As writers and entrepreneurs, most of us often reach for inspiration from the grander moments of our lives, whether it be our most difficult struggles or the very moments that took our breath away.
Yet what about the everyday moments?
The smaller, less significant moments that make up our everyday lives seem to be, at times, overlooked. The busyness of the day doesn't allow time for it. Yet these moments can serve as some of our biggest sources of creative inspiration.
I often look back to old memories to fill the page. When instead, I could simply look around me - wherever that may be - the park, a store, vacation, church - to provide me with a positive new direction for my chapters to go. A more current theme or idea may give my readers a better takeaway or a more relatable experience. So, how do we get started? Where do we look first?
Here are a few ideas to help you tap into your creative potential to find inspiration in your everyday.
Pay attention to your surroundings: Notice the people around you, the colors they are wearing, the details of your dinner table, and the expression on your child's face. The details all around us can often invoke the biggest feelings, and that matters when we write.
Use your senses: By tapping into our senses of smell, taste, touch, sight, and sound, we can create concrete descriptions in our writing. Describe the smell of a home-cooked meal, the feel of the sun on your skin, or the true silence of an empty room. By using all five senses, you can create a transformative experience for your readers.
Keep a notebook: Keeping a notebook can help capture the small moments of everyday life. Use it to write down observations and ideas that come to you throughout the day in your car, at the beach, or in line at the store. Let it be your writing companion when you are alone and act as a reassurance that your work is always important to pursue regardless of what the busy day entails.
Look for the unexpected: Sometimes, the most interesting writing comes from unexpected places. Keep an open mind and be willing to see things in a new light. Go somewhere you aren't comfortable going - a place of faith, a new town, or a coffee shop by yourself. Start up a conversation with a stranger and listen to their story. Look for the things that others might miss.
So, the next time you are without a place to begin, look around and find inspiration in the everyday. The new material that comes out of your willingness to focus on the smaller moments may surprise you and delight your readers.