When inspiration strikes, what do you do? Do you wait until you have the time to lean in? Do you schedule time to work with it? Do you drop everything and run with it?
Over the years, I’ve found that inspiration often strikes when I don’t have the "time” to really explore it. It strikes on my walk to work, it strikes in the middle of a shower, it strikes when I’m driving a car. It strikes precisely when I can’t (or shouldn’t) stop to do anything about it.
I was walking with my dog recently after starting a new book series when it hit me: I want to write a book series.
The desire to write a book isn’t a new thing for me. I’ve spent a lot of time over the years working on books of poetry, coffee table books, a memoir, blog posts, etc. But this time it feels fresh and exciting and like I’ve unlocked something I didn’t previously have access to.
I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I let the idea sit for a little while longer and it all rushed to me on my walk to work that morning. I quickly opened the notes app on my phone and starting jotting down every thought as it came to me and it was coming in FAST. I could hardly keep up with how quickly the ideas were flowing. Ideas for the books, for teasing the books, for promoting the books — in case you didn’t know, t’s very easy for my brain to get ahead of itself, but I ran with those ideas anyway.
Now that the inspiration has been unlocked, I’ve decided to dedicate time every morning to leaning into it. Of course, I still find myself in a position where the creativity is extending outside of the timeframe I’ve set aside (and yes, this has thrown my work schedule a bit off track), but by dedicating time to leaving myself open for inspiration, I’ve found it starting to come through more easily.
This isn’t the same as writing through writer’s block to get to the other side (which is very much real)…this new practice is more about forcing myself to make room in my life for the things that excite me.
So, all of this to say, if something sparks your interest, start making more time for it. The more time you make, the more you welcome in.
Happy Thursday, friends! More nonsense later…
xx
P.S. These books have a loooong way to go and maybe I’ll never share them with the world, but that part isn’t for me to know right now…for now, I’ll be busy writing them.