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Aleigh
Editor at Skirt!
I am: a doggie mom, a newlywed, a Scrabble enthusiast, a meticulous speller, a world traveler, and the editor of the Charlotte edition of Skirt! (Not usually all at once.) When I'm not writing about Charlotte's coolest women, you can find me cheering on my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers, trying to p...
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In search of...

Tuesday, May, 20, 2008

I need something, but I’m not sure what it is.

I have a great idea for an essay, but the thoughts have been swirling around my head for months and I’m lacking the motivation/inspiration/energy to wrangle them and force them out of my head, down through my arms and out of my fingertips onto the keyboard and my computer screen.

I think I’m feeling a little blah. A little boring. A little...tired.

Which brings me to the point of this blog post: assistance! I’d like to know how you find inspiration. How do you keep up your energy when your brain is too tired to do anything but go through the basic motions?

I’ve tried going for walks. I’ve tried naps. I’ve tried reading things I usually find creatively jarring. I’ve tried to force myself to just sit down and write, and nothing is working.

Advice is welcome! I’ll try almost anything...

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writeousbabe
writeousbabe
start with the story
Posted Tue, 05/20/2008 - 16:01
What helps me when I'm experiencing writer's block with columns or essays are anecdotes. Instead of writing down abstract thoughts about your essay's topic think of a situation, preferably something that happened in your own life, that illustrates the point you want to make or recall the incident that made you want to write the essay in the first place. Start off just writing about that incident. Instead of worrying about a lofty essay just tell a story. Write it like you were talking to your best friend or just venting in your journal. Let me know if that gets your creative juices flowing. writeous babe
cara.gracie
cara.gracie
My suggestion....
Posted Tue, 05/20/2008 - 16:05
Get in your car, put the windows down, and put your fave album on your iPod... and just drive. (Although, I suggest staying away from heavy traffic areas.) This is your chance to sing as loud as you want to! Music is always a great inspiration for me. But I forget you are a writer...maybe some instrumentals would work better...
psansour
psansour
Stop thinking so much.
Posted Wed, 05/21/2008 - 05:06
Stop thinking so much. Inspiration happens when you aren't trying to identify it. Go to the mall, to the toy store specifically, and watch the simple joy of the children there. Go to the bookstore JUST to have a coffee and monster cupcake. Get lost. Literally. I wasn't being rude. :) Step out of the box we so frequently put ourselves in or under. Good luck!
margaret
margaret
i like cara's suggestion -
Posted Wed, 05/21/2008 - 14:24
i like cara's suggestion - long drives tend to get me thinking in more abstract ways than usual. maybe you should come to chs? if driving's not in your immediate future i suggest: Dance! Whooo! Nothing left for me to do but dance, All these bad times I'm going through, Just dance! Got canned heat in my heels tonight, baby... Whoooooo ohhh. some song/artist suggestions: http://charleston.skirt.com/node/5619