Ideas come from ... well, it's magic.

A cast of an anthill. Wow!

Have you ever asked an artist where they get their ideas? Likely a comedian will tell you it's from life. An artist might say their dreams. A musician perhaps will mention a particularly emotional time. A writer will smile and say, yes. You see, it's all of these things and more. Creative people are constantly sifting through their experiences and holding onto little nuggets they find interesting. It's like a little boy picking through stones at the side of a road. There are jewels to find, even if nobody else sees them. Imagination doesn't get bogged down by specifics or practicality. When something is fascinating, that's all it needs to be.

 

In Greek times they called inspiration a gift of the gods (specifically the Muses) and felt it was supernaturally gifted. I'll agree it sure feels like that when inspiration pounds you flat with awe, though most times it's a willful act of searching for something you like. Think of listening to music. Do you always listen to the same thing? If you have a large music library, you probably skip through quite a few until you settle down and let it play. Ideas are like that.

 

My favorite answer is to say I get ideas from clouds and then walk away. Best to give somebody a thing to ponder rather than shrug and say, "No clue. Why? Do you have an idea for me?"

 

What's the real issue is what you do with an idea. Is it worthy of putting effort into it, or is it only a puff of wind on your cheek? What could blossom from your work? And, if successful, how many people will be delighted? Ideas don't even have to be grand and profitable. Try out a few that have no more impact than a paper airplane gliding to the end of your living room. Ideas are magic, and so are you.

 

- M