In my imagination, inspiration is a sparkle of tiny fireflies glowing with the magic of beautiful potential. But where do they come from, these ideas that send sparks of electricity through our minds?
Oh Emily, this is such a delicious piece of writing. In answer to your question "where does inspiration come from?" it's a LONG piece of writing (in fact I think I will write a whole separate piece about it) but my gut says a) from being away from my computer; b) talking to others who are excited and curious about their work (e.g. this post from you); c) nature and specifically when gardening; d) same with baking/ making/ drawing; e) books; f) movement is medicine for the body and the brain...ooh I want to keep going...
Yes! Absolutely Laura. My mind is so full of ideas when I walk in the morning, I have to stop and write them down when they come so they don’t die off before I can get to them through the morning commotion 🤩
This really prompted me to consider what drives my creative practice. I think my biggest fuel for inspiration is allowing myself moments of total quiet, like meditation or walking. When I designate time away from content, stimulation and distraction, that’s when I’m able to notice the fireflies and elaborate on ideas that are lurking in my brain!
Thank you Sophie! That’s so lovely to hear 💛 I a couple of months ago I stopped trying to write what I thought I should and what I thought others would like, started instead to write what I’m inspired by and what I love. I love that you enjoy it 🤩
I love this for you!! I think that makes a huge difference because the real you then comes through in your writing. The posts I write from the heart always do so much better than others that I’ve thought people will like 🤯
I like the idea that they are kind of separate from us, but we ‘catch’ an idea and it’s up to us to use it or let it go. I guess I feel they also rise to the surface, after lots of disparate things come together, sift and shift in our consciousness
Yes Sarah! I love the way you describe it! There’s so much magic in the way all our experiences and knowledge and memories ignite in our subconscious 🥰
I LOVED Big Magic! Something that stuck with me was the notion that ideas and inspiration are always moving and must be captured before they make their way to someone else. Anne Lamott talks about something similar in her book, Bird by Bird. It sounds a little far-fetched to me BUT I sat on a podcast name and theme for so long (years!) that when I went to start it someone else had already done it a short time before. So perhaps there’s some truth in it 😅
I love the inexplicable nature of inspiration, how sometimes it leaves as fast as it arrived and then how sometimes it sticks around or keeps coming back over and again 💛
I can't tell you the number of times this has happened to me as well, except within children's picture books. Often, the exact or idea or even, the exact title of a book I had been thinking about or considered shows up in the Publisher's Weekly deals. Crazy!
I think in a funny way - it's comforting to feel that, while we are all unique and the way we experience the world will never be the same as others, our minds move in similar patterns and we are not alone...
Hi Emily. Great post and love your fireflies art and analogy. Personally, I'm not sure where it comes from, yet. I just try to embrace it when it comes.
I'm a massive fan of Liz Gilbert but love Terry Pratchett's explanation!
Thanks Debs! Terry Pratchett’s words always make me smile 😊 I think his books are the reason I enjoy fantasy. I started trading them for the magic and witches and stayed for the humour and satire 💛. I’ve only just started reading Elizabeth Gilbert but I am already in love with her work.
My mum read Equal Rites to me and my sister when we were young and I was absolutely hooked from then on, I joined a book club and bought every single one of his books as they came out and read all the ones that he’d already written.... but it’s been years since I’ve read any now and I think I must now do so!! I will go find Sian’s substack now! Thank you for the recommendation xx
Oh Emily, this is such a delicious piece of writing. In answer to your question "where does inspiration come from?" it's a LONG piece of writing (in fact I think I will write a whole separate piece about it) but my gut says a) from being away from my computer; b) talking to others who are excited and curious about their work (e.g. this post from you); c) nature and specifically when gardening; d) same with baking/ making/ drawing; e) books; f) movement is medicine for the body and the brain...ooh I want to keep going...
Yes! Absolutely Laura. My mind is so full of ideas when I walk in the morning, I have to stop and write them down when they come so they don’t die off before I can get to them through the morning commotion 🤩
Yep me too I dictate a lot of them into my phone
This really prompted me to consider what drives my creative practice. I think my biggest fuel for inspiration is allowing myself moments of total quiet, like meditation or walking. When I designate time away from content, stimulation and distraction, that’s when I’m able to notice the fireflies and elaborate on ideas that are lurking in my brain!
Such a beautiful read, Emily! I love your whimsical outlook on life, it’s so inspiring! (No pun intended!) 🤍
Thank you Sophie! That’s so lovely to hear 💛 I a couple of months ago I stopped trying to write what I thought I should and what I thought others would like, started instead to write what I’m inspired by and what I love. I love that you enjoy it 🤩
I love this for you!! I think that makes a huge difference because the real you then comes through in your writing. The posts I write from the heart always do so much better than others that I’ve thought people will like 🤯
I like the idea that they are kind of separate from us, but we ‘catch’ an idea and it’s up to us to use it or let it go. I guess I feel they also rise to the surface, after lots of disparate things come together, sift and shift in our consciousness
Yes Sarah! I love the way you describe it! There’s so much magic in the way all our experiences and knowledge and memories ignite in our subconscious 🥰
I LOVED Big Magic! Something that stuck with me was the notion that ideas and inspiration are always moving and must be captured before they make their way to someone else. Anne Lamott talks about something similar in her book, Bird by Bird. It sounds a little far-fetched to me BUT I sat on a podcast name and theme for so long (years!) that when I went to start it someone else had already done it a short time before. So perhaps there’s some truth in it 😅
I absolutely loved Big Magic too and the idea that inspiration moved from person to person looking for someone to bring it to life 🤩
I love the inexplicable nature of inspiration, how sometimes it leaves as fast as it arrived and then how sometimes it sticks around or keeps coming back over and again 💛
I can't tell you the number of times this has happened to me as well, except within children's picture books. Often, the exact or idea or even, the exact title of a book I had been thinking about or considered shows up in the Publisher's Weekly deals. Crazy!
I think in a funny way - it's comforting to feel that, while we are all unique and the way we experience the world will never be the same as others, our minds move in similar patterns and we are not alone...
Hi Emily. Great post and love your fireflies art and analogy. Personally, I'm not sure where it comes from, yet. I just try to embrace it when it comes.
I'm a massive fan of Liz Gilbert but love Terry Pratchett's explanation!
Thanks Debs! Terry Pratchett’s words always make me smile 😊 I think his books are the reason I enjoy fantasy. I started trading them for the magic and witches and stayed for the humour and satire 💛. I’ve only just started reading Elizabeth Gilbert but I am already in love with her work.
I loved them for the same reason, and this comment made me realise I've not reconnected with them for decades. 🙄
My mum read Equal Rites to me and my sister when we were young and I was absolutely hooked from then on, I joined a book club and bought every single one of his books as they came out and read all the ones that he’d already written.... but it’s been years since I’ve read any now and I think I must now do so!! I will go find Sian’s substack now! Thank you for the recommendation xx
Thanks Lisa, I shall look for Sian's piece. I was a late starter with Pratchett's books, my ex introduced them to me in my 20s.
Thank you Luisa!! I love how she looks on my phone and my wall 🥰 I’m glad you like her too