FINDING INSPIRATION

How do you find inspiration to write?

FINDING INSPIRATION

By this definition, there are two different types of inspiration. Lets look at the second one first, because it’s the easier to talk about.

Inspiration as a sudden stroke of brilliance.

This is the kind of inspiration a lot of people think of when they consider the world. It’s the muse, the genius. It’s that moment when you’re not expecting enlightenment but it hits you anyway, with such force that you have to race to your keyboard or art pad or so-forth to let the creativity flow out so you don’t explore from it.

It’s also completely and entirely unpredictable. You can’t force yourself to have this sort of inspiration.

It’s also not the mark of a Good Creator to have this kind of inspiration. Most of the best works ever made were made without the slightest touch of sudden brilliance.

This sort of inspiration is lovely to feel and it’s empowering to work under, but it’s irrelevant to the end result of a project. Good creations are not produced by sudden brilliance but by showing up and doing the work.

(For more about this, see Elizabeth Gilbert’s TED talk here)

Inspiration as a mental process.

This is a softer, less-spoken-of kind of inspiration. It’s the inspiration that comes from a painstakingly assembled pinterest board or playlist, the inspiration that takes time and effort to produce, the inspiration that doesn’t hit you over the head but fills you up, slowly, though energy and understanding of one’s self.

There are many ways to produce this inspiration, and each individual creator will only respond to some of them. Lets consider a few now:

Visuals. Having visuals that remind you of the thing you’re writing, drawing, etc, can spark inspiration for a lot of people, especially if they relay the atmosphere of the project, getting the creator in the mood for it.

Sound. Playlists with music that fits the type of creating, the project itself, or some particular aspect of the project, like a scene or a character, can be a fantastic source of inspiration and if you form a habit out of only listing to that music when you’re preparing for or actively creating that thing, it trains your brain to turn on “creating mode” so to speak.

Habit. In the same way, any sort of habit that’s specific to your creation process can be very useful: setting up your workplace in a creation only area, with the same background noise, a similar drink, a similar time of day, etc.

Meditation. Now, I don’t mean the sort of meditation where you drop everything from your head and float away from your body. I mean deliberate contemplation. Meditate on your project, on where it’s going and what it means to you, on the emotions it invokes and the reasons you chose to write it in the first place.

Interaction. Sometimes you have to start without any inspiration and by diving into your project you’ll gain that inspiration through your interaction with your creation. Maybe it’s work for the first five paragraphs or the first sketch, but as you find your flow and connect with that you’re doing it might just embrace you in return.

But remember: this sort of inspiration doesn’t come every time you want it. Even the most dedicated creators will lack it entirely some days, and that’s perfectly normal. Inspiration like this is a really nice bonus that can help you find joy in shaping your creation, but it, like sudden brilliance, isn’t necessary to the creative process. It’s just a nice bonus.

Tell me, what methods do you personally use to find inspiration? Reply in the comments!

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writing Inspiration

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skravelcat

7 years ago

Other canon things in South Park, obscura, at that.

Still image cap from “Put It Down”

Craig was actually suspended from school for his ratings drop with his TV show “Close-Up Animals with a Wide Angle Lens, Wearing Hats”.

Mister Meryl wanted to have Craig castrated for his TV show failing.

Tweek can build complex war machine models, and has a large sword in his room.

Tweek used to have a pet bird.

Tweek and Craig have both moved. Their house numbers changed.

Jason White lives in Craig’s old house at #1010.

As per Mrs. Garrison, Tweek & Craig both had lice. All the kids did.

Tweek is more hardcore than you think. He faced his fear - the Underpants Gnomes, and even went to their lair. The boys cut a deal with them, using underpants as payment.

Tweek has access to an RPG launcher, and he’s not afraid to use it.

Craig is mechanically inclined (Tweek x Craig).

Tweek has a mug printed with “Java Jockey”.

Tweek is so hardcore, that he goes shirtless in the dead of winter as Barbarian Tweek (Black Friday Trilogy).

Both Tweek’s shirt and voice changed after his first appearance.

Stan and the gang think Tweek is cool. (Bebe’s Boobs Destroy Society)

Stan and Kyle fired Cartman in favor of Tweek and Bebe.

