A Note to Readers What Inspires You? Since January gray blankets my world this week �- a wholly uninspiring landscape -- I asked a few friends: What inspires you in your writing? Stephen Denny: �Dialog. It's too easy to get wound up in your own personal space and talk to yourself. The more people you meet, whether face to face, or via phone (or even online), the more you are exposed to. And the more you have to react to others' individual contexts�. [in other words] my inspiration is the last thought coming out of the last rant.� Shelley Ryan: �When I'm writing to an individual instead of to an audience. If I can imagine my �audience� as a friend, the digital ink flows more freely. Another source of inspiration, which is also a quote from Douglas Adams (I think): �I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.�� Roy Young: �People who pursue hobbies with passion. They could be watching television, but they choose to learn photography, astronomy, music, or cooking. And they often start hobbies as adults, without having much previous skill or background. This tells me we can always discover and learn.� Roger von Oech: �Working on a problem or project, and allowing myself to get sidetracked. Deadlines. Getting away from problems and projects -- for example, I'm going to Egypt next week and I'm sure I'll be inspired there. Swimming (daily). Going to the movies and Netflix. Talking with my wife and children. Working with my hands to make stuff. This gets me out of my head.� Sharon Hudson: "A 'problem' to solve or work through. A calm environment and morning light. And finally, time enough to procrastinate." Christina Kerley (CK): �Sharing ideas is what inspires my writing. By connecting with others, I'm both teaching and learning.� How about you? Post your own bit of inspiration in a slightly expanded version of this notehere. Until next week, Ann Handley ann@marketingprofs.com Chief Content Officer MarketingProfs |