Finding Inspiration in Unlikely Places

A few weeks ago, I came across a movie I’d only seen once and was thrilled to find again. Unfortunately, most people I know have never heard of it. The film is called The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio, and is based on Terry Ryan’s memoir of the same name. Ryan was one of 10 children growing up in the 1950’s. Her mother, Evelyn (played by Julianne Moore) used her wit and love of words to enter and win contests, thus supporting her large family. Woody Harrelson is the family patriarch, Kelly Ryan. Let's just say he's not the most reliable provider.

Contesting was hugely popular in the 1950’s and ‘60’s. Mrs. Ryan won everything from a pony to roller skates to a deep chest freezer. In a major win for a new commercial jingle, she won $25,000 and an all-expenses paid trip to New York City, although her son's name was on the entry). To give one example of Mrs. Ryan’s ingenuity—she was $2 behind on payments to the milk man. On the same day the milk man came to collect what was owed, Mrs. Ryan opened her mail and discovered she’d won $2 in a poetry contest. Debt paid. The film—and, I imagine, the family’s very existence—was full of moments like this.

The film always stuck with me. I admired Mrs. Ryan’s cleverness and creative problem-solving skills. The film is also a great example of how, sometimes, a deadline forces inspiration along. Few writers have the luxury of waiting for divine intervention (in whatever form that looks like for you) to grant us exactly the right idea, or words, at the right time. Usually, writing regularly is the ticket to keeping the words flowing. But even the most prolific writers have their off days and dry spells. Like Mrs. Ryan, writers don’t have time to wait around for the “right” time to feel inspired. We have deadlines to meet, clients to satisfy, bills to pay, mouths to feed. Waiting for The Muse to knock on the door just isn’t practical for working writers.

Finding the right words to best tell a story, or simply finish a thought, is a challenge all on its own. Take a tagline, for instance. Writing a short, punchy phrase that summarizes a company or product in a few words takes as much brainstorming and collaborating as any other full-scale writing project. It’s worth it, though. Think of how many taglines or “jingles” you have filed away in your subconscious. I bet it didn’t take long to think of at least one. (The catchiest of them all remain earworms, like it or not). For that, thank a writer!

For an emotional boost or dose of inspiration, check out The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio. If a busy mother of 10 can support her family with words, let that be a motivator for the rest of us.

Besides bills and deadlines, how do you stay motivated?