A myth about inspiration prevalent in the creative world is that a writer needs it to write. This is a facade, a lie we tell ourselves to excuse away the hard work of trudging our way through the uphill grind of uninspired moments.

A writer does need inspiration to fully master their craft. This is true. A story arc can come from the swirl of foam in an early morning cappuccino or strike us awake in the middle of the night like a storm within our souls. Without these inspired moments of exceptional writing, we would never know what we are truly capable of achieving.

Yet great writing does not only come when inspiration decides to make an appearance. A writer is far more likely to start their creative endeavor in an uninspired state with the muse stopping by at an unexpected moment along the way. This means that writing is as much about taking the action of putting words to page as anything, asking us to set ourselves in a place — inwardly and physically — where inspiration can occur.

Sometimes that place can be a fueled by our environment — a quote on the wall. A collection of imagery. A playlist of melody and rhythm. But it doesn’t have to.

Because writers know that inspiration is as much an inward action as an outward expression.

Thus it falls to each of us to discover what can foster our creative light along the uninspired journey, asking the question —

How can I inspire myself today?

Because done once, it can be done again.