Writers Asylum Forum what inspires you the most?

What inspires or has inspired you to write? I am bipolar and my mania certainly does help to get the process started, but it can also distract me from finishing one project.
I still remember the day I got sent home from work by the store manager, I was pissed off, frightened, and all I could do was think damn I need to write. I recall making this observation, it seems anger and depression feed my mania and makes me the most creative.

Any body else have a muse or something that drives you to write

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I usually set the mood for myself to write. I'm very picky of what music is playing. It can't be too heavy or too slow. I wrote really well to the new Breaking Benjamin CD when I was at my sisters. But I always have to have music playing. TV is too distracting and I can't stand silence. At work tonight I tried to write, but had trouble. They were playing sappy love songs. I can't write horrorish stuff to sappy love songs. In order to get anything done I had to tune the music out. (I work in a restaurant and I was outside on the patio tonight, which meant I had a few hours of nothing to do and no one to wait on.)

Another thing I notice is that I have to have something to drink (non-alcoholic, ie soda, tea, diet green tea, etc.) when I write.

my music is a good motivator for myself as well, it can also help drown out the world and put you in your own bubble, when I have my cd player with me.

I am more likely to get stuff done with the radio on rather than the tv. I just have to force myself to turn off the tv. Music can help with my mania and depression too, I just have to play around with certain music , and it can calm me down, make me less depressed, or get my mind racing. Music is the all around mood enhancer

I also put my cd player on while reading, it helps to drown out the other voices in the room if I am in a public place. Though every time I do it I am always tapped on by some one who cant believe I am listening to music and reading and have to ask why and how I am doing it. Well you cant do it with all music , usually rock, something with a good amount of instrumentals and not a whole hell of a lot of screaming. The instruments help drown out the "outside world".

I used to be able to write with music but not anymore, I just end up tuning it out anyways, and I can find it very distracting. But normal noise doesn't bother me, I write in coffee shops all the time and I just tune out all the sounds. I'd have to say night time inspires me, if i could write in the dark i would. I guess the lack of detailed sight causes my mind be more attentive to other thoughts. Never really had problems for inspiration unless I am sick. I can honestly say I have never experienced full blown writer's block.

I suppose my greatest inspiration comes from what is happening within me. But, more specifically, it is when an outside stimulus triggers something within. Primarily I am a visual person and relate through a visual media. I find that, many times, I turn to words as a means to process, or to make sense of, a stimulus. I am also inspired to write when I am so empassioned that no visual media can suffice. When only the rawness of words can express the emotion.

I find that night time, and pure emotional exhaustion, are the greates triggers, for me. It seems to be the times - consistently, when everything aligns.