Chasing Down the Muse: Where Creative Types Turn for Inspiration

By Allison Floyd 

I’m sure we can all commiserate on the oft-elusive nature of the muse. Yet, it is the unpredictability of the muse that makes the creative process so exciting. Inspiration can strike at any time and can assume any number of forms. In this spirit, here are some resources that illustrate what has fueled (literally and otherwise) various creative types, and some sources to turn to for inspiration as well.

PR Daily:Eat A Great Breakfast
Probably not advisable for most of us, and arguably not advisable for Hunter S. Thompson either, but interesting nonetheless. After all, it’s hard to be creative on an empty stomach.

BusinessWeek: The Best Breakfast For Your Desk
In a similar vein, this is a slightly more practical breakfast idea for those of us who don’t have the luxury of eating at noon from home.

Writers and Kitties
Of course, once the body has been properly provided for, the spirit also requires fuel. For many writers (and other creative sorts), their feline companions come to the rescue.

Mashable: Top 10 Resources for Design Inspiration
For graphic designers and visual artists, and anyone who likes to look at cool stuff. I’m particularly excited to try out # 1.

Mashable: 14 Ways to Create Memorable Business Cards
As communication professionals, having an inspired business card that showcases our originality and creativity is critical.

SocialediaToday: Look Inside
This link is particularly topical for those who are in charge of corporate blogs, Social Media Today suggests looking inside, rather than outside of the walls.

Tale of Tale: Vanitas
The perfect iPhone app for those looking to get the creative juices flowing (and keep it all in perspective—life is fleeting!) offers visuals, quotes, and even a cello soundtrack, all of which might provide that much-needed jumping-off point. There’s also a free version you can use on your computer.

Mashable: 12 Step Guide to Fostering Your Creativity
Here are some practical ways to foster creativity on a day-to-day basis and are great if you are self-employed. While it primarily targets designers, these are valuable rules of thumb for anyone involved in a creative field.

Beat Writer’s Block
For those who can’t (or won’t) tear themselves away from their computers, this article shows a web-centric approach to conquering writer’s block.

Finally, for the bloggers amongst us, this resource offers 50 sources to turn to when searching for the next blog topic as another good way to find your muse.

Now, it’s your turn to share, where do you turn for inspiration?