Although I’m a big proponent of ‘write and the inspiration will follow’ there are some days where even I feel like it won’t happen. I get it. I understand because I’ve been there. But we need to keep working so here are 4 simple things I do for creative inspiration. Maybe something will click for you.
My Notebook
If you don’t keep a notebook handy, then please start. I’m not talking about a 3-ring binder or Trapper Keeper. I’m talking about a small notebook that can travel with you. I used to use the hardcover Moleskine journals, but now I prefer their Volant softcover journals. They are lighter, hence easier to carry around and they even have a smaller version that can fit in your pocket.
If I’m walking out of the door, that journal is with me. No matter where I go. It’s a place I can capture my thoughts, quotes, things I see, and snippets of things that inspire me. If I’m working on a project and an idea comes to mind, I can capture it without losing it.
It’s also my catchall journal. I write lists, things to do, the start of blog posts, and I even capture my gratitude in my notebook. When I’m done with the journal, I go through it and place little Post-Its on pages that I think I’ll want in the future. Sometimes I even write a short one or two-word description so I can easily find what I need.
Time and again, I’ve gone back to these gems. It’s amazing how relevant things from 5 or 10 years ago can be. I even found things to use from an old notebook that I kept in the 1970s. I’ve used several of those little gems in this blog.
Jetpack Search
This one is for the WordPress user. But you can also use Google Analytics. I’ve just found the Jetpack searches to be easier to get to, especially when looking at monthly, quarterly, and even yearly searches. This post was inspired by one of those searches.
If you use Jetpack then you know that one of the options is Site Stats. Here you can see how many views you’ve had, your top referrers, best posts, what people are clicking on, and search engine terms. It’s these search engine terms that you really want. (Although, best posts will provide great information on what people are reading on your blog.)
I always click on the summaries option for search engine terms. It will show you search terms for the last 7 days, the last month, the last quarter, the last year, and even all-time. I usually stick to 7-day, 30-day, and sometimes the last quarter because these indicate what people are searching for right now.
While there will a lot of irrelevant searches, ones where you wonder how they got to your site in their first place, for the most part, you’ll strike gold here. Sometimes one search might inspire one post, or several searches combined together can be a post, which is what inspired Vision Board Question and Answer.
The search term ‘describe stimulants to creativity’ is what inspired this post.
Crocheting
Look, it doesn’t matter whether it’s crocheting, knitting, or paper mache. Oil or watercolor paints. Art or gardening or cooking. Find something else that is creative and do it.
Sometimes doing something else creative inspires your creativity. And sometimes doing something else creative sustains you while you’re going through a slump.
I found that quarantining during this pandemic caused me to start feeling blah. Made it harder to complete posts or even start posts. I had ideas for them, I just wasn’t into writing them. But I have a need to be creative, so I took up a skill that my sister tried to teach me. And I practiced and practiced and practiced. A lot.
Eventually, I made three decent enough scarves to give to children. Then I started learning how to crochet flowers and crafted one-of-a-kind headbands for the girls.
And you know what happened to my writing while I was crocheting? I started writing again. It didn’t seem like such a slog after all. The crocheting pulled me through. (Get it?)
Through a Child’s Eye
We’re fairly new to Orlando but we’re so lucky to have a friend here. Her family has become our family and we get to spend time with her two daughters. They are so much fun. The youngest is a roughhouser who also loves cooking. The oldest is a delicate dreamer who loves fashion.
With them, I’ve done crafts, coloring, and games. And let me tell you, the games they love to play most are ones they make up on the spot, often changing rules right during play. The power of their imagination is inspiring to watch.
Lately, fashion girl is into designing outfits. Out of thin air. She will ask if you’d like a ball gown and then enter her imaginary shop where she creates the outfit for you and brings it over for you to put on. She’ll even create shoes, her favorite to design are currently high-heel flip flops. Not sure how I’m supposed to walk in them.
She lets me enjoy my new outfit, usually a ballgown, for 5-seconds before she is ready to conjure a new one. Then she’d wave her hands over me and out of thin air, a new outfit would be magically created. How can you not be inspired by the sheer confidence she has in her imagination?
This is how I refuel my creativity. I’d love to hear what you do.
