Billy Osogo
I ponder endlessly on writing. As an art, there’s so much to it that even those we look up to as its masters seem to be just scratching the surface.
I recently came across an excerpt by Kenyan writer Bivanyanga Wainana. In his book, One Day I Will Write About this Place he says:
"It often feels like an unbearable privilege to write. I make a living from simply taking all those wonderful and horrible patterns in my past and making them new and strong."
It got me thinking about where I get inspiration for my writing. Part of it is inevitably from nature. Part of it is from the tapestry of culture. Kenya is richly endowed in both.
Where do you get your writing inspiration from? How do you come up with ideas?
Yes, creativity and inspiration are wonderful processes 🙂
Without a doubt 😃
It seems my inspiration comes from the past. Characters, places, and things from a time that no longer exists.
That makes for a great read!
I get inspo from good vibes & inshallah!
😊
We are here for it 😃
Since my genre is Personal Development, I write about the things which move me and which motivate me. I know that I can’t be all things for all people, so I’m not trying to be. I believe that if we write about what we connect with deeply that others who relate to the same things will find us and understand us.
Hey Tamara😃
I couldn’t agree more 🙌🏿
Seems so basic right?! Kind of a spin on “write what you know about”!
The ideas come to me often when I am not looking for them: in middle of he night, while meditating, during a run.
Watched pot never boils… ideas pop up when I am not focusing 🙂
That’s so me!!
They seem to choose a time when you are as far from your idea pad as possible!
Nature and everything in it. Mostly, experiences related to teaching, and anything that deeply resides in the heart….it all finds an easy way with words. Writing is a blessing, indeed. It’s a beautiful process.
I couldn’t agree more 😊
Naivasha or Nakuru?
Nakuru, spot on!
Lovely post and like the quote 👍… I’m with you on getting inspiration from nature! It’s amazing how a walk can unearth ideas. Also, it tends to come at random times as well; and have to jot it down there and then 😊
Thank you, Bernie 😊
Exactly! I am learning to take note of those ideas as soon as they are formed. Otherwise, you end scratch your hair out trying to remember 😉
Have to scratch that toughened layer of doubt and vulnerability to dive down deep into an abyss of thoughts, feelings, ideas, and experiences. This is where the words come from. At first, scattered and then with some structure, revealing what lies within but in the garb of one’s surroundings. All the world may be a stage and people actors, but without stories to enact, it’s just a pointless gathering.
Wish you a happy writing journey. 🙂
Hey Terveen😃
Ah, the wisdom 🙌🏿
Thank you for making time 😊
Just the human condition in general and all the emotions that come with it. I feel like I accomplished my goal when people relate and my favorite thing is when they tell me about what’s going in their own lives the comment section.
Hey Hetty 😃
That must be one of most satisfying things of being a writer 😍
Guess just gave me the idea for my next post 😉
The thoughts come. Sentences often follow. I’ll see something and suddenly, I’m writing introductions in my head. I lose many as I often don’t take the time to transfer them to some form of literary storage (a handy notebook or an app).
Hey Em 😃
I couldn’t agree more!
Note them down ASAP!
I get inspiration from everyday life and the questions, concerns and joys that unfolds from it.
Gorgeous blog
Thank you 😊
Enjoyed the post.
My inspiration comes from my mother, everyday life, my life lived on three continents and the people I met, nature, a casual remark by someone, a kind gesture and people with empathy, my students…..
An idea germinates…then the words just tumble out fighting each other for space…. and sentences start appearing in a frenzy!
Hey Chayaub😃
Glad to hear it 😊
Ah, that must be the best writing spring. Life, our place in it and those around us😊
My favorite space is at the beach. That’s where my inspiration flows
Ah, Doc, the ideas call you at the beach like the ocean calls Moana!
The truth
Nature, the quiet and the everyday mundane theatrical moments of life. And then there’s the shared observation of Bob Dylan – the lyrics are there and it’s just a matter of noticing them and then transcribing them. Thank you for asking AB. Ari
Hey Ari😃
I had never heard that Bob Dylan one before. I shall put that into practice.
Thank you for making time 😊
My emotions and past experiences. I get inspiration from the things I can’t say it loud, but can get away with by writing. I get inspiration from the desire to release.
Hey Njoki 😃
That must be the all-time flex of writing. It gives a voice where we otherwise would have gone quietly into that dead night!
Thank you for making time 😊
To me inspiration comes from surrounding to whatever I observe and what ever I pay attention
it ignites hope ✨🌼
I get inspirations from my emotions, experiences (mine or other’s), people’s behavior, society, daily life, any kind of sounds (music or nature sounds) etc. Sometimes I feel like I have too much ideas. Another day I might have writer’s block.
Thank you for sharing, A.B. Have a great day 🙂
Hey Luna 😃
That’s the thing! One time you have a lot and then the next time, you are scratching your head! All in a day’s work!
Thank you for making time 😊
Nice article 🥰 I usually get my inspiration from talking to random people I meet and to some of my friends. I think having a conversation sparks up random ideas as well and emotions too 🙂
I couldn’t agree more 😊
Great
Nice
Kindly follow my blog
My inspiration comes from people surrounding me. even strangers u know! And places and mindless thinking at night sparks many ideas as well. as well as observing. it is very important to observe( apart from personal emotions that is.)
I couldn’t agree more!
Thank you for making time 😊
My inspiration comes from the people I love, broken relationships of the past, nature, observing my surroundings,movies,novels,various quotations that I read and the artists I follow on various socail media platforms. But the major part comes from love and friendship, the sad zone of a relationship gives me the motivation to write because it hurts so much that I always find my peace in writing
Such a rich treasure trove of ideas!
This must be where Taylor Swift gets inspiration to make all those chart-topping albums😉
Haha. It can be 🤭🤭🤭
From my own experiences and reflections I create something that makes it more meaningful.
The realm itself. I trust that the joy I get from stories that sing and zing is reflected in the pages of my blog
And I trust that readers will use what they learn here to get the same kind of satisfaction for themselves
That’s powerful!
Oh thanks for that post. I’m argentinian woman! It’s so entertain read your texts in my mornings. I don’t speak to much english but I’m enjoy read your blog and it’s a big practice to learn for me. Kiss
Hey Yanina!
This warms my heart on this cold Nairobi morning 😃
Your English is terrific!
Thank you for making time 😊
I write from my emotions and past traumas
Soul speak 🙌🏿
From the soul
It’s really fantastic and inspiring
Thank you 😊
Your welcome dear friend
Hey plz follow my blog and like my posts if you like that plz
I think a lot about life and people and why they do what they do, and that inspires my more serious writing. But I also write just for fun and that doesn’t need inspiration
Mine is curiousity
I love that quote. Thank you for sharing.
It’s my pleasure!
Thank you for making time.
Nice nice!!
I am inspired to write by bad weather! Also any interesting characters, someone who makes me look twice. I wonder what their story is and then think that I would prefer to make it up myself. It really is an unbearable privilege to write.
I love that quote.
A great question! When I walk around the parks and local walks here in New Zealand I am inspired by the beauty of the whenua (land) around us. Maunga (mountains), awa (rivers), and wao (forest) provide so much inspiration for adventures and to recall memories from my childhood.
Music also provided great inspiration for me too, in terms of the creation of my own music and emotions I wish to provide readers encouragement to feel as they read.
Thank you for the question. 😊
Writers get to live twice…in the moment, and in retrospect