Just wondering something. When you guys write poetry, stories, songs, make visual art, etc, where do you get your inspiration from? And also how do you get past these things like writer's block?
I lack something to look to for inspiration and it is starting affect my songwriting. -_- It's getting frustrating..
Yeah, writer's block is a tough thing to get over, huh. I struggled with writer's block for maybe half a year or so before I was able to break through it (recently, I might add). It's strange how a full night's sleep can affect the creative process, or how shitty sleep can wreck it. Also, things like stress, too.
As for inspiration, I'm not all that sure. Music and movies are a big one for me, I think, especially since I'm always listening to music and the way I see stories is how it would be as it would be as if it were a movie. That's how I see the images in my head, like it were a movie.
Then of course, some of my best ideas come from the shower, for whatever godforsaken reason. I'll just let my mind wander a bit and let the characters of my stories have free reign, imagining what would happen if they were to say or do a certain thing. And from there, the creative process flows.
For things like poetry, songwriting, I couldn't give any help on, seeing as how my poetry sucks and I have no idea how to do any sort of songwriting. But with me, I think the creative process and inspiration happens from a wandering mind and overactive imagination. o.o
Yeah I get alot of good ideas from the shower too for some reason. I guess because it clears your mind. But once I think up those ideas, soon as I get out I normally forget them -.-
other kinds of music. whatever im listening to at the time, i want to incorporate into my music. hopefully one day ill be able to actually stop finding new things to put in and focus on getting it all together under one tent.
Yeah that'd be nice to be able to do. I think that's what my deal is :\ There's so many things but it's hard to just make MY signature sound.
Well... I usually get my story plots from school.
The teacher will give out an assignment to write a short story... and he'll/she'll give us a few things to incorporate... And then my mind starts to wander...
Once I've created the short story, I want to write more. So, I'll expand on the short story idea and then walla, a story.
Though, all of mine are in progress... because I'm only a beginner and a procrastinator.
As for poetry... I've only written one poem... and it sucks. I don't try to think of ideas for poems... they just come. Plus, I think personal emotions help a lot with poems.
Most of my poetry is inspired by things that I actually go through in life. My beginning poems, from back around 5th grade and middle school, were merely random things I would make up, yet my family saw something deeper in them. A lot of my poetry is about loneliness, heartbreak, trying to find myself, being disgusted with how I appear, choosing sides, friendship, etc. I was a depressing child... ._.
That isn't uncommon. Everyone's messed up in some form or fashion. Unfortunate but it can't be helped..However it does drive an artistic ability when used to its potential that alot of people are not able to do.
I get my influences from sort of the same thing. Either I have something to say about something, I'm disgusted of something, or I write from the heart. Well, at least that's how I am now. Lately I've actually started really trying to put emotion into my music instead of just mindfucks and instrumental metal tracks that don't really relate to anything.
Makes me want to read some of your other song lyrics (without the emotion). XD Well, I'm a case in itself. As I've said before on here, somewhere, I wrote a suicide poem in 8th grade, showed my teacher (why the hell I did, I'll never know), and she sent me to the counselors and I admitted to cutting. She told me everything I said was confidential, but THEN she called my parents, so I'm like... "Never coming back to you, bitch." T_T
I also draw things I feel, or just 'cause I'm bored and sometimes end up doin' great pieces. :D I love my creative side. XD All the songs I've written suck eggs, though. )X
Ooh! I get inspiration from a lot of things!
When I lived in Washington, I got inspiration just from taking a step outside. I live in the desert now, where all that's outside is dirt and dust and heat and ow. In Washington, I saw life and it gave me this overflowing creativity. Oh, and the rain. I love the rain because it gets my gears turning. Taking walks at night can give me ideas too, though.
I get easily inspired by movies and music. I can get a mood set by listening to music while I write, since my music has a variety of moods to it. And I'll admit I occasionally base my plots loosely off a movie I recently watched. 
Oh, and I get all my most genius ideas on the crapper. It's a magical place that I spend maybe 2 minutes in total per day... but yeah!