I am incredibly happy and filled with awe that you saw something in my writing that inspired you. You're absolutely correct! I would have and continue to say, "Go for it! " Thank you for that great compliment. It might be the best one I've ever gotten on something I've written. Love, Virg
Demystifying the process of inspiration is perhaps one of the most important elements in sharing our thought-process. It is what makes your writing resonate with readers, and also creates that continuity in your writing, giving it structure and a completeness. You probably do this subconsciously Mark; when you link in or refer to a post/note and extend its conversation.
This post is also a reminder that our personal perspectives and experiences hold value to an existing conversation and can be what inspires others to continue it. Great post Mark.
When I read the title it felt like a math problem, but after reading this article, I can confidently say you're impeccable at having unique perspectives. I never saw inspiration this way, but this put me into thinking that inspiration is a process, not an event. (I'm reading a book Emotional Agility by Susan David where she says "change is a process, not an event" , just got spsrked to rephrase it)
You say I have unique perspectives, but that's partly why I wrote this, they don't feel unique, they feel like just an iteration of someone else's thought.
If I do find that I have what I believe to be a unique thought or idea, I often Google it to find that someone like Plato discovered it thousands of years ago. I actually quite like that because then I can binge on all of the thoughts that came after.
Your take on inspiration as a process instead of an event is bang on, and you've proved it in linking it to the book you're reading. If you were to take that thought and add your own stamp on it, you've gone full circle, ready for someone else to do the same with whatever you come up with!
Thank you for the mention, Mark! 💗 This is such a beautiful article and I agree with the points you raised! There have been a few times that I noticed others obviously copy and paste my work with almost zero tweaks. It felt really off and it left me wondering why they didn't at least edit it or let me know beforehand 😅 I just try to reframe it positively that they were inspired by my work and they most likely don't have any bad intentions.
This post is an important reminder that if someone inspired you, let them know. Mention them and/or share their original work! 💗 Not only are you giving credit where credit is due, but you're also building a connection with them. It's simple but it goes a long way 😊 You're setting a great example, Mark ✨
Well Alea, you might not realise it but you can now check something off your Substack Bingo card! 🤣 It's just politeness to credit people!
In that case maybe the quote should be “Copying is the sincerest form of convenience?” It's just occurred to me that I didn't put the whole original Wilde quote in the article.
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness."
Take it that way and you're right to take it in a positive way.
Mark, you’re perfectly describing the norm of rigorous reflection that leads to knowledge production! In the university environment, it’s the norm to start by reviewing the scientific literature so as to not reinvent the wheel of what’s already been studied or published. More than pragmatic (don’t want to waste time/money), it’s the recognition that knowledge is not produced by one person, alone, but is anchored in a body of work of millions of people that evolves over time.
Attributed to Isaac Newton, there’s the view that great discoveries or breakthroughs are made by “Standing on the shoulders of giants” - knowledge, creativity, innovation is always part of a community or ecosystem of people and ideas.
Thanks for giving the academic perspective Bryn, that honestly hadn't crossed my mind, I was writing from a perspective of being purely in my own mind.
I've heard the Newton quote many times but always before I considered myself a “thinker” and then started writing about it. It's much more fitting now I've considered it's origin.
Thank you for reading and thank you for the considered comment which has set me off again… Where can I take this thought I wonder.
In the two months I’ve been in this community, I’ve found myself inspired by so many members. A Note by @Hafsa became a post, an interaction with another writer sparked another, and just now, as I draft "Taking Action" for next Friday, I’ve turned to one of your posts, Mark; not just to borrow from your writing (citing you, of course!) but to merge your inspiration with my own.
This post really captures how creativity thrives in connection :)
Yeah your creativity was a response. Like a lovely tennis game. I always use this example, being a screenwriter. Execution is everything. If you look closely,
The Muppet Movie is...
The Wizard of Oz.
All the pivotal tentpole plot points are there. It's not derivative because of the execution of the story, and the unique characters.
I am incredibly happy and filled with awe that you saw something in my writing that inspired you. You're absolutely correct! I would have and continue to say, "Go for it! " Thank you for that great compliment. It might be the best one I've ever gotten on something I've written. Love, Virg
Well, I’m sure it won’t be the last! Thanks Virg, I appreciate the retrospective permission 😊
Demystifying the process of inspiration is perhaps one of the most important elements in sharing our thought-process. It is what makes your writing resonate with readers, and also creates that continuity in your writing, giving it structure and a completeness. You probably do this subconsciously Mark; when you link in or refer to a post/note and extend its conversation.
