After writing my first handful of blog entries I feel I am only now beginning to appreciate their purpose and direction. I imagined from the start that they would consist of topical thoughts thrown in with insights into my tastes and influences. It appears, however, that this is NOT the result when I sit down and write a few hundred words! But hey, I’m going to follow what feels natural and see where it goes.

This month I wish to comment on another aspect of the artistic process: inspiration. By ‘inspiration’ I am referring to the spark that transforms source into material, rather than a motivation to create in general i.e. “the poem was inspired by the clear, cold winter morning” rather than “I am inspired to write by Shelley”.

I think that many new writers have a one-sided understanding of inspiration. It is easy to buy into the epiphany view, that one has a ‘light bulb’ idea and writes in a ‘moment’, tapping into some subconscious well of emotion. I don’t doubt this attractive and ethereal guise of inspiration exists, as I experience it myself from time to time, but it is a real danger to belittle inspiration that doesn’t take this form.

I believe that the epiphany type of inspiration is simply a lack of conscious awareness of the root cause of the feelings being portrayed. This lack of awareness means that there is only the impulse to create when the subject invokes an overwhelming emotional reaction. Yet only writing in these conditions is absurd and contrary to what we expect from art as a whole. Taking a measured approach and knowing a subject’s importance allows us to go deeper into details. Our understanding shapes the colours of our feelings.

Making the choice to sit down and write about something that you know clearly about is difficult because it can feel cold. It takes time to do your feelings justice when being led by your rationalised ideas. Writing feels a lot more alive when your feelings take control but this shouldn’t be mistaken for all that inspiration is.

This month's favourites:
   Bruce Springsteen, Darkness on the Edge of Town
   Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange
   Être et Avoir (2002)