The Impossible Question (A Rant about Inspirations)

[Lizzie Wanderlust]

                Inspiration. I’m constantly asked “What inspires you to write?”, whether it is by an online quiz or an actual person. I am then expected to answer the question in one to two sentences, no more or no less. This question then leaves me staring at my interviewer, open-mouthed and distant, for at least several moments. No, it is not because I have no inspiration… It is because I seem to have too much.

                I am inspired the moment I wake up in the morning, by the smell of tea and the early morning traffic rushing past my window. I am inspired as I drive too school, passing beautiful historic houses and slow moving school zones. I am inspired in the school parking lot, as I dart between the cars and rush off to class.

                I think you get the point. I find the inspiration for my stories, essays, and other writings from what I do and experience in an average day. But can I not just sum up this by stating “I am inspired by my everyday life?” No, I fear that statement is not broad enough…

                I once asked two of my long-time role models, what inspired them to create the artwork they created? They answered simply “We are inspired by life.” I like this statement, as it does not only cover one’s personal life. It covers any form of life at all. I can relate.

                I am inspired by the birds, the insects, the once-living dinosaurs. I am inspired by the thoughts of life on other planets or even in our own deep sea. I am inspired by the colorful flowers, and the squirming protists under my Biology microscope. I am inspired by… every aspect of life imaginable.

                But there is still more than just life that inspires me. My favorite location to write happens to be sitting on the deck of a sail boat within the downtown marina. Here I am inspired by the many non-living, man-made things. The clinking of the sailboat masts, the towering buildings, the music drifting in the air from a distant park… It all inspires me.

               So, is it correct to say “Everything inspires me to write.”? I do not see why not. What do you think? What inspires you to do, well, whatever you do…?

[Jenna]

Pain,happiness, life, everything pretty much. I think those who truly love art, any form are the people inspired by everything or almost everything. For me it is mainly strong emotions, if I have some sort of strong emotion I immediately want to write.