Inspiration!

When you need inspiration to write, where do you go? What do you turn to when you need to write, but just can't?
I'm asking mostly because i don't know where to look for inspiration. I thought of corny stuff like sunsets and cute little animals and everything, but that stuff doesn't work for me.. i'm not 100% sure it works at all. so.. tips on where people look for inspiration?

I become One with the Force.

Actually, I just try some new styles, and try not to take myself so seriously. If that doesn't work, I walk outside. And if THAT doesn't work... then I just don't write for a while.

Greetings,
Not sure if this will help, but I had posted a topic entitled NOTES ON WRITING POETRY(there are so many topics on the subjects included-individual topics posted elsewhere, but I believe this is the most broad and inclusive) it's quite lengthy but it covers a variety of topics and has valuable input from many P&Q members. It is not meant to tell you how to write, but to be a place of reference/help/advice to others-a place where many of the questions put forth repeatedly in these forumns is addressed, mainly to offer suggestions on writer's block (tips/exercises to break it. Inspiration, ideas, etc.), exercises to spur creativity (whether form, style, type of poem, content, etc.-just some stuff to try when blocked or to try something different), various poetic terms/definitions, a variety of basic stuff and technical stuff, submissions and poetry markets (where/how to submit your work) and perhaps some stuff to improve/expand your writing/poetry and understanding. Unfortunately the thread was locked due to it's length, but it still can be read/accessed under the WRITING POETRY forumn entitled NOTES ON WRITING POETRY or at

http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/discussion/topic.html?topic_id=56674.

I had received many favorable messages/comments on this thread and many requests to start a new thread as a continuation on the things/idea of the NOTES ON WRITING POETRY topic (check out the original Notes On Writing Poetry (at the link given above) for an idea of what type of things others and I posted), so I did respond and start a continuation of that thread.
The new thread is called NOTES ON WRITING POETRY-Part II and can be found in the WRITING POETRY forumn and is at

http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/discussion/topic.html?topic_id=86274

I am asking all members contribute and post things that could benefit others. Including such things as advice on certain forms, articles, tips on breaking writer's block, recommended reading,the links to sites that contain information, exercises, poetry terms, forms and their defintions, etc. basically anything pertaining to poetry writing. Also your personal writing habits (I've found people like to read about not only advice/suggestions but also the personal writing/working habits of different writers), like what time of day you write, do you have a favorite place (inside or outside, even more specific), do you listen to music while you write,when you first started writing, do you write rough drafts on the computer or with pen and paper, do you revise rough drafts or leave it as is, have you been published, what your influences are (other poets, writers, songwriters,teachers, etc.), is solitude necesary to you or not, what compels you to write, emotions, passion, to get an idea or meaning across, do you write for yourself or with someone in mind, how and when you started writing, writing as therapy or release, do you have a preferred form /style(sonnets, rhyme, free verse, haiku, etc.) and why, writing exercises, any other advice(personal or technical),if you could write any advice, as to why and how you write,when you started writing, what compels you, any specific methods and motivations, any personal methods, moods, habits and philosophies, advice to others,and other things I mentioned, and MAINLY what poetry means to you. Any advice to newcomers and established poets alike. I hope to hear/see postings from those popular and more experienced/knowledgable on the site as well as those newer members who have something to add. I welcome and appreciate any comments along these lines from any and all P&Q members-everyone has something to say. So if anyone can add anything at all along these lines, please do so.I hope to see a wide variety of age, countries, opinions, styles and opinions. Don't be shy. I feel any input/comments/advice/opinions would very much benefit others.

So hopefully there is something here for everyone. Worth reading through(I hope).
Even if you don't care to add to it, it is still worthwhile to read for all the information/advice/exercises/tips it has. I'm sure, given all the information plus the comments/contributions of esteemed P&Q members, that this thread has something to offer everyone, whether it is a specific question or just gaining knowledge. At least that is it's purpose. Though as I said, it is quite lengthy, but well worth sifting through.
Hope this helps.

Thank you for your time and support.

Peace, Poetry & Power,

Gary Jurechka

I write when someone really... angers me. I just let my hand write the troubles on paper and voila, a nice, long book on how much I hate somthing or want something to happen. (That isn't how an actual book is made).

