Inspiration can strike out of nowhere. There are times when we sit for hours without writing a single word. I know this very well from my own experience. Whether we’re writing a story or a poem, the situation doesn’t change. Yet when inspiration arrives, the chains that imprison our mind suddenly fall away. A lightbulb switches on in our head, and our creativity abruptly increases. Sometimes that inspiration comes in the shower, sometimes in the bathroom. And it doesn’t just arrive, it stands out, and becomes unique. Maybe the shower changes something within us, awakens something in our body and mind.
Inspiration Is the Artist’s Fuel
Whether you’re a writer or a poet, it doesn’t matter; you need inspiration. Just as music nourishes the soul, inspiration nourishes the artist. Without inspiration, nothing works because the fuel is missing. The artist wants to create something; however, something is missing. Those original ideas just won’t come. And originality is crucial for any artist. Who would want to read a cliché piece? Most people wouldn’t, at least not unless it’s written exceptionally well. Take romance novels, for example. If the writer is skilled, no matter how cliché the theme is, the work still manages to captivate the reader. That writer has their own distinctive style. On the other hand, there’s the shallow Wattpad story full of grammatical and punctuation errors. Both may touch on similar themes, but there is a world of difference between them. And even if the second one is weak, if it’s original, it still deserves a bit of praise. After all, being original is difficult. And without a doubt, inspiration is needed for that.
We All Need It
Inspiration is not the sole province of artists; scientists, too, rely on moments of illumination. Figures like Newton and Archimedes illustrate this perfectly, even if their stories blur the line between legend and fact. Regardless of the mythos, their breakthroughs were fueled by genuine insight. Sustaining productivity while chained to a desk for hours is an impossible feat. Eventually, the mind stagnates and seeks an escape route—a fresh perspective. Whether it arrives while sipping tea or observing the surroundings during a walk, inspiration often strikes when the brain simply rests.
Undoubtedly, one of the most conducive environments for this mental respite is the bathroom. Few things are as soothing as a hot shower. As the warm water washes away stress and anxiety, the mind clears, making room for brilliant ideas. Personally, many of the plot twists and characters in my novel were born from this “shower inspiration.” I am certain that countless people conceive fascinating ideas amidst the steam, only to let them evaporate before they can be written down, lost forever.
At the End of the Day
I don’t know how many writers or musicians find inspiration this way. Maybe numerous people find this way. Personally, this is how I reach it. Sometimes I stand under the warm water, thinking, waiting for inspiration to knock, and usually it does. The funny thing is, the idea for this very piece also came to me in the shower. Surprising, isn’t it?