This post is also a reminder that our personal perspectives and experiences hold value to an existing conversation and can be what inspires others to continue it. Great post Mark.
Thanks for reading Malick, we’ve all got something to add to the conversation, and if we feel inspired by something, then I think we should.
I appreciate the analogy to cooking here. It's true, much like a recipe; the idea you see is just the start, the spark.
I seem to relate a lot to cooking, it fits quite a few concepts, it’s definitely not because I am good at it!
Thanks Colette.
When I read the title it felt like a math problem, but after reading this article, I can confidently say you're impeccable at having unique perspectives. I never saw inspiration this way, but this put me into thinking that inspiration is a process, not an event. (I'm reading a book Emotional Agility by Susan David where she says "change is a process, not an event" , just got spsrked to rephrase it)
Ha I do like my equations, perhaps it would be something like:
Inspiration = (Gratitude × Reflection) + (Admiration × Action)
You say I have unique perspectives, but that's partly why I wrote this, they don't feel unique, they feel like just an iteration of someone else's thought.
If I do find that I have what I believe to be a unique thought or idea, I often Google it to find that someone like Plato discovered it thousands of years ago. I actually quite like that because then I can binge on all of the thoughts that came after.
Your take on inspiration as a process instead of an event is bang on, and you've proved it in linking it to the book you're reading. If you were to take that thought and add your own stamp on it, you've gone full circle, ready for someone else to do the same with whatever you come up with!
Thanks for reading Mayank.
Thank you for the mention, Mark! 💗 This is such a beautiful article and I agree with the points you raised! There have been a few times that I noticed others obviously copy and paste my work with almost zero tweaks. It felt really off and it left me wondering why they didn't at least edit it or let me know beforehand 😅 I just try to reframe it positively that they were inspired by my work and they most likely don't have any bad intentions.
This post is an important reminder that if someone inspired you, let them know. Mention them and/or share their original work! 💗 Not only are you giving credit where credit is due, but you're also building a connection with them. It's simple but it goes a long way 😊 You're setting a great example, Mark ✨
Well Alea, you might not realise it but you can now check something off your Substack Bingo card! 🤣 It's just politeness to credit people!
In that case maybe the quote should be “Copying is the sincerest form of convenience?” It's just occurred to me that I didn't put the whole original Wilde quote in the article.
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness."
Take it that way and you're right to take it in a positive way.
Thanks for reading Alea
Oh right! That’s in the Substack Bingo Card too 🤣✅
And I must say, that whole quote from Oscar Wilde is so savage lol 😂
Yes, I think so too!
Mark, you’re perfectly describing the norm of rigorous reflection that leads to knowledge production! In the university environment, it’s the norm to start by reviewing the scientific literature so as to not reinvent the wheel of what’s already been studied or published. More than pragmatic (don’t want to waste time/money), it’s the recognition that knowledge is not produced by one person, alone, but is anchored in a body of work of millions of people that evolves over time.
Attributed to Isaac Newton, there’s the view that great discoveries or breakthroughs are made by “Standing on the shoulders of giants” - knowledge, creativity, innovation is always part of a community or ecosystem of people and ideas.
Thanks for describing this so vividly!
Thanks for giving the academic perspective Bryn, that honestly hadn't crossed my mind, I was writing from a perspective of being purely in my own mind.
I've heard the Newton quote many times but always before I considered myself a “thinker” and then started writing about it. It's much more fitting now I've considered it's origin.
Thank you for reading and thank you for the considered comment which has set me off again… Where can I take this thought I wonder.
In the two months I’ve been in this community, I’ve found myself inspired by so many members. A Note by @Hafsa became a post, an interaction with another writer sparked another, and just now, as I draft "Taking Action" for next Friday, I’ve turned to one of your posts, Mark; not just to borrow from your writing (citing you, of course!) but to merge your inspiration with my own.
This post really captures how creativity thrives in connection :)
That’s great Dom, I’d love to be that spark that I have taken so much from others, it’s like one big inspiration cycle.
And when you see the thing that starts it, you just know you have to write about it. Looking forward to see how you take action.
Yeah your creativity was a response. Like a lovely tennis game. I always use this example, being a screenwriter. Execution is everything. If you look closely,
The Muppet Movie is...
The Wizard of Oz.
All the pivotal tentpole plot points are there. It's not derivative because of the execution of the story, and the unique characters.
Yes, the plot points are there, but the ingredients are very different. I always think of Avatar and Dances with Wolves in a similar way.
Now I'm wondering about it I bet there are lots of film examples that aren't just direct remakes.
Yes, there rarely is such thing as a brand new story. At its core is the compliment of imitation.