I have been thinking about inspiration the last few days. What inspires us and why? Personally I am very susceptible to song lyrics (and even inflict plot-bunny-ish songs on my friends) although picture prompts, watching a family in a park – most any audio or visual will do.
Most recently, though, I find that I do not have a single source of inspiration for a story idea. It’s as though all the music I’ve heard, all the books I’ve read, all the movies I’ve been to and places I’ve seen just stew together until I need something. Then, like Dumbledore’s pensieve I dip my wand in and pull something out when I need it.
Ultimately the source of the inspiration is not as important as the fact that it strikes at all. But as I think about the Artist’s Way and opening the creative mind, it seems that understanding what inspires us can help us put ourselves in the path of things that spark the creative spirit in us.
So, what inspires you?