We all get bouts of failing inspiration. We may want to write, or paint, or compose – or just to create anything – but we feel like there’s nothing from the world around us that inspires our creation. When we search for memories, we come up empty. When we look at our surroundings, nothing seems particularly interesting.
This is a feeling that’s difficult to snap out of, but so necessary to. Here are some ways that I’ve managed to spark my creativity and create some of my best artistic works thus far.
1. Journaling
The best long-term way to keep inspired is by journaling. It does not have to entail writing down every event or feeling within a day (though this is an interesting practice in being mindful). Instead, just writing down lines that come to you, or images that stick out, or things that people say to you, can spark some inspiration even if it’s a few days, weeks, or months after you document it.
2. Walking
A change of surroundings can help spark inspiration, and a constant change of surroundings by walking or even running can sometimes accomplish this even better. Taking a walk alone and talking back to your thoughts can lead to some interesting ideas. Sometimes, even just walking a few feet away from home or off campus can reignite the creative spark you need.
3. Working with a Different Medium
Stepping outside our comfort zone a bit can lead to the best kind of inspiration. If you typically write poetry, try to compose something in prose. If you’re a painter, try to illustrate your images with words. Maybe learn to play an instrument or write lyrics when you typically only write instrumental music. This way, you’ll be able to come back to your strongest medium with a fresh perspective.
4. Reading
They say the best writers are the best readers, and this can be expanded to all artists. Reading about what you like to create art about can be particularly inspiring. Like to paint wildflowers? Find an encyclopedia of them. Interested in history? Find a book about a historical concept you were previously unaware of, and set the intention to incorporate this into your next artistic work. Other creators can be the best inspirers, and reading their books allows us to understand them and their processes and move forward in a manner inspired by them.