Iget inspired by everyday misery and pain... but since you write about sunsets that may ot be applicable... just take a look around and dig deep into your heart.

i was just dumped by my bf and i still love him with all of my heart and that is where i get my inspiration is by lost love and sadness

Fantasy and love are my main inspirations.
But, i just write whatever comes to mind.
I don't go looking for inspiration

My mind is a jumbled place, so I usually just write without organized thought. Let the ol' mind ramble as it sees fit. Sometimes I focus on a topic, sometimes the words guide me :D

I am inspired by experiences in my life past and present.

I know what your saying. its so hard to write when you dont have someting to write about. when i write i think of the basics. love, death, life. then they lead into other topics such as happiness, sorrow, fear, confusion, hope, lonelyness. here is what you do. think of and emotion. then close your eyes and just see what comes to mind. if its love then maybe someone tht you love will come to mind, and just express what you are feeling in words that come to mind. with me, when i do this, it just all flows out. try it
it really helps!!

Thats a very good question... ...

I guess it depends on what you want to write..

I would say that if you want to write something sad you need to see something that is the opposite of sad.. then you can write that without that thing it would be sad...

Lets say water (positive thing)... Some people dont have water to drink...

If you want a dark poem.. look at everything that is good in the world and then take that away in your dark poem...

This is how I do it...

Anything can be inspiring, people, places, things, surroundings. Just take even the smallest object, like an acorn and take each little detail of it and form it into things that go into our life.

Hm... Well, I get inspiration pretty much everywhere, except when Im at home lol.

Tip: Take a notebook and a pen with you everywhere, so if you get an idea, you can just write it down.

When I need inspiration I typically

A) go for a walk
B) listen to songs
C) watch soaps and try and place myself in their shoes
D) or look at the message boards either in games and get my ideas from there random titles that I liked or just from what emotion all the poems evoke for me.

I like to open my window and let fresh air in. I like to listen to music and good songs for writing are 'Wind' & 'Yellow Moon' by Akeboshi. Here are the two links in order for each song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CzWebq7Nc4&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy_rDLMKX3I

Oh and I prefer to listen to the first one because it's a lot better. Yellow Moons okay, but Wind has a lot more feeling.

I mostly get my inspiration from music and life. and things that have happen to me. pretty soon I am going to write a poem about my cousin Shane so look out and try looking at your life and see if there is anything to write about
Jamie

First I must decide what kind of poem i want to write, then i turn on some music, or read someone elses poetry. Sometimes all it takes is just talking to some.

I don't really press myself to find inspriration, I just wait and watch. Sometimes a line that I think I might be able to use comes to me out of nowhere, so I write it on my hand. That's how many of my recent poems have been written. It starts with one line, and it slowly becomes an entire stanza, then a poem. If I'm really desperate to write something meaningful, I listen to music, or I just sit at my computer and wait for something to happen. That works most of the time.

I guess I`m a corny person I find a lot of inspiration in things like sunsets,mountains ,rainy days but then I also find inspiration from things going on in the world ,the sadder side of life ,an innocent life being taken ,the effect of drugs etc.Think of a subject and imagine yourself speaking your innermost feelings about it,then write it down.

I have seven poems out of thirty I wrote that don't have any votes.. Please check them out and give me your honest vote and comments on them...I would highly appreciate this...thanks...

natalie

This is going to sound really cheesy, I'm sure;
but life is my inspiration.
It's all I need to write.
I write about things that have happened to me in my life, so I guess life would be the root of all my poetry.

Other people's poetry and song lyrics.

I look at my life. thats where i get most of my topics.... i write about past experiences, hopes & dreams, hurt and memories. i find a special place to me and then just let the words come to me. sumtimes it can be a little rough to get started but once i do the words just flow from my pen.

I write about the things happening around me..

My need to make the world better and boring life
most of my poems Are just imagination
^_^

When i need inspiration, i just write about stuff that i know, things that are going on in my life, thoughts that i have, fantasies, imaginations.

I just write above my life. The love and the pain I experience. I do get writers block a lot but when something happens, the pen writes by itself.

Music.