The Algorithm's Gift: Finding My Muse in the Depths of YouTube

Writer’s Block? Or Something Different?

Writer’s block and what I like to call creative stagnation are often—not always in so many words—used interchangeably. In reality, they are quite different.It's easy to mix up writer's block and creative stagnation, but they're not quite the same thing. Writer's block is usually a temporary hiccup in your writing process, like hitting a wall where you can't come up with ideas or put your thoughts into words. Creative stagnation is more of a long-term funk, where you feel like your creative juices have run dry and you're just stuck. Writer's block is like a minor roadblock, while creative stagnation feels more like a major detour.

What causes these issues? Writer's block often pops up because of stress, nerves, or even just a severe case of self-doubt. Sometimes it's external things like deadlines or not having any new ideas. Creative stagnation, though, comes from deeper issues like losing your motivation, being afraid to fail, or feeling like you're stuck in a creative rut. To get past writer's block, you might just need a break, a change of scenery, or to try some free writing. But to get out of creative stagnation, you might need to really change how you're thinking, be willing to experiment, and attempt to boost your creativity.

While they're different, writer's block and creative stagnation can also be linked. If you have writer's block for too long, it can turn into creative stagnation because feeling like you can't write can make you doubt yourself. And if you're already feeling creatively stagnant, it can make it even harder to start or finish a writing project, leading to writer's block. Knowing the difference between the two is really important if you want to deal with creative challenges and keep your creative work going strong.

Until recently, I found myself afflicted with a bout of what I refer to as creative stagnation. While writer’s block is a state in which the words don’t come at all, creative stagnation is a state in which the words come but don’t feel right in your mind. The one thing they have in common is their roots. They are both rooted in self-doubt. Thankfully, self-doubt only hangs around for a short time when you have inspiration all around you.

Every writer, while writing every piece they’ve ever written, has had that one moment where they stare at the blank document and wonder if they are in the right profession, if they have any talent at all. It happens to me regularly. It’s happening to me right now as I write this. I, however, have another reason to doubt myself, even if it ends up being mostly subconscious.

I try not to talk too much about my lifelong battle with cerebral palsy; I did that a little too much in the first blog I ever wrote, and this is my way of reinventing that image. It is relevant in this context, however, because it causes an extra layer of self-doubt that while on the surface I know it isn’t warranted, is hard to push out of my mind. The physical aspects are one thing. They don’t affect my ability to write since it is done in a seated position. The problem is the stigma surrounding the effects of this disability on a person’s mental faculties. I would love to say I dodged that metaphorical bullet, but sometimes I wonder. Like with the physical aspect, I know deep down that few people could tell just by my writing style and the way I structure my ideas that I have some sort of condition. Even knowing that, I wonder if anyone will ever read what I write. This worry is further exacerbated knowing that I know people in my life look at me differently, even when they say they don’t, because of the condition. Thanks to boredom and my good fortune with the YouTube algorithm, however, I found there are other reasons for the lack of initial success and it’s easier to fix than I was allowing myself to believe. It turned out that the solution was right in front of me.

Jumping Down the Rabbit Hole: Finding Inspiration in the YouTube Algorithm

I’ve been subscribed to Joe Van Cleave on YouTube since November 2023. I’m not sure why it took this long for my brain to make this connection, but I was watching one of Joe’s videos the other day, which I believe had something to do with finding your creative flow as a writer, and it got me thinking. 

“This video was uploaded almost ten years ago,” I thought to myself. That small, innocuous thought spurred me on to create what you’re reading today. In that video, Joe unknowingly showed me the power of dedication to the craft and perseverance when seeking creative fulfillment and success. In the event he reads this piece, I’d like to thank Joe for his engaging content and wish him well for the future. 

I’ve been a fan of Stephen King and his work for many years now. What began with a curious first reading of “Dreamcatcher” when I found it in the spare bedroom of my great aunt’s apartment when I was in high school has grown into a healthy obsession based on the respect I have for the man and what he does. He has inspired a lot of my fiction writing, most of which has not been seen by anyone to this point. His book, “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft has also stuck with me. One of my favorite quotes from that book is about what writing is about for us writers. It’s about finding happiness in what we do, and finding stories in everyday life. His story about how he discovered his love for books and fulfilling his desire to write them inspired me to go on my journey. Along the way, King has spoken to many groups, and some of those videos have ended up on Youtube. The last video I watched, which was recorded at Politics and Prose in Washington DC, left me with more unexpected inspiration.

During his talk in DC, King told the story that led him to write “Cujo” in which he took his motorcycle to a man to be fixed and was greeted by the man and his enormous St. Bernard. Apparently, “Buster” didn’t like Steve’s face, as evidenced by the growl and attempted springing of his haunches, which was stopped by a socket wrench in the mechanic’s hand. From this quite ordinary encounter, “Cujo” was born. Again, I was silently wondering why it took me until this rabbit hole YouTube session to understand this concept, but better late than never, I suppose.

