Waiting for my inspiration to show up

“Inspiration is a guest that does not willingly visit the lazy.” ~ Pyotr Tchaikovsky

I think most writers looking for inspiration have thought, at one time or another, that there is a mysterious power, a sixth sense, a ‘Muse’, that is out there to help us find our creative soul. The concept of inspiration coming from an external force has been with writers, actors, philosophers and other creatives throughout history, and it brings with it the hope and belief that the Muse will eventually arrive and guide us if we are patient.

Where the $#*+! is my inspiration?

The elusive Muse has been on my mind lately. I just came out of a long stretch of waiting for inspiration — waiting for the rainbow or puppy dog or beautiful scenery to move me and unearth the creativity buried inside me. I wanted the”Aha!” moment to tell me what to write about. And as I waited for this flash of brilliance, I buried myself in busyness and work, which made me feel productive, but pushed my personal writing even further to the back of the bus.

“Don’t wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.” ~Pearl S. Buck

The thing about creativity is you gotta do the work. Creativity is not created by standing still and waiting to be magically metamorphosed. Like high jumping, or painting or carpentry or weight lifting, being better is about doing, about trying, about experiencing.  Just as horseback riders have to hoist their butts into the

saddle on a regular basis until their muscles learn how to hold their body in the saddle, writers need to plant our backsides into the chair, every day, whether we have anything to say or not, and just start writing, even if the words stink. Through this commitment, our  mental and spiritual writing muscles get stronger.

“The one ironclad rule is that I have to try. I have to walk into my writing room and pick up my pen every weekday morning.” ~Anne Tyler

I knew all of this, really. But life happens, and work pressures take over and things can go astray and awry, and sometimes that’s exactly what needs to happen so we can get back to the basics.The creative dry spell of the past few months reminded me that I can’t just wait  for inspiration to arrive as though its a personal pizza being delivered to me. I need to do my part. And that means showing up daily to pursue my art, and committing to that time and space.

“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” ~ Stephen King

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of “Eat Pray Love,” covers this and more in this great 19 minute look at the creative process, insecurities and all. Enjoy.