Finding and Maintaining Creative Inspiration
One of the things that many people who work in creative fields often struggle with is staying motivated and finding ways to stay inspired. I myself have had times where I struggle to find inspiration for new content for a campaign, to prep for a session, or even to write a blog post. Today I want to share a few of the things I do to get those creative juices flowing and some ideas for where you can go to look for a muse when you are struggling for inspiration.
The ABCs of Inspiration
ABC—Always Be Creating.
As children, one of the earliest things we learn is our ABCs. They become the building blocks for the rest of our educational endeavors. The same goes for inspiration. ABC—Always Be Creating. Remembering this is the foundation for finding inspiration and motivation in your creative endeavors. It sounds simple but the more often you practice a skill the better you will get at it. According to Healthline.com it takes 66 days (or just over 2 months) for a habit to form. I suggest setting aside some time each day to be creative. This can be during your commute (provided you are not driving), on your lunch hour, or before you go to bed. You don’t need to set aside a lot of time. Just enough for you to jot down a few notes or write up a scene description. For me, having this structure allows me to be more disciplined and to hold myself accountable. Personally, I always read the modules I am working on before bed and I do the deep prep the day of, or occasionally the day before, game night so my notes and thoughts are fresh. I also always write my blogs on Mondays. However you decide to schedule your creative time, consistency is key. Scheduling creativity may seem like an oxymoron, but having that time set aside will help you form the habit quicker.
The Book of Secrets
"I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in." - Robert Louis Stevenson.
Scheduling a time to be creative every day is important and useful but of course there are times when inspiration strikes of its own volition. For situations like that, I always keep a little book on-hand that I can use to jot down notes, even just a few sentences. I take my notebook with me everywhere because you never know when a genius idea will strike next! When the inspiring forces of creation lend me their powers, I have a tool that I can use to capture this raw creative energy, even if it’s at midnight as I am drifting off to sleep. I also look back in my notebook when my creative font runs dry; not only is it a tool for finding inspiration but it can also be used as a tool for maintaining inspiration. Your notebook doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical book either. I personally often end up transferring my notes to Google Keep. I know other Game Masters who use programs like Microsoft OneNote, World Anvil, or others. When it comes to my Roll20 games, I keep all of my notes in those respective games. Compartmentalizing this aspect of my games helps me to keep all of my games straight and my notes where they need to be. I also create a private handout where I keep and update all of my session notes so I don’t forget anything between sessions. The fewer areas you keep your notes, the easier it will be to find them so keep your notes organized!
Exposure to New Ideas
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel but you can make that wheel extra fancy with gold trim and the whole bit!
In my opinion, one of the best ways to stay inspired as a Game Master (or in any creative field) is to make sure that you are constantly exposing yourself to new and exciting ideas. Always make sure you are reading. They say the best writers are those that are constantly reading but I would venture to say that the best creators are those who are constantly reading, whether that be creators of film or music or books or campaigns. For a Game Master, the descriptions in the books you read will help you with your own descriptions of landscapes, rooms, and people. Learning to and creating good descriptions will in turn help your players with their immersion. Personally, I read quite a bit but I also get lots of ideas from movies and video games, especially open-world RPG games. Sometimes I watch a movie or play a game specifically for inspiration, and when that is the case, I always make sure to take notes. What you read or watch doesn’t have to be fiction either. I read a ton of articles on how people are running their games and I find this is great for my personal inspiration. Gnome Stew and Sly Flourish are great resources here. I also am a member of several Game Mastering and Roll20 Facebook Groups and I keep up on them constantly to see the newest innovations that people are doing with the platform and with D&D. The simple fact is that you can’t come up with every new idea. But what you can do is to try to find inspiration from what other GMs are doing and put your own special spin on it. Truly own it and make it your own. [For example, I started watching Critical Role because clearly Matt Mercer is doing something right and I want to see what it is.] You don’t have to reinvent the wheel but you can make that wheel extra fancy with gold trim and the whole bit!
Final Thoughts
The big take away is to be consistent, take notes, stay organized, and look for inspiration in new and exciting places.
The big take away is to be consistent, take notes, stay organized, and look for inspiration in new and exciting places. Keep up on the latest trends of how other Game Masters are doing things. Study how they do voices, how they describe monsters, and how they set the scene. When you are researching the newest trends, ask yourself how you can make use of the latest breakthroughs in Game Master practices and technology. When you are reading or watching tv, ask yourself how does the plot move along, how is combat described, and how do they show character growth? Consistently looking for inspiration and learning from others will make you a better Game Master. I guarantee it.
Take Heart!
Karington Hess
Game Master and Founder of Open Heart Games
