Too Much Inspiration?
As many of you know, I spent the beginning of last December touring around the north island of New Zealand with my fiancé. While there, we saw and experienced many wonderful things, including the mountain view pictured above. That sight in person alone should have shot me right towards my pen and paper and had me writing for hours. There were many times during the trip I should have raced for my writing just so I could record all the wonderful glory of those moments.
Even had it not been raining lightly off and on during our climb up the mountain and had I my notebook and pen with me at the time, I still wouldn’t have sat down and written, to be honest.
I suppose you could say that’s completely understandable given you’re in the moment and experiencing it. But even as I got ready for sleep on the nights of those adventurous days, even though I wasn’t tired, I still didn’t take out my journal, which I had made sure to bring with.
You could further excuse me by saying I was on a lovely vacation and didn’t want to spend my time writing, but should I not have taken at least a few opportunities to write down the wonders I was experiencing? Even now, nearly two months later, I still can’t quite find it in me to write everything down.
I’d like this post to be a sort of introductory post on the subject because I’d like some feedback on this one.
Have you had the problem of too much inspiration happen to you? Do you feel such inspirations need to be written about right away or soon after? Or rather, should they be drawn on at a later time when you need them for something you’re writing?
What do you think?
February 1st, 2007 at 10:11 am
I come up with all sorts of ideas while I’m at work, with endless hours of nothing but thinking, but because I’m at work I’m never able to write them down
If possible, I would write them down ASAP.
February 1st, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Occasionally, I get the “Ouch! My brain is full!” feeling when I get too many ideas at once, and I can’t concentrate on one long enough to write it down.
And that picture is lovely.
February 1st, 2007 at 11:24 pm
I did feel all that when I lived in my little green village. Ever since I’ve become part of urbanity, those epiphanies have taken a back seat!
February 2nd, 2007 at 2:55 pm
I think in some subconcious way when I have experiences like that I almost feel as if I’ll tarnish the memory itself by writing about it. Not sure why, it just seems too perfect. Maybe I’m also afraid I just won’t capture it properly with the written word.
February 2nd, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Cody - I had the same problem. Try wearing pants with pockets so you can carry around a notepad and pen with you.
Elisa - Thank you. It was a lovely sight in person. I know that “full” feeling. You think it’d be natural to start writing to get rid of it, but that’s usually not the method of action taken.
Neelima - Yeah, changes of scenery will do that to you, won’t they?
Jennifer - Bang on! Exactly. How do you possibly capture the beauty in the things you see sometimes enough to accurately portray them on paper? Well said.
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:30 am
I’m glad you enjoyed your trip to NZ - we Kiwis always feel personally complimented when visitors say it’s nice!
I just discovered your blog… I must keep coming back!
July 24th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Hi Stace.
Welcome to Fiction Scribe. I can’t wait to get back to NZ.