Craig went to Nebraska to see Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo, where he apparently has a near-identical twin. (Merry Christmas Charlie Manson).

Brimmy incited a riot, even throwing Molotov cocktails at the Nebraska mall.

A Craig-clone dressed in orange lives in Nebraska.

Craig is perfectly fine with giant guinea pigs taking over the world. (Pandemic 2).

In the above image, Craig spent a lot of money (maybe the $100 he got for being gay) on Tweek at the Denver amusement park.

President Garrison is tracking Tweek’s phone.

As their teacher, Mister Garrison assured the boys that Tweek would do fine, instead of calling him a “retard” or something, as he usually does the others.

In his delusional alter ego, Cupid Me, Cartman is not only fine with, but seems obsessed, with Tweek and Craig’s relationship.

Tweek can balance four Fidget Spinners at once.

He can sing and play keyboards.

Tweek is actually the fifth friend in Craig and Those Guys. Jimmy, Token, and Clyde are the other three.

Jason White took Clyde’s place in “South Park Is Gay.”

Tags

tweek tweak south park sp creek creek

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skravelcat

6 years ago

Your designs always have such lovely details. May I ask, how do you find the time to do so much intricate detailing? I feel like it takes me forever to do stuff like that and it's a bit discouraging. I end up sticking with simpler designs despite loveing more detailed designs. I've tried using custome brushes but your details look so much more natural.

it’s 50% me finding lazier ways to make details and 50% me just liking detail work a lot! here’s stuff that might make things easier for you tho~

Fancy Easy Lace (clarification! this is a FireAlpaca thing; make your life Super Easier by adding a Border Layer Mode if you’re using Photoshop!):

Gold Details:

Roses:

Sheer Cloth:

Then mix and match and put them all together:

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art tutorial tutorial tips

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skravelcat

7 years ago

AAAAAAWWWWWW

If this isn’t our favorite duo then I don’t know what is.

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cute AWWW precious

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skravelcat

6 years ago

Wip! (This is look like he just got beaten but still standing up and smile)

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digital art work in progress wip my original character goat boy ghostwaffleart

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skravelcat

7 years ago

SNL - Cut for Time: My Little Step Children

WHY WOULD THEY CUT THIS?????

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funny

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skravelcat

6 years ago

"Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there"

---

I'm back! This week has been rough because i have a performing Arts at my school (every year, class 9 have to perform dance and i can't really dance). And It went great

I made this art probably 2 week ago? I lost the track of time so i forgot when i made this. It's about last dragon looking for another survivor. World can be cruel sometime.

---

where you can find me :

deviantart = clarissaoke

Instagram = ghostwaffle_art

twitter = clarissaokeoke

Tumblr = ghostwaffle-art

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art love illustration sketch drawing artwork httyd dragon fantasy dragons Draw dnd :D artist games magic digitalart dungeonsanddragons artistsoninstagram game rpg tabletop fantasyart dragonart howtotrainyourdragon gameofthrones bhfyp daenerystargaryen JonSnow ghostwaffleart

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skravelcat

7 years ago

some s21e10 doodle

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south park

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skravelcat

7 years ago

PLEASE UNMUTE THIS. PLEASE.

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funny

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skravelcat

6 years ago

This is my new profile picture, have a great day! ---- #originalcharacter #oc #art #drawing #digitalart #artist #illustration #artistsoninstagram #artwork #myart #characterdesign #draw #digital #character #instaart #digitaldrawing #myoc #drawings #bhfyp #original #digitalartist #originalart #originalcharacterart #potato #ocdrawing #instaartist https://www.instagram.com/p/BxrEv07j547/?igshid=1rjp3r9uc1n9z

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art illustration drawing oc artwork digital Draw drawings artist character potato original myart digitalart myoc digitaldrawing artistsoninstagram originalcharacter digitalartist originalart ocdrawing characterdesign instaart instaartist originalcharacterart bhfyp

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skravelcat

6 years ago

Hello💚 waffely✨! I just saw steven universe newest episode tittle escapism I have to draw watermelon Steven.so have this watermelon Steven and uncolor lapis see you later waffely!

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fanart stevenuniverse escapism stevenuniversefanart watermelonsteven

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