16 Comments
User's avatar
Daniel Puzzo's avatar

This was so comforting to read, it's something I've been struggling with lately, like inspiration overload. I can barely focus on one thing because of the millions of ideas bouncing around in my head. I've got pages of notes in my physical notebook, endless notes on my phone, and I'm up to 64 voice recordings ranging in length from 10 - 60 seconds with ideas and inspiration.

One thing that has helped me - I love going for walks and that's when I found the most inspiration, especially when walking without any music or podcasts. Funnily enough, I was getting overwhelmed by all my unlistened to podcasts (including BBC Fighting Talk dating back many months) and instead of stressing about it, I decided to just focus on walking and getting inspired. But it got to be too much, so I decided to start listening to podcasts again when I walk and it's helped a bit in blocking some of this inspiration.

Expand full comment
Stephen Duffy's avatar

I'm so glad you found some comfort in this, Daniel. Inspiration is great and all, but we don't need a lot of it, and too much is definitely a bad thing in my opinion. All we need is a little spark, a small idea with some unexplored potential. The rest comes from within.

Expand full comment
Jada Poe's avatar

The Great British Bake Off, had me in a chokehold!!

Expand full comment
Stephen Duffy's avatar

Honestly sometimes I avoid the new seasons because I know I'll be hooked! Can't resist a soggy bottom though 🤣

Expand full comment
Jada Poe's avatar

Smh, the binge goes hard 😭

Expand full comment
Kathy Enriquez-Nguyen's avatar

I've been wanting to start watching that. Now I feel like I should. Throw it on while editing, and risk posting a raw dough piece haha.

It's funny, some say they run into writers block because they ran out of inspiration. But I say, having too much can also create writer's block. If I were to pick, I would pick having too much inspiration.

Expand full comment
Stephen Duffy's avatar

Bake-Off is great fun, full of innuendos! 🤣

Yeah I'd probably agree with you there. For me, its more about being able to hear my own thoughts. There's loads of inspiration in my new short story/miniseries from a show I'm watching just now though!

Expand full comment
Kathy Enriquez-Nguyen's avatar

Sounds like my type of humour haha. Okay, once I finish Chucky and Ru Paul’s Drag Race, I’m gonna throw it on!

Ooooo really?! Whats the show?

Expand full comment
Stephen Duffy's avatar

I was gonna keep that a secret, but it's Justified ❤️

Expand full comment
Kathy Enriquez-Nguyen's avatar

You didn’t have to share it if you were! But thank you for sharing. I have never seen that one though! So I’ll be looking fwd to your series

Expand full comment
Nicole Paton's avatar

OMG me too!! I was editing to Bake Off last night, as well! SO glad nobody went home!

I think I need to follow your advice here and shut down a few of my tabs...

Expand full comment
Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Battenberg - the devils cake! 🍰 😈 😁

Expand full comment
Stephen Duffy's avatar

Never been my favourite but they were making them last night and it looked cracking 😂👌🏻

Expand full comment
Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

I’ll need to try and catch up with that episode 😁

To answer the question at hand, I do have issues with inspiration. I also work from home so I’m at my desk most the day so it’s hard to carve time out to write something fun when I’ve been doing all that menial stuff during the day

Luckily, we’ve got a black lab. So, taking him for a long walk clears the head. Also, I’m in sales, so driving to and from meetings is oddly calming and ideas can just appear by seeing something random at the side of the road or listening to a song on the radio

The articles I write about movies and TV shows seem more like hard work and take me a bit longer. That’s when the “research” I’m doing turns into doom scrolling or watching football! 🙄😁

Expand full comment
Stephen Duffy's avatar

I'm exactly the same mate. Working from home, sitting at my desk all day, so its the last thing I wanna do at night. But as you said, taking the dog out or even just getting outside helps a lot.

If I really don't feel like writing, I'll scribble some rough notes for next time.

Expand full comment
Stephen Duffy's avatar

Yeah I was mostly watching Bake-Off (which was the problem haha).

Maybe just store them in a nice little folder for now? They won't disappear.

Expand full comment