a schedule and start putting words on the page. You can always edit or delete what you’ve written later.
If you want to become a writer, become a writer. Write every day if possible. Set a schedule and stick to it — whether you’re writing for one hour each night or five hours each day, you’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish when you avoid the mental blocks that stop you from starting.
5. Be Ready to Delete
Once you put something down on the page — or in your document — you’re going to feel a strong desire to leave it there. You’ll think about your words, remember the time and energy that went into composing them, and feel like deleting them would be a crime.
However, good writing requires the willingness to delete. You can’t be afraid to make mistakes because that prevents you from taking risks and takes away opportunities to make your work better.
Edit as you go or once your piece is complete. If you’re using writing apps, use the tools available to highlight and delete sections or entire pages. Or, if you write by hand, use an orange highlighter to mark sections to delete and scratch them out when you’re done.
6. Make It a Ritual
Writing is a habit. Like any other habit, you can turn writing into a ritual by making it part of your routine.
Set a time each day to write. Instead of having your work schedule control your time, decide how you want to spend your hours and then block off the time on your calendar. Rituals help make writing a habit. Once it becomes part of your daily routine, writing will be less intimidating and more likely to become something you do without thinking about it — just like getting ready for work or making dinner.
7. Join a Community
Writing is not a solitary pursuit. Many great writers throughout history have benefited from the encouragement, feedback, and inspiration of other writers, editors, and readers.
You also benefit from joining a writing community where you can learn from others and feel safe to make mistakes. Start by joining a writing group, where you can read your work out loud and get feedback in person.
Online, you can join a writers’ forum or email list where writers post messages and interact online. Be aware that although writing forums can be great places to find support and advice, they can also be toxic environments rife with ego wars, fake praise (also known as stroking), and another negativity.
If you suffer from anxiety about writing, refrain from doing it alone. Find a friend or group of writers who will join you in putting words on the page.
8. Write for Others
Writing for others can be an effective way to force oneself to sit down and write for one’s own benefit. To keep a promise to write something for another person, you must set aside time to do it.
Whether you want to write a family newsletter, a blog, or a book: start small by offering to write something for someone you love. You won’t regret it.
When you write what you want to write — even if it’s just for yourself and never intended for publication or public consumption — you build confidence and courage to write more and better.
If you’re ever having trouble finding writing inspiration, remember that it can come from anywhere. It could be a memory from your childhood, something you read in a book, or even just a simple walk in the park. The key is to be open to inspiration and to always be on the lookout for it. With a little effort, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to find.
