A plethora of books, websites, blogs and other resources exist that offer advice to writers. Many assume that time management is the most pressing issue writer’s face. Writers are multi-taskers and juggle their writing time with other commitments. Nevertheless, sometimes writers need a kick start, a way of thinking that gets them into the zone to write. We need inspiration.
A strong fear runs illogically wild through my brain when inspiration is illusive. What if the well dries up? What if when I find the time for writing I am unable to tap into that well? Instead of choosing a craft-based book or scouring the internet for advice, I’ve taken to collecting books about inspiration, writing space, and other habits of published authors. These three have yet to let me down when I need a push. Take a look and then add to the list!
Joyce Carol Oates – The Faith of a Writer – 2003
As with all of the books I’ve chosen, I found this well-loved book in one of my favorite used bookstores. It is highlighted, underlined, and marked up with notes. Oates compiles inspiration and philosophies of artists from Henry James to Virginia Woolf, and beyond. Oats explains, “The spirit of The Faith of a Writer is… provisional. More about the process of writing than the uneasy, uncertain position of being a writer.” The book is filled with insights that only a truly studied and ambitious writer could contain within the relatively small space of a 150 pages. Oates devotes a chapter to writers on inspiration. In it she calms the fear that inspiration is fleeting. Writers must realize inspirations exist without effort and it is our job to be vigilantly aware of and capture them as they come.
Stephen King – On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft – 2000
Love him or hate him, Stephen King is arguably the most famous living writer. His books have been turned into major motion pictures and t.v. movies. They are coveted by those who love the genre. I personally am not a fan of Stephen King’s work in horror. Though, this is a backward compliment. The strength of horrific characters that emerge from his imagination in books like It, The Shining, Misery, to name a few, make him one of the most frightening humans on the planet. Yet, his memoir is thoughtful, entertaining, and fraught with necessary insights. In the chapter titled “What Writing Is,” King brilliantly uses telepathy as a metaphor when he states, “…somewhere downstream on the timeline from me…you’re quite likely in your own far-seeing place, the one where you go to receive telepathic messages.” He’s speaking of course about the essential writer–reader relationship. King articulates, “You can approach the act of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair... Come to it anyway but lightly… you must not come lightly to he blank page.” In hubris or self-doubt many writers forget the beauty of a blank page. King reminds us that it is a privilege and responsibility to fill a blank page with story, verse, composition, or other creative works, thus inspiring a renewed understanding of and fondness for the sometimes dreaded blank page.
Annie Dillard – The Writing Life – 1989
A close friend and author of the chapbook What Pain Does, Megan Henson recommended this brilliantly written book to me. Henson noted that Dillard has a fresh perspective and unique point of view on what it means to live the writer’s life. “One of the things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time… Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you.” is Dillard’s poignant take on giving over to a muse. Writers live for that sweet spot of a perfectly written line, phrase, or plot point. We hoard them like children hoard the best Halloween candy, saving it for last. We covet them like the most passionate love as if they were going to disappear once released into the world. Dillard tells us, rightly, that this is destructive behavior. There is freedom in letting the beauty be as it is, so that the next perfect line can be written. She explains, “Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you. You open your safe and find ashes.” What a terrifying thought as a writer for those moments of perfection to be lost in the ether. Let your genius fly free.
We at Chautauqua would love to hear what inspires and guides you as a writer. In the comments below, tell us the name of your favorite writer on writing, with a line or two about why!