Retaining Your Inspiration

The Free Dictionary describes inspiration as “the excitement of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity.” Nothing could better describe the feeling a writer has when a new idea hits, or he or she comes across a specific subject or character they just know they should write about. I have always said to “write from the heart,” because it is in our hearts we harvest the inspiration for the stories we want to write. And the more “inspired” you are about your story, the better it will be. 

However, sometimes our inspiration is suffocated by other emotions that take over or by physical or outside circumstances. Sickness, pain, every-day “business,” strife in the family – many things can come along and try to destroy your inspiration. 

When listening to a preacher, we often hear about how Satan will come along and make things happen that could destroy our faith. And mental and/or physical problems will come along that can destroy your inspiration. This has happened to me, more than once. But always, deep in my mind and heart, are my stories, fighting that “Satan” of destruction who wants to keep me from writing.

All writers can come up with excuses as to why “I can’t write today.” There are the ordinary ones, like being too tired or too busy. But sometimes the excuse is not an ordinary problem. Sometimes we truly cannot write because our hearts are bleeding for a loved one or over family unhappiness. It’s the “deep inside” reasons we can’t write that are the most difficult to conquer. But conquer them we must, because God gave us the gift of writing, and we are obligated to use that gift. The Bible teaches that most of us are born with unique talents, talents God Himself birthed into our spirits, hearts and minds. Somehow those talents will make their way into the open, fighting through the dark times, through the turmoil, through the heavy emotions that set up barriers to the joy of practicing our talents.

Life can sometimes take some pretty heavy turns. It happens to most of us, and when it does, inspiration to write simply dies … or so it seems at first. But always it is there, like the little gas flame at the bottom of a hot water tank, keeping the water warm even when it’s not being used. It sits there, waiting for us to turn on the faucet and use it. Don’t let that flame go out. Keep the water warm for when you will need it. 

Don’t let people or internal problems or that “Satan” who wants to steal your talent, keep you from what you love most. And in the end, if you write in spite of it all, you will find that the writing is what conquers the darkness. It is your catharsis, your strength, your joy in the midst of sadness.