Is Inspiration a Tool or a Crutch?

Inspiration is what gives passion to story. No, it is what births a story worth writing. It's the idea, the concept behind the words. It's what breathes life into our words so that what we write aren't mere words slopped onto a page, but something that will leave the reader feeling like they read magic. 

But inspiration doesn't write stories. 

People do.
Or to be more accurate, fingers and dead brains trying to grasp at fizzling inspiration that won't stay long enough to be translated into words.

Inspiration, that loved but hated the thing that mysteriously fuels every plot bunny and big idea.

Inspiration, that thing that laughs and says, "You may have me only if you give me all your blood and tears."

But how many of us are willing to make the trade? And is the trade even worth making?

And here we come to my questions: Is inspiration a tool or a crutch? 

Must we be inspired to write? Is inspiration even necessary? 

Of course, that initial inspiration is necessary. But after that . . . relying on inspiration alone to write a story seems dangerous. It's like running a race but refusing to continue on if your adrenaline falters.

Relying on inspiration alone is akin to hiking up a mountain, but stopping before you've reached your destination to look over the mountain. You sit on the cliff's edge because your legs are too tired to take you any further. And yes, it's almost dark. But you ignore the sounds of the hungry wolves or the threat of falling asleep and tumbling over the edge.

Relying on inspiration alone is risking losing it altogether; gambling your goals and passions for your belief that, "the feeling will return . . . later."

Sometimes the motivation to write is a choice—a choice to run up the steep mountain even when your strength is dead. Sometimes waiting on the inspiration will only leave you stuck. And being stuck kills inspiration altogether.

Inspiration births the story, but I write it.
Inspiration gives me the idea, but I develop that idea with all of who I am.

Once inspiration strikes I don't wait for moods or feelings or motivation. I write. And I write some more. And I push myself even further.

Amazing word by agonizing word, I write my stories.

Is it hard?

Yes!

But writing isn't supposed to be easy. Unless you choose to write only as a hobby (which is fine if that's what you want) writing isn't a part-time job but over time. And jobs don't have time for waiting for magical feelings.

Not that those magical feelings aren't good—you just have to remember them and record them, and then . . . write.

Writer's write.

They don't sit around wallowing in wishes in self-pity, "Inspiration! Come back to me!"

They pick up their pens and they force inspiration to show her face. Writers don't let inspiration rule them, but writers rule inspiration.

It sounds hard. That's because it is hard. It's a war between your mind and your body. And who will win? You or inspiration?

"You might be a writer if you . . . defeat inspiration and write that story no matter how you feel."
P.S. Audrey Caylin wrote this amazing post on how to find your inspiration and be a joyful person/ writer. What I love about everything I just wrote and what she wrote is that this applies to anything and everything, not just writing. Don't let feelings hold you back. Put in the effort and pain, and stuff will happen.