Where do ideas come from? Plus, if you're stuck in your writing, you might be doing this...
Have you seen Piece by Piece, the Pharrell Williams Lego movie slash biopic, which I completely recommend?
It’s a fascinating exploration of creativity and a creative genius.
And listening to him explain his approach to art and music made me feel not so crazy.
I do Bible study every morning and one of the things that often comes up is etymology, which, for a word fetishist like me, is delightful.
According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, the word “inspire” actually comes from “the Latin inspirare (‘to breathe or blow into’), which itself is from the word spirare, meaning ‘to breathe.’ It didn't take long to establish itself in a figurative sense, as our earliest written English uses of inspire give it the meaning ‘to influence, move, or guide (as to speech or action) through divine or supernatural agency or power.’ Many of the early figurative senses of inspire are religious in nature, so it is not surprising to learn that the word shares a connection with spirit (which comes from the Latin word for ‘breath,’ spiritus, which is also from spirare).”
Personally I liken it to “the cloud.” All these ideas, memories, conversations, experiences, past present future, floating above us, eternal, available to each one of us and connecting us with each other, the divine, eternal.
When I’m being creative I make myself available to what it wants to show me. Likewise sometimes when I’m looking for something I reach up and pluck it from the sky—“the cloud,” as it were. Either way, I completely recognize these are not from me but rather gifts shared with me, and it is always a humbling experience.
In his interview with music producer Rick Rubin, Pharrell calls it “a journey of exploration and excavation,” which also resonates with me because when I’m not accessing the cloud, I feel more like an archaeologist, particularly as a book coach, digging around in someone else’s heart and mind, to uncover the story and message they are meant to share. Indeed the story and message they are—through their accumulated experiences and wisdom and knowledge gained—uniquely positioned to bring forward.
It’s a deeply intuitive—and for me, anyway, spiritual—experience.
Which is all to say, you were made for this.
Cat xo
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Writing tip of the week: If you’re stuck, you might be doing this…
I was on a discovery call a couple of weeks ago, when a would-be author shared her writing practice.
She was leaving her writing for the end of the day, but often finding herself too tired or uninspired to write.
I shared my own writing practice—first thing in the morning, after prayer/meditation, before anyone or anything else has a chance to get to me. That way I can write from the overflow—my highest, most inspired, most loving and generous self. It’s also my act of self care and how I give back to myself, so I have more to give to others.
That’s when I’m most connected to God, Spirit, Source, Muse, “the cloud.” And that’s when I have the most to offer anyone.
So if you’re feeling out of gas when you get to your book, try bumping up your writing practice to the first item of your day. And see if that doesn’t fuel the rest of your day’s to-dos and activities.
And another thing: It’s important to carve out time for what’s important to you—whether that’s a book, relationship, business growth or other passion project. If you don’t make time for your long-term goals, you’ll be swallowed up by your present circumstances. So if there are two things you prioritize each day, let one of them be something that moves you toward your long-term goal of who/what/where you want to be in five, ten, years' time. Just knowing you’re making progress toward it every day will give you the confidence and energy to keep going.