Inspiration can come from nowhere, just an idea manifesting in your head and a desperate need to fulfil this creative impulse. However, to rely entirely on this divine inspiration is a sure-fire way for art to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The building of habit and reflection on your daily life can reveal small pockets of inspiration; a tree blooming outside the flat window, an intriguing storefront in Jesmond. The outside world is full of life, full of beauty and natural inspiration that clearly inspires a wide range of nature poets such as Mary Oliver and Seamus Heaney.
Inspiration is also likely to come from consuming other creative pieces. When I wrote my first play, I was heavily inspired by David Bowie’s music and the two-part play ‘Angels in America’ by Tony Kushner. If you surround yourself with good art, it should encourage creative thought and can often spark innovative ideas. A strong change in environment is also a great motivator, letting your brain break out of the routine of daily life and out of the boundaries of practical thinking. Inspiration can also often come from personal interactions; a poor joke told by a colleague; a dramatic line overheard on the metro - any small interaction with the world.
The world around us is a bank of inspiration, photographs can inspire the creation of lives for frozen figures, friends and colleagues become word banks. Personally, I recommend exploring a new coffee shop, taking a long walk to get there, sticking on a fantastic album and letting your hand run away from you. No art is bad as long as it is made.