Have you ever had a person that was your creative muse? If so, how did you keep writing after losing contact with them? This happened to me, and I can't seem to get inspiration without them. :/
I have gone through this actually, and I learned two valuable lessons through the whole experience.
First, you canāt rely on one person to inspire you.Ā
A good friend can help your writing in two ways. They can give you ideas, and they can keep you motivated. Their experiences, their energy, their resiliency - those things can inspire you to write a great character. Their encouragement, their support, and their passion for your words can keep you moving forward.
But ideas for stories and characters should come from everyone you meet and everywhere you go. They should come from things you read, or watch, listen to, or experience. If youāre finding that you have absolutely no ideas for stories, then you need to go and hunt a little. Take up a new hobby or make an effort to get to know your coworkers or family members better. Or, if nothing else, just read! Reading can be an amazing way to get inspired when you have no idea what to write.
If you find youāre not lacking in ideas and simply need a push to keep going, then find some writing friends you can talk to. Even if itās simply going on an online message board or community and finding like-minded writers. NaNoWriMo keeps their forums open year round. All you need sometimes is having someone to tell, āI had aĀ great writing day,ā or to give you some support when things just arenāt going well.Ā
But ultimately, you need to let your muse come from within. External influences like friends and family can help inspire you, but your muse is what lives in you and pushes you to keep writing. Ā Itās the reason that you even asked this question - because youĀ wantĀ to write. Because your life would be missing something without it.
Second thing I learned is that sometimes you have to write when you donāt want to write.
Itās amazing to write when youāre inspired. Itās more exciting, and it can be a miracle how fast the words come out of you. But sometimes inspiration comes in the midst of forcing yourself to get something down. When youĀ haveĀ to write that next sentence, your creativity can unexpectedly show up, even when you thought itād been lying dormant for months.
I hope you keep writing. Your muse didnāt leave you. It's still in there pushing you to keep going.