When does inspiration strike you?

derelictjay · Jan 5, 2005

When it strikes me, I rarely have any need for inspiration from any given source, as I'm usually boiling over with ideas. But there are times where I've got a block and just need to seperate myself from the task, in my youth (my youth, I'm 27, darn it I'm starting to think old) it was go outside and shoot some hoops, now its taking a walk in the outdoors. Doing things like this usually gets the gears clanging again in my head.

kenobi65 · Jan 5, 2005

diaglo said:
on the can.

all my best work comes when i'm struggling with life's difficulties on the can.

This, too, shall pass...

kenobi65 · Jan 5, 2005

- In the shower.

- While standing on the El platform, waiting for the train.

shilsen · Jan 5, 2005

Another one for the shower. Actually, inspiration can and does strike me just about anywhere, though I have a fair amount of control over it. If I have a little time and choose too, I can generally switch on my inspiration and juggle around ideas in my head. Walking to work, watching TV, listening to music, reading something, etc. But the shower is the best option for me. Someday I'll install a desk in there and never have to come out again.

Arcane Runes Press · Jan 5, 2005

Psion said:
When mowing the lawn.

Winter must be a dry spell for you.

I get inspiration when I'm driving, or when I'm going for a walk.

And about 1 week before deadlines

DungeonmasterCal · Jan 5, 2005

I have a 40 minute commute to and from work, and on days when I get to drive myself and am not carpooling, I have great ideas. Carpooling has too many distractions. I also get inspiration from the History Channel, National Geographic Channel, and Animal Planet. A lot of modern progressive and symphonic metal as well as classic metal music gives me great ideas (if there are any Manowar fans here, I'll say two words: "Dark Avenger". You know what I'm talkin' about).

I also draw on the ideas of other DM's and players (especially here on ENWorld) as well as the fantastic games my first DM in college ran. It's time to start recycling them in my own style and using 3.5 rules.

Breakdaddy · Jan 5, 2005

Most of my inspiration hits me while Im in the shower or right before I go to sleep while I am lying in bed. I usually will try to keep these little bits in my head for just long enough to get to a pen and some paper (or my laptop) so that I can write them down and compile them later.

GlassJaw · Jan 5, 2005

Hmm, I'm very visual and usually get most of my ideas from some kind of visual medium. I definitely don't do any sort of creative thinking donig mundane tasks like driving to work or taking a shower.

Movies, TV, books, images, etc are the best sources for me.

I also get inspiration from the History Channel, National Geographic Channel, and Animal Planet

Very good advice. I actually have a few history/nature/learning-type channels in HD (high-def) and it's amazing.

I also love Google Image Search. If you haven't used it, what are you waiting for!! Just type in some cool words and watch the inspriation flow!

Just got the original Conan stories for Xmas. I wish I read these years ago!

Scotley · Jan 5, 2005

I have to add my vote to the shower. As to a reliable way to get the creative juices flowing I find that getting about 9 hours of sleep does wonders for my creativity. I wonder if the two are somehow related. Inspiration somehow bubbling up from dreams and being revealed in the shower. Getting said 9 hours of sleep is a practical imposibility at this point in my life. I can't say that I've been inspired while driving despite spending a good deal of time in the car. Maybe its the drivers in the midsouth. One brief distraction into fantasy and you're dead. I don't often find inspiration in reading. I guess I focus too much on the story at hand. Music is different story and I can find inspiration in almost any type depending on mood and the sort of inspiration I want. I must say that historically I have been most successful with Black Sabbath from the Dio era--in particular cuts like Children of the Sea.

MetalBard · Jan 5, 2005

A big one for me is playing or listening to music. The listening often occurs during a commute too.
Sometimes certain types of chores or more mindless activities at work will allow my mind to wander and find inspiration for plots, NPCs and sites for adventures.
The last and most important one is when reading new setting source books (whether they be for my favorite, FR, or for something else).