Postcards from the Funny Farm

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If you recall Jimmy Stewart in the Christmas classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” you remember when the angels are talking about George Bailey’s suicide attempt.  Clarence says, “Is he sick?” and the senior angel says,

“Worse, he’s discouraged.”  Clarence Oddbody got his wings but not by giving George inspiration.  He helped him along and George was the one who finally seized it.  I wrote a list a while back on how to foster inspiration, it has some stuff I use.

The other day I was filling out interview questions regarding this blog and one of the questions was: “What do you do to get inspired?” I can’t remember my exact words but I answered how I don’t DO things to be inspired. I wait for it to fly by: then I CAPTURE it. I can’t create inspiration, I can only foster it. In the Allen Ginsberg sense of the word, to me inspiration is HOLY: it comes when it comes and you don’t order it around.

You can be floating on your back in the Bahamas and still feel like #$%^ if your mojo(inspiration) is no-no. I just try and be ready to capture the mojo when it flies by. Pocket mp3 recorders, yellow pads on clipboards, templates on my desktop, my list goes on. If you’d like to continue discussing other ways to “capture” inspiration, let’s start that in the comments. This post is, after all, about cleaning :)

Like any other activity, cleaning is not an automatic source of inspiration. However, if you’re bored and uninspired, I highly recommend it. And when rearranging gets involved it’s a double-whammy! In a phrase: BE the outdoor furniture covers! Cleaning can be especially helpful to writers (including bloggers, novelists and freelance) and artists, but all walks of people benefit.  I once read of a writer who looked at a blank page for weeks when upon opening the cupboard he smelled breadcrumbs that triggered volumes of introspection. If you want to be inspired in the work you do, get ready for inspiration when it comes. If it doesn’t come and you’re bored: you could pick a cleaning job large or small and just do it. Wouldn’t it be a great thing if simple cleaning job like buffing out your wife’s car (the topic of my current guest post at It Might be Love) could keep you off the therapist’s couch.  Folks, in my 39 years almost without fail, inspiration has always followed through cleaning. And hey, if I’m wrong, at least you got a project done!  Now the toughest question:

So you’re inspired: now what?

Despite the title and picture, this post has nothing to do with off road vehicles. Instead it is meant to give 4 sections with 4 items each discussing writing and inspiration. I just couldn’t help finding a 4×4 grinding a wall for my post. The prompt comes from Confident Writing. Joanna has an excellent site there offering inspiration in writing and in life. Why not try the 4×4 challenge on your blog?

I’ve been writing seriously since my last year as an undergraduate, 1995. I recall that because I actually starting sending things out in the mail that year. Nothing came of it financially but I can say honestly that those rejections were helpful in every publishing I’ve had since then. I haven’t had a huge number but enough to pay for some fun family stuff and to take my wife out once in a while.

As someone who struggles daily to be a better writer with inspiration, I think I’m certainly qualified to take part in this challenge. This is not really the stage of inspiration but it precipitates that. If these things are done, your best writing will follow. Maybe you will use some of these, maybe you’ll find them all ridiculous but I’ve searched my heart and soul and listed them here. Hop in my 4×4 and check out how this dude fosters inspiration for his writing:

1. Physical Well Being and Rest

When you are stressed or sick or just unkempt, it inhibits inspiration.

1. Take a Multi-vitamin before you write with a natural juice (not the sugared kinds).
2. When you know you are headed into a writing situation, make sure you have nice clean comfortable clothes hanging up in the bathroom next to the shower ready for you that day.
3. Breathe deeply after you get all dressed and showered.
4. Make a practice of imagining possibilities before you turn on your computer, or pick up your yellow pad.

2. Harmony and Peace in Your Home

That hillbilly country song “If mamma aint happy, aint nobody happy” is truth like a flood light for writers, especially if you’re a mamma I am sure! ;) Make sure your wife, kids, dog, salesman at the door etc. are all happy and satisfied before you sit down to attempt to write.

1. Play with your kids.
2. Sit next to your spouse and turn off your computer.
3. Talk.
4. Laugh and sing as you do the dishes (some of my best ideas have come doing the dishes).

3. Read Biographies

I will simply mention names … these people’s lives have transformed my life and inspired me as they continue to. I’ve written an article on each of these greats which you’ll find linked in their names.

1. Walt Disney
2. Ray Kroc
3. Rod Serling
4. Dr. Seuss

4. Earn Money at the Craft

As you write and hone your craft, seek out ways to make money. You ought to be paid for the contributions you make. Not always, but at least put your stuff out there. Below are 4 linked articles that show you some ways, for example, how to do this. In all, there are myriads more out there, the only limitation is in your mind:

1. PayPerPost
2. Summary of Many
3. Another Slick List of Blog for Pay Companies
4. Yes, Bloggers Can Make Money Without PageRank

If any of these touched you, I’d love to hear about it.