Having read numerous comments in the blog section from many different poets here on WOL, one thing keeps recurring and that is "how do the words come"?

Inspiration (often called the muse by many of us) may come in many different ways. Why not share some of your channels of inspiration on here to help other poets!

I agree with Colin. Some themes that interest the writer can influence him/her in that moment, yet the writer can as well be influenced by the situations they are seeing or living in.

I find my words lying about on the sofa, thinking about doing the washing-up and not quite getting round to it.

I find my words on the side of shop windows, looking at clothes they can't afford.

I find my words obsessively doing Sudoku in the café.

I find my words down back alleys, beating themselves up with false axioms and misprisions.

I find my words lined up at the Job Centre, trying not to get themselves sanctioned for not applying for 100 jobs that week.

I find my words taking long walks round the dark back roads of other people's imagination.

I find my words mumbling in the middle of the night.

I find my words occupying the spaces where philosophers fear to tread.

I find my words meeting me at the crossroads with the price of a soul in their back pockets.

I find my words in the emptiness between speech and silence.

I find my words making origami animals in the community centre for lack of anything better to do.

I find my words running from spreadsheets trying to figure out the value of everything and the price of nothing.

I find my words. Or they find me.

Rhyming dictionary.

Steven, that ought to be put in the blog section.

Words come when there's a lack of action. as a young writer, I have a hard time allowing my actions to speak louder than my words because my words are all I have. My words stem from my emotion. when you have so much emotion just spilling from you, finding words to describe them can either be the easiest thing to do or the most difficult. my inspiration stems from my past and from everything beautiful and tragic all around me.

my advice for people who are looking for inspiration would be to try and step out of your comfort zone and write about something you would never right about. or just listen to what your heart is screaming. also be aware of your surroundings. a simple coffee shop could lead to your next big piece.