Inspiration & Distraction: In the Mood to Write

Last night, I went to see a really bad movie. My friends were appalled I hadn’t seen the movie yet. They kept telling me how amazing it was, so because it was raining and finally in the cheap seats, I went. I learned three things that night: 1) they lied, 2) Twilight fans are scary, and 3) electrical enclosures can actually be interesting.

In the parking lot after the movie, I mentioned that I did NOT understand the appeal of the vampire kid. Suddenly, I found myself surrounded by a few teen girls wearing shirts that said “Team Edward”. Like the newborns in the movie, these girls were ready to take me on. Then, for some reason, a project that had been stumping me all afternoon was basically written in my head. Fearing death (or some type of injury at least) for something I thought was innocent reminded me of an article I was writing for a company that sells electrician tools. How they connected? I don’t know, but my brain thought they were. After explaining to the girls that I didn’t like the books or the movies and therefore my opinion is probably biased, they called me a few choice words and thankfully walked away… and I went home to write my article.

When I write, the most random situations or comments will inspire content for my latest copywriting project. However, distractions come just as easily to me, especially if I’m sitting at work. I do much better when I’m sitting at home, leaning against my bed and writing for a website I’m working on. I email it to myself and then copy and paste it to my word document at work. Most often, being home alone is when I am at my most productive. I have no kids, spouse, or coworkers to worry about intruding on my time and ruining my constant word flow.

When I was in college, I picked up writing habits that are difficult to break 7 years later. I like to write late at night or early in the morning and I have a very difficult time writing in the afternoon. I majored in creative writing and now work professionally as an industrial copywriter so I’ve also had to adjust my style of writing to reflect the companies I work with. Rather than writing poetry, fiction, or drama as I did in college, I’m writing content regarding CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, and cable assemblies. Even though the things I write about are completely altered from my college days, I still have the same writing habits I had then.

Because I now work a “normal” 40 hour workweek, I’ve had to figure out how to incorporate my writing habits into my work schedule. When I sit down at my desk in the morning, I read my emails, pick a station off Grooveshark, put my headphones on, and begin writing. By the time I hit lunchtime around 1 pm, I’m ready to stop. So I take off for an hour then come back and either work on editing previously completed pages or do unrelated projects that have little to do with writing. Then I go home and something will spark my writing capabilities again; I’ll be writing at night then emailing it to myself. It’s a continuous cycle.

So why the rambling blog post on my writing style? Because of last night’s Twilight experience. After a cheap theater experience and a scary parking lot encounter, I had my article completed on the potentials of electrocution and serious injury in regards to underground enclosures and pads. Inspiration can come at any time. Don’t restrict yourself in your writing. When you want to write, do. When you can’t write, don’t force it. Work on something else for awhile to get the creative juices flowing again.

Now it’s barely after 1 and I’m going to lunch. The cycle continues.

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