"I mused for a few moments on the question of which was worse, to lead a life so boring that you are easily enchanted, or a life so full of stimulus that you are easily bored." Bill Bryson, 'Lost Continent'.

But which is more conducive to writing poetry?

The first, undoubtedly! Describes my life to a tee! ;-)

I am never bored, but often dream of being.

Are yes, but are you easily enchanted?

hmm, easily enchanted? yes, I believe I am. I think that, to write enchanting poetry, you need to be able to find enchantment in the quotidian existence. n'est-ce pas?

I'm never bored, and easily enchanted. I would really like to be able to say: I'm never boring and quite enchanting.

I'm not sure I fully get the question.

I am often bored. I have tons of jobs to do - tons of books I could read - the problem lies with me - a certain restlessness of personality. The feeling that I want to be doing something different to all the things on offer. I call that boredom, but possibly it's something else. Does that restlessness inspire me to write poetry? No - not that I'm aware of.

I can totally identify with restlessness of personality. I always feel like I should be doing something constructive... so to satisfy that need - I constantly set up new challenges!

Hmph - doing something constructive involves work - I do enough of that. I want to do things that are fun and bring personal satisfaction - one has to live a life style that permits that kind of freedom though.

I do enjoy the challenge of writing poetry. It is hard to do that surrounded by chaos and jobs though. I spend most of the time jotting odd lines down for ideas I have which need working on - waiting for that window of opportunity when I can get it all together.

I think maybe I'm both - easily bored and easily enchanted, although I don't know whether either of them is more conducive to writing.

If I'm honest it's probably extremes of mood that provoke me to write, perhaps that's when the senses are most heightened. If I'm doing something repetitious for a long time (obviously something that doesn't require 100% concentration) that also seems to help. Part of my brain goes into autopilot and the rest goes elsewhere - usually fantasyland. (Yeh OK, I admit, they're both very small parts of a very small brain!) I don't know if that's anything to to with rhythm/repetition, like walking for instance.

I don't think I could say for definite that either state is more conducive, but I think I need both states equally.

Regards,
A.E.

Thinking of what Izz wrote, did anyone else catch the first of the series on Churchill's 'hinterland' (non-political life) on Radio 4 today?

He was very driven - something which initially was a suprise but then it partially explained how much he managed to achieve. He would reflect on his day before sleeping and if he had, say, dictated 2000 words and laid 200 bricks, and worked on a painting then he was happy. He was OK with himself as long as he had something to show for his day.

Of course, Churchill was surrounded by servants.....

I am a dabbler,can also do two three things at once, but always able to stop when inspired often by what I am dabbling in.