Rob's Surf Report

Let me tell you about… inspiration [Melody #1]

Who or what has been the biggest inspiration in your creative realm?

Today’s Liebster question comes from melodyspen at A.C. Melody. If you missed the reason I’m answering general questions from specific bloggers, feel free to check out yesterday’s post about my Liebster hat trick.

Let me tell you about inspiration:

I find the idea of inspiration to be a tricky one; I think all of us in the creative realm, at one time or another, have felt the intense light of inspiration fall on us, only to be forsaken when we search for it in times of need. It’s two parts motivation, one part innovation, with just a hint of imitation and out comes . . . something. It’s a catalyst for experimentation, and often a source of consternation when it doesn’t turn out as brilliant as it looked in our imagination.

Still, the integration of inspiration into our regular creation process continues to be something elusive when it comes to explanation; we want inspiration – we want it to actually inspire us to do our best, and to spark innovation deep within the cracks of our creative souls!

I don’t know what inspires me. Seriously.

I look in the mirror and see this guy who should – for all intents and purposes – be considered wholly uninspired and mundane. But somehow, when I actually get the chance to put pen to paper or fingers to keys unimpeded by the noisy noise of life and all of the bells and whistles aimed at my bright center – that’s when the magic happens. And I don’t know why, but when I start laying down the thickest B.S. Is when I really get creative; those are the times when I have come up with my best theses, my best plot turns . . . that’s when inspiration begins to flash – shock and awe! – like the downstream light on my cable modem, an erratic morse code of wonderful fusion.

For me, inspiration is abnormal; it’s the idea that “normal” can be defied and denied, and thus via rebellious inspiration, progress is made. I look for inspiration in science and magic, and in their intermingling. I look for it in suspense and the supernatural, in history and mystery, in the ways things are done. Like any artist, I crave inspiration’s touch on all my endeavors; like many artists, I sometimes try too hard and see it fall flat.

Nobody is what they seem to be. Everyone is so much more.

I look in the mirror and see what the world sees, but inside I know it’s a different me, a battleground of creativity, and I am the unknown soldier.

Inspiration FTW.


This post was prompted in part by today’s Daily Post prompt, this week’s Daily Post writing challenge, and by Let Me Tell You About…

27 comments

  3. I don’t think I’ve ever received a more rhythmic, enjoyable answer to a question in my entire life! Point well taken, and brilliantly delivered. It gives one a new perspective, thanks, Rob! 🙂

    Reply

  4. I agree with your assessment here. Inspiration is such a difficult thing to quantify. It’s hard to identify just one thing or person that inspires creativity. Inspiration can come from so many different areas. That’s what I love about it.

    Reply

  6. I found it very interesting that the last Zero to Hero challenge I worked on, Day 12, is to take inspiration from the community. Also, Day 16’s challenge is to personalize one of the daily writing prompts, which you’ve got down cold, Rob.

    Reply

  17. Dude awesome! Thabks for writing for my blog. Thanks for writing such a great piece on a great subject. Great job. You win the choice for the next topic that any one can write for. You were the 3rd person to write for it and 3 is my favorite number. So pick something and I’ll write for it plus invite others to do the same.

    Reply

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