Inspiring (and Not)

This morning we had a parent/teacher meeting at Catie’s school to better understand how she learns.

Although the teachers did their best to communicate, and we did our best to understand, we walked away with these (a-hem) earth-shattering revelations:

Catie learns best when she’s inspired, when she feels confident, and when she feels like she is pleasing her teacher (side note: she always pleases her teachers. They love her. This is mostly because Catie spends so much energy making sure her teachers love her. Blessing and curse, my friends. Blessing and curse.)

None of this seems that earth-shattering to me because that apple does not fall far from this tree. I also work best when I’m inspired, when I’m confident, and when I’m writing for an audience that’s giving me lots of positive feedback.

Although I think this is generally true for most people, I’m always surprised by how much these factors affect the quality of my work.

Maybe I’m even embarrassed.

Other writers don’t seem to rely on inspiration as much as I do. Maybe writing comes easier for them? Maybe they’re less distracted? Maybe other writers can spend days inside their own heads and not get really sick of themselves?

Who knows?

Not me. I’m just like Catie. When the work excites me, I am energetic and focused. Ideas click. I see connections. My writing sort of takes over and just happens.

And when I’m not inspired? When my confidence or positive reinforcement is lacking?

Let’s just say that ideas don’t click. But I do manage to click over to Facebook and look at pictures of people I haven’t seen for thirty years. And when I finally pull myself back to my deadline, I’m no closer to finishing it.

On the other hand, I do feel like I’m well acquainted with the children and pets of a person I will never see or talk to again.

So, there’s that.

Yesterday my publisher cancelled my next writing project. In the publishing world, these things happen. The cancellation had everything to do with print times and nothing to do with my writing ability or how much my editor wanted me to do the project.

Most writers would probably welcome this change of plans. They would embrace the suddenly open schedule to tackle the other books rattling around in their heads.

But me? I’m feeling a little bummed. And looking for inspiration.

To take a lesson from Catie, she says feel inspired by time off, when she knows people are happy with her, when she knows exactly what she’s supposed to do, when she can build something that’s her idea, and when she really loves something.

Those things also inspire me.

So, I’m happy to have time off with our family this weekend. I’m glad to have the positive reinforcement that y’all read this blog every day. I’m inspired by the idea of building a new book that I know I need to write.

Oh, and today’s picture inspires me because I love it. But who doesn’t love watching two five-year-olds who are best friends….

…and also brother and sister?

(Pay not attention to Sam wrapping the cord from the blinds around his neck. That couldn’t lead to anything that bad, could it?)