Quotes About Inspiration

Creativity - like human life itself - begins in the dark

Most of us are really willing only to write well, and this is why the act of writing strains us.

real artists can survive the most hostile environments and yet find their true calling like homing pigeons. That's hogwash. Many real artists bear children too early or have too many, are too poor or too far removed culturally or monetarily from artistic opportunity to become the artists they really are.

The trick to finding writing time is to make writing time in the life you've already got.

We must actively, consciously, consistently, and creatively nurture our artist selves.

Painting is just another way of keeping a diary. PABLO PICASSO

The "if-I-had-time" lie is a convenient way to ignore the fact that novels require being written and that writing happens a sentence at a time. Sentences can happen in a moment. Enough stolen moments, enough stolen sentences, and a novel is born—without the luxury of time.

We must remain ready to ask, open-minded enough to be led, and willing to believe despite our bouts of disbelief. Creativity is an act of faith, and we must be faithful to that faith, willing to share it to help others, and to be helped in return.

Poetry often enters through the window of irrelevance. M. C. RICHARDS

We all know how broke-crazy-promiscuous-unreliable artists are. And if they don't have to be, then what's my excuse?

Boredom is just "What's the use?" in disguise. And "What's the use?" is fear, and fear means you are secretly in despair.

The great acting coach Michael Chekhov advised his students, "If you want to work on your art, work on your life.

In a sense, as we are creative beings, our lives become our work of art.

No matter how slow the film, Spirit always stands still long enough for the photographer It has chosen. MINOR WHITE

Art lies in the moment of encounter: we meet ourselves and we meet our self-expression. We become original because we become something specific, an origin from which work flows.

Real" artists are people who have learned to create despite their fears. They

If we are invested in a writing life—as opposed to a writing career—then we are in it for the process and not the product.

Every blade of grass has its Angel that bends over it and whispers, "Grow, grow." THE TALMUD

Non illegitimi te carborundum, the graffiti in prisoner-of-war camps is said to have run. The rough translation, very important for artists, is "Don't let the bastards get you down." Artists who take this to heart survive and often prevail. The key here is action. Pain that is not used profitably quickly solidifies into a leaden heart, which makes any action difficult.

Art? You just do it. MARTIN RITT

When we write from the inside out rather than the outside in, when we write about what most concerns us rather than about what we feel might sell, we often write so well and so persuasively that the market responds to our efforts.

Believe that I am your source. Affirm that and be prospered.

Writing goes much better when we don't work at it so much. When we give ourselves permission to just hang out on the page.

The brain enjoys writing. It enjoys the act of naming things, the processes of association and discernment. Picking words is like picking apples: this one looks delicious.