Inspiration in Reading and Writing
Inspiration in Reading and Writing
A few ways that inspire me all over again to do what I’ve always loved doing
In Italy, a filo rosso, literally “red thread,” is used to refer to a common thread running through any number of things, like a movie, book series, or one’s own life. We all have a red thread, or many, weaving through our lives. Just look back at turning points, highlights, crossroads, or the interests you follow and the relationships you’ve formed and you’ll find a common factor that ties many of them—or all—together (not unlike a theme or plot line in a book).
Writing and reading are two things I’ve always done and always will do—a lot of writers will say this. I don’t think I can call them exactly a filo rosso, because they’re almost too broad; but at the same time they’re more specific than, for example, saying the filo rosso of your life is eating lunch because you do it every day. Either way, reading and writing have punctuated my experiences since the time I was old enough to do both. I can call them, maybe, a filo verde. Green threads supporting an occasional red.
That being said, there are times when I just don’t feel like doing either. I can’t muster the patience or thoughtfulness or spark that usually gets pen on paper going; every book I pick up reads too slow, or the premise is stale, or I just don’t care. I’ve tried to figure out when this happens: it seems to be when my daily cares require much more attention than normal and essentially trump my inner world. Off the top of my head, this happened during much of my undergrad, when I moved from Italy back to the U.S., and any time I’ve changed jobs.
On the other hand, certain activities that naturally immerse me in my immediate surroundings make me want to read and write more. Travel is one. Conversely, I know many people who couldn’t read or lost their verve for writing when the pandemic hit, even though the inner world was arguably more enticing of an escape than anything happening—or the lack thereof—outside.
So I don’t know the exact set of circumstances that pulls me away, from time to time. I do know that I’ll always return to reading and writing. But I’m always looking for ways to get back into it sooner. How do I do that? I dive into one of the following that have inspired me to write and read no matter what headspace I’m in:
When You Don’t Feel Like Reading or Writing…Do These
Walking — Without a podcast or music. Just taking 45 minutes to walk around my neighborhood or any NYC neighborhood clears my head. I’ll think through problems or issues in my life more clearly, or just observe and mentally record, and one thought leads to the next. I’m always ready to write when I’m back from my walks. The only downside is that like magic, the second my hand grips the front doorknob, all my great ideas vanish. (How?!) It’s like the movement keeps the brain machine running. I’ve begun taking notes on my phone or, what I prefer since it doesn’t break my stride or bring my attention to the ever-distracting phone, mentally earmark a few key words that help me recall what I was just thinking about.
Travel — Travel inspires me to write more than almost anything. I’m usually very much in the moment though and want to write, yet don’t feel like writing. The urge lasts far beyond my return home, however, so it works out. I’ve come to view travel as essential to writing in the same way that reading widely is. Ideas come from observations, and the fastest way to fill your observation bank is with new sights and experiences.
The Crow’s Dinner by Jonathan Carroll — Both walking and travel rely on seeing the world and being an active observer in your surroundings. This book by one of my favorite authors inspired me to write with such force that I’ve only read it once and am now holding it, superstitiously, for the next moment I need that bolt of inspiration. Jonathan Carroll’s fiction is humorous and surreal—“magical realism,” Google says—and I thought The Crow’s Dinner was simply another fiction novel of his. It went on my TBR list, but when I couldn’t find it in the library I bought it. This is actually unlike me. I have so many books I want to read that if one isn’t available, I’ll just move onto the next until it is. I’ll buy a book if I’ve read and loved it, or begun reading and can just tell I need to own it. When The Crow’s Dinner arrived, it was actually a signed hard copy. I saw quickly that it wasn’t a fiction novel, but a collection of brief essays.
His essays or very short stories are like vignettes on simple moments and reflections; small observations he has and the comments he might make to a friend, written down, reflecting a bigger truth you can layer over your own life. Reading his stories feels like taking a small walk around the neighborhood: they immediately make me more observant and eager to write down everything.
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg and her deck of prompts — I’ve written about this one before. Her essays leave me similarly thoughtful and observant like The Crow’s Dinner, and also like I have a personal writing coach telling me “You can do it!” Her deck of prompt cards has been tried-and-true.
Rereading my favorite books and authors — Not all of my favorite books leave me wanting to write. Some leave me a heaviness of despair that I’ll ever write that well or spin a story that marvelous; or they’re enjoyable but don’t necessarily give me the spark to write. A few strike the magical balance and restore motivation and inspiration. Some of my perennial favorites and current obsessions are:
Harry Potter, no matter how many times I’ve read the books; The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch; the stories by George Saunders in Tenth of December; Shadow & Bone Netflix series on right now as well as author Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House; Weaveworld and Imajica by Clive Barker for worlds of so many layers I can almost see them in front of me; Night Film by Marisha Pessl that shows fascinating ways to combine imagery, text, and “sources;” Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil which spins a story that’s even more incredible for being true; Olivia, Mourning for being one of the most gripping historical fictions I’ve read in a while (taking place in the same time period as my own novel); any words by Eve Chase, Margo Lanagan, Hilary Mantel, Donna Tartt…
The list goes on. Even writing them out recalled for a split second the worlds, atmospheres, and feelings each evokes and makes me want to start writing, immediately, again.
A few podcasts — Two podcasts regularly inspire me to write or leave me with ideas: The Creative Penn with Joanna Penn, which I’ve mentioned often and is a great resource with tons of inspiration from the host and from her guests—sometimes I feel like I’m listening to a friend—and Mysterious Universe, which another writer friend told me about several years back. This second one digs into wild stories of the supernatural, and it hasn’t been to the taste of family and friends I’ve recommended it to, but I love it. Every episode is a bit of a wild ride with plenty of conspiracy theories about anything supernatural, and the topics these two guys from Australia discuss in their hour-plus long segments are excellent fodder for anything speculative fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and so on.
Stuff I Like
The Crow’s Dinner — I just want to call this out again. Also, check out Jonathan Carroll’s Medium page, where he publishes these essays like fancy little surprise candies from a Pez dispenser. I do recommend reading the book, though, because it gives a different experience than reading them a little bit at a time online.
