17 Comments
Jan 13, 2023Liked by Meta Wagner

Love that quote. So true!

I find the hardest time to write is without a deadline because I ponder, write, delete, revise. On deadline my creativity kicks into high gear.

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I love your substack!

When I'm really struggling, I've found plugging into binaural music for creativity puts me in the zone quickly. That doesn't mean the thunderbolt strikes, but at least there is ease during the day-to-day work of writing. I also remind myself of the why I'm working on my stories or illustrations. Also, if I don't exercise along with yoga practice, I find I spiral into my insecurities and watch youtube or something mindless instead of writing.

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Meta Wagner

From Randall Jarrell’s article on Wallace Stevens: “A good poet is someone who manages, in a lifetime of standing out in thunderstorms, to be struck by lightning five or six times; a dozen or two dozen times and he is great.”

So I guess the question might be: How do we increase the odds of being struck by inspirational lightning? Probably just about everything has been tried: drugs, drink, hypnosis, meditation, analysis, etc. But if those things were consistently effective, we’d probably know it by now. “I don't know where my songs come from,” Bob Dylan once said. “It's like a ghost is writing a song.”

Inspiration occurs in almost all aspects of life. Probably all we can do is be ready for it and take advantage when it strikes (it may dissipate by the weekend): Archimedes in his bathtub, Newton beneath his apple tree. Donovan Mitchell scored 71 points last week for the Cleveland Cavaliers, an example of athletic inspiration. He hadn’t been shooting particularly well in recent games, but when inspiration hit he was ready, in shape and in charge.

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You can make good use of that occasional thunder bolt if you already mastered the skill of a disciplined working practice.

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Meta Wagner

I’m noticing lately that when I sit down to write my state of mind is important. Meditation, reading novels (as opposed to all forms of news and non-fiction), and, lately, doing jigsaw puzzles, all do a great job of clearing out my head. I’ve been experimenting with how much time I need to spend on any of these activities before I connect to my creative flow, and I don’t have any answers yet, but I’m giving myself permission to pursue them. They’re definitely more conducive to my creativity than social media, watching tv, or other mind-numbing activities.

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I've often found inspiration in listening to music, TedTalks, and getting outside in nature. Some days are better than others, but I try to write everyday.

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I would say a combination of both. Sometimes I hear something on the news, read an article or have an idea "pop" into my head. I also plough through - massaging the dozen drafts in progress.

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