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Friday, April 10, 2015

I is for Inspiration

What inspires you?

The A to Z Challenge is off to a great start, and blogs all around the world are booming with the alphabet. We are already done with Week 1! But what happens if you suddenly find yourself without inspiration for the next day's post?

First and foremost: Do NOT give up! The A to Z community stands behind you, and we all want you to keep blogging :) Just imagine how many people will come to your blog before the end of April.

Here are some things you can do for inspiration:

1. Stop worrying and visit some blogs! Their themes and topics might spark a new idea in your head.

2. Look at some random word generators and word listings. Keep clicking away, something is bound to come up!

3. Listen to some music! Music is great for inspiration, and also a great topic. Think in songs, not words!

4. Open up a thesaurus, or, even better, a dictionary. Take an adventurous trip into another language! There are so many words out there waiting to be discovered by you...

5. Don't take yourself too seriously. It is okay to stumble, even if you are following a theme. Make it playful and funny, and move on. You'll pick the serious stuff back up tomorrow.

Happy A to Z!

63 comments:

Billy Blue Eyes said...

Inspiration is all around us if we look. Ok I'm not a writer I take photos and you can be inspired by what you see. I also read maps and look to them for places to visit which inspres me to look around even more. Your five points make a lot of sence

Anonymous said...

That's a great post and I agree - It's all about the growing community and fun to read so many varied posts. I am loving the challenge :)

Susan Scott said...

Thanks for the thumbs up, an inspiring post!

Geoff Maritz said...

Unfortunately or fortunately, I'm not sure, I didn't sign up this year. What I do know about this challenge is, you will get a whole lot of new followers, your page view count will increase significantly and will continue to do so for years, a theme is very worth while as are scheduled posts written in advance. Will you run out of inspiration? probably not, just motivation. Every time you open your eyes inspiration come flooding in. Write about what you see and you will make it through.
As for not taking part this year, well one thing I do have time for is visiting. I'm so enjoying this years a-z challenge. I may be too busy to write my own posts but being able to spend a few moments visiting other awesome writers has lifted my spirits no end.
Good luck and keep on trucking, Geoff.

deepti menon said...

It is wonderful to see all the inspiration that is around us in the form of blog posts! It is so wonderful to be able to let your imagination run riot, even as you get some amazing ideas from everywhere.

MeenalSonal said...

Inspiration is all we look upto, my post also says how to inspire from flower :)

Michelle Wallace said...

Some wonderful and inspiring thoughts, especially this: "Take an adventurous trip into another language!"
Thank you!

Rob Z Tobor said...

if all else fails eat cake.

Rob Z Tobor

the little princess said...

That was helpful Devika! I'm still not sure what I am going to write with some of the alphabets...and this post just reminded me that I'm in it for the fun...so I'm going take it in the same spirit!

Bread // Queer Little Family said...

I am inspired by the oddest things. Like fanfiction. It's great.

I is for Immigration

kaykuala said...

Inspiration is a friendly word.

http://imagery77.blogspot.com/2015/04/necessity-mothers-it.html

Hank

Pooja Priyamvada said...

Thanks A to Z team for keeping everyone geared up and inspired.

lyndagrace said...

I hesitated this year about participating in the challenge. As each day goes on, though, I am inspired to continue to the next post.
Thank you for your encouraging post. At this point in the challenge, I needed a little inspiration.

KatyTrailCreations said...

Thanks for the links to word generator and listings. Added to my favorites list for future reference. Everyone draws a blank at some point or other.

Bushman said...

Great Post.
Sometimes we just overthink things. The challenge is supposed to be fun. Excellent pointers here.

Bushman
2015 A to Z Challenge Ambassador
@jwb81074

Unknown said...

Very helpful hints since I haven't got words yet to complete my A - Z journey. Didn't know about the random word generators and word listings sites. I'm sure I'll need them before this month is over. :)

Anonymous said...

You can do it!

Ls said...

Ooohh i was on the verge of giving up.. but seeing this post and knowing many people feel the same, I feel ok.

J.L. Campbell said...

Yep, inspiration is everywhere!

Justlittlecajunme said...

Thank you so much for the resources!

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

I love maps too! :) I'm glad you liked the post

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

I'm glad you're having fun! I am loving this year's themes as well. This is my 4th year, but I think it is the best so far...

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

Thank you! :)

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

Visiting is the best part. And it is always great to see people stop by, even if they are not doing the challenge themselves :) Have fun!

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

I feel the same :) I get up every morning and can't wait to see what people posted for that day...

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

Nice! We can never have enough inspiration :)

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

You're welcome :) I love learning new languages. Each has its own enchantment...