Hi Jennifer, one of my random visits here as I happen to be sorting something out on the wordpress.com dashboard and discovered Reader. ? Agree – could not live without notebooks! Sounds like life is pretty normal in Orlando. We are still in lockdown in the UK – until June 21st apparently but who knows? The goal posts move every day and we are tired of the lies. Creativity is all that keeps me going so I am very thankful for that. If I need to refuel it, I step back from it and get out of my studio (a spare bedroom). We are ‘allowed’ to go for a walk once a day but I take as many as my mental health needs because our mental health matters as much, if not more, as everything else and right now, the collective mental health of the UK is very poor. Getting in amongst lots of trees helps my creative energy flow again or by the sea when the waves are really crashing hard. Love your story about the child who magics up clothes and shoe designs – good for her! And re the crochet, I never mastered it, I didn’t have enough patience to keep on trying lke you did. But I admire beautiful crochet work. Best wishes to you. x
Thanks for stopping by, Gilly. I always told myself that I didn’t have enough patience for crochet. My sister tried teaching me but I kept pushing it off. I’m sad that she’s not around anymore to guide me. But at least I kept at it. You have no idea how much yarn got crocheted, pulled out, re-crocheted, and pulled out again. The first scarf I gave away was not the greatest, but I gave it to my magical clothing designer and she loves it. Uses it in her dress-up play.
I’m with you on items # 1 and # 4. But what’s a Jetpack? To be honest, I haven’t seen The Flintstones in a while.
Haha! Don’t you mean the Jetsons? They used to be the Saturday morning one-two punch. Flintstones first then the Jetsons. Jetpack is a WordPress Plugin.
I enjoyed reading about the little girl – if only we allowed ourselves to be as imaginative! Thanks for the Jetpack tip, Jen.
Hi Jennifer – I have a notebook that sits somewhere nearby and it’s where I jot notes, summaries from books, thoughts etc. I also have a folder on my laptop where I pop any quotes or snippets that inspire my thinking. I sometimes also have a couple of draft posts where there are some bullet points that I’ll expand on when I give them more thought. There are weeks when I’ll write a couple of posts and weeks where I may not write at all. My biggest tip is to stay a little bit ahead of yourself if you schedule posts – that way you’re never panicking and trying to put together a post overnight with no inspiration in your head.
I get ahead in fits and starts. I do want to be a little more organized on the computer though. I need to work on that.
Total convert to notebooks over here too. I also use the notes app in my phone and send any creative ideas via email to myself to look back on for times when I need inspiration.
I do sometimes use the voice option but for the most part, I always prefer writing into my notebook.
Like you I love my moleskin notebooks and like Rachael Stray I also use my “Notes” on my iPhone all the time! And, oh, how I love the imagination and inspiration of children- when I was a little girl, my friends & I used an upturned table as a make believe boat with a sheet as a sail – ready to conquer the Amazon!
On rainy days, we would turn the second floor of our cape house into a play. We had the crank-out windows, so the handles would be the plane controls.
I read everything I can get my hands on–that’s my creative inspiration. Also, you’ve reminded me that I made the mistake of buying a purse too small to carry my favorite Moleskin notebook in, and I need to rectify that–with a bigger purse. I’ve been writing on my hand lately, out of desperation!
That’s desperate. I learned in middle school that ink can fade or that you might accidentally wash your hand before you write down what’s on your hand…lol. And they make little Moleskine’s that will fit into small purses. My husband carries one in his shirt pocket sometimes.
I also have a notebook. I have become an avid puzzle person over the past year. I complete a puzzle and send it on to my grandkids, so I don’t feel guilty spending the money on new puzzles all the time!
I used to love doing puzzles. Unfortunately, since I’ve been working from home there isn’t an empty table. But that is a good one to help creativity.
I sometimes use the voice recorder on my phone if I get inspired about something but the journal is a great idea.
I talk all day on the phone. I prefer writing things down because I’m a visual and tactile learner. I need to touch and see.
I’m lucky I write about consumer and personal finance issues. There’s always something big or small to write about. I especially like to write about the banks and big corporations that get fined by government agencies. That shows people the bad behavior in the marketplace so they can watch out for it.
Whether writing about financial baddies or cute little fairies…all writers are creative and need inspiration some days. I’m glad there’s someone out there shining a light on the bad behavior. Thank you for doing that.
For some reason I thought I had commented. You do love those Moleskines! I have to check out the softcover.
Do I love them? Is it that noticeable? lol. Yes, check out the softcovers.