I’m not sure if I should thank Steve or Joe for this, but after that YouTube session, I was inspired to write again, and it started with what you’re reading today. Joe inspired me to continue to create and have patience that the right people will find me. Mr. King reminded me how many of the best stories out there came from ordinary situations combined with unusual changes in circumstances. So I guess they both deserve some thanks, for they have both inspired me to continue to put my words on paper and eventually out into the world, and they’ve taught me to look for inspiration everywhere instead of waiting for it to find me.

Sometimes Inspiration Finds You

One of my favorite story ideas that started with a seemingly normal situation was one that I am still working on. Essentially, it involves a retired police detective on vacation to celebrate his retirement, only to hear the call of public service in his head once again when a body is discovered in the cabin down the way from his own when the proprietor of the resort was investigating a strange odor that was reported.

That story came to me fairly quickly. Like the gentle knock of opportunity, this idea would live—rent free, as people say now—in my head for about a month. I didn’t act on it because inspiration like that was so unexpected, but it’s a fun story to tell, anyway. Essentially, the cabin that I was supposed to stay in last summer, along with my sister- and brother-in-law’s cabin next door, was closed off and made unavailable because of an odor that was believed to be coming from the fish cleaning house below. There was a joke circulating around the resort that there was a dead body down there. Being the creative soul that I am, my first instinct was to ask myself, “What if there were a dead body down there?” That, in its purest form is, exactly what I’m talking about when I say inspiration finds you, and you should never ignore it.

Hindsight tells me I should have written that story then and there, but using more of the advice I gleaned from Stephen King, I let the idea sit for a while, see if it would stick around or fall out of the proverbial strainer—that was in the Politics and Prose video too in some form. Though it has gone through a few changes between then and now, the core idea has not left me. I have many projects in the works—ADHD is not my friend in that way—but this one will find its way into manuscript form at some point in the near future, and I’m certain it will be the first of many.

Inspiration can truly come from anywhere. Sometimes it comes in times and places where we least expect it. I can come when you take your motorcycle to the mechanic, from a dream on a plane, or even from a YouTube video that sends you down a rabbit hole and inspires you to step outside your comfort zone. Inspiration can come from all around us, and it’s up to us to decide what to do with it.

When your goal is to make an income from your writing, you can’t afford to wait for inspiration to strike you. As Steve Jobs famously said, “Real artists ship.” I can’t say I’ve always followed this rule, but what that quote means to me is, as writers and creators, we have to go to the post every day, just like you would at any other job, regardless of inspiration or lack thereof. I bring that up because that quote was brought to my attention in being a creator when I watched a video from another exceptional creator, Damon DiMarco. I’ll link his YouTube channel here for anyone who wants to check out his content. He is a screenwriter who creates using older technology, much like Joe Van Cleave. If you like screenplays and typewriters, check out Damon’s content. You won’t be disappointed.

Creating New Experiences: Stepping Beyond Your Comfort Zone

One key I’ve found to having success as a creator is always being open to new experiences, whether that be food, new places to write within your house—or your local restaurant or coffee shop, for that matter, or even travel. I’ll take one more cue from the great Stephen King. His book, “Misery” was inspired by a dream he had while sleeping on a plane to London that involved a writer and their number one fan. When King and his wife Tabitha arrived at the Brown’s Hotel in London, he asked the person at the front desk if there was somewhere he could go to write. He pointed him to an old desk that happened to belong to Rudyard Kipling and King wrote the first draft of “Misery.” I’ve experienced some of this in my lake trips, which you can read about in one of my other articles, but I’ve never traveled to that extent. I’d like to, I just haven’t yet. Someday though, I’d like to do some extensive travelling.

Where do you find inspiration in everyday life? Do you travel? Interact with different people regularly? Or do you jump down YouTube and internet rabbit holes as I do? Leave me a comment and let me know where your inspiration comes from. Thanks for stopping by. Remember that inspiration is all around us and make every day a creative one. Inspiration can be found in the most unexpected corners of our lives. It's not confined to exotic travels or profound interactions; it's woven into the fabric of our everyday experiences.

Final Thoughts

Take a moment to reflect on your own sources of inspiration. Perhaps you find it in the vibrant hues of a sunrise, the soothing melody of a bird's song, or the infectious laughter of a child. Maybe you're inspired by the resilience of the human spirit, the beauty of nature, or the power of art.

For many of us, the internet has become a vast reservoir of inspiration. We can explore distant lands, delve into fascinating subjects, and connect with people from all walks of life with just a few clicks. YouTube, with its endless array of videos, can be a rich source of inspiration.

Whether you're watching a TED Talk, a documentary, a music video, or a DIY tutorial, you're bound to come across something that sparks your creativity. So next time you're feeling uninspired, don't hesitate to jump down a YouTube rabbit hole. You never know what you might find.

Remember, inspiration is all around us. It's in the mundane and the extraordinary, the simple and the complex. All we have to do is open our eyes and our minds to it. So make every day a creative one. Seek inspiration in the world around you, and let it fuel your passions and your dreams.