Guest post: Inspiration

Uh oh, Meghan. Not Better Homes and Gardens—Good Housekeeping!

I can understand her confusion, because though I might have a better home, and could conceivably rustle up a garden, there’s almost no chance I’ll ever be accused of good housekeeping.

While Meghan’s away in Italy—

You know, I was going to say, “While Meghan’s away in Italy, she asked me to keep her blog company.” But now what I really want to say is—

While Meghan’s away in Italy, let’s all secretly hate her.

But that’s mean, right?

Fine. While Meghan’s away, let’s talk about inspiration.

I’ve been enjoying Meghan’s return to her blog because the focus of what she’s talking about has opened up. Which is the only reason it makes any sense to have me here, as I don’t make jewelry. I wear jewelry, including some pieces Meghan made, but I don’t make much of anything. Don’t believe me? I’m sending a couple of homemade Christmas gifts this year. Homemade in someone else’s home, because I outsourced the work to my mom.

The one thing I do make: stories. (Like here. And here. And here.)

But I think all creativity has a singular source. Just as Meghan finds inspiration in nature for her jewelry, I find inspiration off the page. Writing is a solitary practice, but you can’t sit at the blank page forever. Meeting a friend, reading a good book, reading a bad book, walking around and taking in the world—this is how writers return to the page with a little more juice than they had before.

Yesterday I had the chance to hang out with a writer who’s found an interesting combination of critical and popular acclaim. The guy won a Tony and also gets to call Scorcese “Marty.” It was a long day at my day job, squiring this guy from place to place—luckily, he was laid-back and friendly in addition to being talented—and? It was inspiring. Hearing him talk about writing and literature and the greats of drama reminded me of some of the aspiration I have for my own work.

I don’t need a Tony, and Marty and I don’t need to be friends. But I might like to create something beautiful in this world.

Isn’t that why we’re all here?

It’s a gorgeous day here in Chicago. The leaves are crazy orange. My dog is super cute. My husband is vacuuming without being asked. Before I get back to the blank page, I think I might take a walk.

It’s not the Amalfi coast. But it doesn’t need to be. Maybe it's a beautiful day, wherever you are.

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Lori Rader Day lives and writes in Chicago. She likes a good mystery. Read her blog at http://loriraderday.blogspot.com/