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by Leaha Boschen

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It is not some mystical wellspring one stumbles upon and is then forevermore poetically enchanted. It can be tangible or intangible; moving or still; lying or flying; running away from you or staring you down. There is no way of teaching another how to be inspired to poetic release because no two individuals will ever have the same inspirational patterns. However, as with every element of existence there will be fluctuations. It's important to remember that usually, following a dry spell, poems as weighty and meaningful as the mountains formerly standing in front of them will be revealed.

I don't believe we can truly attach authority to anyone-especially not ourselves, because our inner critics will inevitably be harsher than anyone casting judgment. I can, however, say that the most important aspects of writing are persistence, loyalty, laughter, and trust.

Persistence: Write through your dry spells. Everyone's heard of writer's block. When it actually happens to you, it feels like part of your brain is missing, right? That specific frustration sends out an open invitation to emotions and distractions of the sabotage persuasion to come in and hang out. Ignore them; they are vampire friends.

Loyalty: Honor your craft. You owe it to yourself to remain beholden to any art form you subscribe to. Think about something and start writing. Look at something and start writing. It can be associational. It might have come to you in a dream. It might be something you've been reviewing for months. It might even be something you don't understand yet. Be respectful of your mind and intuition.

Laughter: It wasn't until I started writing poetry regularly that I realized why the two cranky, brazen, box-seated critics, Statler and Waldorf, were my favorite muppet characters. Everything is just as easily laughable, as it is ripped to proverbial shreds. This sounds like simple medicineit is! I don't disagree that a huge portion of poignant writings have been born of darkness. However, finding what's laughable in something, or catching yourself taking anything too seriously, encourages balance between the poles of your creative realm.

Trust: Trust that that beam of energy running from the base of your spine out the top of your head is ever-present. Trust that the connection you have with your expression is unadulterated, and riding a shifting continuum. Trust that your mere desire to express yourself through writing is reason enough to believe in it, and inspiration will come.

Learn more about this author, Leaha Boschen.

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