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

AMEN

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

You are doing great so far! :) And definitely don't forget about the fun!

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

Indeed it is. I even talk about it in culture studies class :)

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

It is, isn't it? :)

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

It is an awesome team to be a part of :) And everyone is really passionate about the challenge!

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

I assumed a lot of people would, we just passed one-third of the challenge! Keep posting, have fun :)

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

Definitely. I found them very helpful in previous years!

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

I'm glad you like it! And yes, A to Z is, above all, supposed to be about the joy of blogging, and the joy of being in the blogging community :)

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

They can definitely come in handy. :)

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

I am so glad to hear that! Keep on posting! :)

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

We all can! :)

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

It really is. Especially during A to Z :)

Door2Lore said...

I'm learning so much more about our world, possibilities, inspirations, and reflections that always seem to bridge over to my life eventually - so true! Today I read about kanji and their meanings - Japanese symbols - pretty amazing!

djinnia said...

I was even better off this year than last. I got up to R before April first. Last year I only got up to m. But I missed this week of work so I haven't been able to work on the rest. Sigh. The challenge to get those last ones done before they are due.

Anonymous said...

ah inspiration, just an hour ago I was massively lacking it. Now my J post is all set for tomorrow. My inspiration came by itself, all I had to do was start to write.
A to Z does stress me a bit, but it sure is rewarding :)
Good luck to everyone!

Lynn Proctor said...

Great tips -especially #4!

Lynn Proctor said...

I meant #5-- haha

Unknown said...

I tend to take myself too seriously at times. Any advice on that?

Stephen Tremp said...

I find inspiration just about anywhere. One simply needs to look around and pay attention to their surroundings.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Some of the most amusing posts I've read are ones where the blogger couldn't think of something for their theme to match that letter. I always look forward what people come up with for Q.

Robyn Proctor said...

I like your advice. There's inspiration all around, if we stop to listen.

Anonymous said...

Great tips and some of them are why I write all my posts ahead of time. It gives me plenty of times to be inspired.

~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Member of C. Lee's Muffin Commando Squad
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

Kate Larkindale said...

I've been pantsing it this year, just writing a random post each day, and some of the posts where I felt least inspired have been the ones I found I had the most to write about.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Visit some blogs - tons of ideas out there!

Anonymous said...

I've only found myself stumped a few times during the challenge but looking at word lists, my bookshelves and other blogs helped. A few of my favorite A to Z posts so far just popped into my head from out of nowhere!

CA Heaven said...

I've just been doing #1, which was quite inspiring >:)

Cold As Heaven

Unknown said...

Thank you, and wow was this timely. Today was my first stumbling block. I am loving the challenge!

Visiting April A to Z
Chicaincuenca.blogspot.com

Idea-ist said...

Well timed post... I'm struggling to find "O". I'm confident I will, but it makes me nervous that I haven't.
@Get Lost in Lit

M.C.V. EGAN said...

I have discovered some really fantastic blogs . Thanks for all you hard work in organizing .
#Blogging from A-Z 2015 this year two themes Movies and What’s in a name
4covert2overt ~ A PLACE IN THE SPOTLIGHT http://4covert2overt.blogspot.com/
DEFINING WAYS http://mariacatalinaegan.com/
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martine said...

Just a comment on comments. If people will only let me write a comment on their blog by making a Google+ account I'm afraid it's not going to happen, sorry. Maybe you could put somewhere in the instructions that people open up their comments to all users.
Having a great A to Z
martine@silencing the bell

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi - gosh I'm so lucky .. inspiration is not something I lack from ... but I'm always so pleased to meet up with new bloggers via the A-Z ... and learn new things .. cheers Hilary

Unknown said...

We all can use some inspiration. Great post

Trisha said...

I should definitely visit more blogs, in general! I have definitely found inspiration reading others' blogs about their own writing, etc.

Barbara In Caneyhead said...

That's why I blog about things personal to me. I know me inside and out. Makes it much easier to come up with post ideas. And having a theme I know my life has plenty of material to support helps too. It also ensures that even if someone else's post is similar, mine will be unique.
Visit me at: Life & Faith in Caneyhead
I am Ensign B of Tremps' Troops
with the A to Z Challenge

Cathy Keisha said...

Those are good ideas cos the end of the alphabet is gonna be a bitch.

hellotammy said...

Thanks for a great post! I'm doing pretty okay, but I was stuck for over a week on my "N" post. I needed to step back a bit and let my mind simmer and find my inspiration. I finally did today, and got all the way to "U", with ideas for "U" and "V"!

We can all find inspiration in the world around us, but sometimes we need to step back a bit and let things simmer a bit. :-D