Skiathos, Greece
CHAPTER ONE
Many people believe that in order to start writing they need to wait for the right inspiration. However, inspiration comes in different ways and it is important to acknowledge them in order not to miss it. Sometimes it makes its appearance in dreams, other times it is suddenly triggered by specific settings/things, other times it comes before you are falling asleep or in those moments where you are doing absolutely nothing. And if it is not manifesting itself in one of these ways it means it is only waiting for you to discover its next move, just like a game. And yes, the next move is writing. By writing whatever you feel like in that moment, be it a text, a diary, some notes or bullet points, you allow ideas to flow from your fingers to the paper, just right in front of you. Hence, if right now you are waiting for the inspiration to come, just start writing! Something, anything!
However, it is normal to feel overwhelmed by life sometimes, especially if you love writing but are not at that level where you can maintain yourself by just writing. In this case, you probably work or go to university, have appointments, deadlines, homeworks that keep you away from finding the right time to write. But what if I tell you that you do not need to find a perfect time for writing? The only time you need is the one that you invest in yourself, and it can be whenever and wherever. It is important, be it early in the morning, in the afternoon or before going to sleep, to dedicate a moment to yourself. Writing is one of those moments you give to yourself to feel more serene and at peace after or before a long day. You do not have to be able to write 10 pages or 20, but even one, if written with passion, is more than enough. And day after day, you will see the results, the same way a waterfall is created by tiny drops of water.
As soon as some ideas pop up in your mind, WRITE them down: it can be on your phone’s notes, on a piece of paper, anything you have. I suggest creating a folder in your notes with your writing ideas, since nowadays the only thing we always have with us is our phone. However, if you are more of a pen type of writer, always travel with your small paper notebook, so that you do not lose any glimpse of inspiration.
As we know, inspiration comes randomly and it goes away as fast as it comes to us, so we must always be ready to catch it and hold it. Write that dream, those feelings, those conversations that triggered something inside of you. You can write bullet points, a full text, a poem… everything that naturally comes to you. Later on, you can come back and reflect on them, and by looking at all your notes you could also notice a common thread that runs through them, thus forming a bigger picture like small tiles of a puzzle coming all together.
This process will make writing so much easier because when you will have those periods of non-inspiration, you can always come back to your notes and use them to brainstorm.
CHAPTER TWO
One of the most effective ways to get inspired is by looking at your life as the backstage of the story you want to write. So many people get stuck in front of a white page because “they do not know what to write,” “they claim not to have enough imagination” and “they do not have inspiration”. Well, what if I say that your life is the most powerful source of inspiration you have? And it is right here, in front of you. Sometimes we forget how wonderful the world is and how magical our lives are. Do not take anything for granted and allow yourself to see the beauty of it all: FEEL IT. This is a writing hack I use in my books: I love drowning inspiration from my travels, my friends, my family, my understanding of the world, my dreams and yes! Even from university lectures!! This does not only make you feel more involved with the story but it is a daily exercise to keep appreciating your life, that yes, it is your first masterpiece.
Be in charge of your own life, do not let anybody decide what, when and how to do things.
Remember: you are the main character of your own story, in the same way your characters are the heroes of theirs. Do those things that make you happy, serene and full of inspiration, because at the end of the day this is what life is all about.
We came here to find ourselves, not to become who others want us to be, even if this implies to travel to the other side of the world or take unconventional paths. Everybody’s life path is different and unique, go out, explore and find yours. If writing is a part of who you are, take it with you in all of your adventures, so that you will keep inspiring each other along the way.
The funniest thing with writing is that reality can merge with fantasy. Do not underestimate the power of your own experiences! Indeed, many people think that in order to write you must always “invent” stories, characters, situations… But there is nothing more deviant.
Imagination is only the tool you use to connect the two dots: your life and your ideas. Your life is the main source for your stories!! For better or for worse. Something incredible happens? Feel it. Something bad happens? Remember it. Something funny happens? Note it. Draw inspiration from what you already know and what you already experienced.
Your books would feel more real when what you write about is embedded in your heart, because it will change the way you will write about it. Play with your stories: merge reality with fantasy and see what happens!
CHAPTER THREE
Every morning, when you wake up, start the day with a question: What can I do today that would make my life feel more inspiring?
We all have big dreams and projects for the future, but instead of feeling overwhelmed by those big far away achievements, think of the practical little things you can do today to contribute to that future. That future that is awaiting for you starts right now, in the present moment. Like individual grains of sand create the beach, everyday choices create your dreams. Write your life as if you were writing the best story of your career.
Today’s society tells us we must be just one thing, but what if some of us are called to be multiple things? What if I want to experience everything that life has to offer? What if all these apparently different things at the end come back together? What if I would like to write, to travel, to sing, to ski, to ice-skate, to go to university, to have a job, to have a house, to do an on-the-road trip…? We just have this life, if we do not live all these adventures now, then when?
If writing is your passion, remember that everything in life can be a spark of creativity. Sometimes, the best thing you can do to write is to go out there and let yourself be free. In this way, you are going to touch and see inspiration for yourself. Inspiration can be found in multiple places. Each place has a story to tell, you just have to stop so you can listen.
A problem that can arise is to realize you have too much inspiration! Which story should I focus on?
It also happens to me to think: I could literally write about anything, even about the story of a pen. However, instead of getting lost in this thought, think about the possibilities inspiration is offering you: it is telling you to look to have an idea of what is out there, so that you can choose what resonates best with you. The rest will be for other writers, or for another time.
TIP: Listen closely to each story, and discern which one is not only talking, but it is communicating with you. Writing is a dialogue between the writer and the idea, and inspiration is the magic that merges these two together.
THE END
- Chiara
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