Todays post is part of a blog hop created on a writers group I use on Facebook. You can find the details and the link on Gladiators Pen.
It’s a monthly blog hop, on the second Tuesday, where a different topic is suggested each month and participants can write a post, however they see fit, on that particular subject. This months subject is inspiration.
So, what do I have to say about inspiration? I suppose it is something that is personal to all of us. We as people, tend to be pretty different to each other and we work in completely different ways.
We learn in different ways and this is shown by the Flemings VAK/VARK model which suggests there are four ways of learning;
- Visual Learners who prefer to see images and diagrams
- Auditory learners, who prefer to be told how to do something
- Read/Write learners who does what it says on the tin and,
- Kinesthetic /Tactile learners who need to learn hands on.
Eden Baylee says
Great post, I'm definitely a Visual learner and a Kinesthetic /Tactile learner as well.I'm one of those who never reads the instructions and tries to figure stuff out, even though I know reading could save me a bit of time…oh, maybe that's just an impatient learning style! eden
Sarah Pearson says
I have to read (and write notes) and then do, so I guess that makes me 3/4.And you're right, the only thing you can expect people to do is the unexpected 🙂
kkoning78 says
I am definitely a visual and kinesthetic learner. So true that everyone has different learning patterns and therefore different behaviour patterns. Great angle on inspiration…definitely gives one food for thought.-Kim
clarekirkpatrick says
Thanks for this – it's really interesting 🙂
Rebecca Bradley says
Eden – Thank you. I hate trying to read instructions, but would end up with an upside down table if I didn't!Sarah – you're right. It's rare that people just act as you think they should, so as writers we need to understand that. It's a good reminder post for myself this one. :)Kim – Thank you. I'm not sure where the idea came from, I was up late and it was one of those things that just came into my head. It then flowed quite nicely. Thanks for stopping by.Clare – I'm glad you enjoyed it.
alberta ross says
Very interesting – I think I am everything except 2 -I hate being told what to do!- I learn quite well from pictures and diagrams and certainly books are where I head first if I want to learn something new – so a mixture of them all
Bish Denham says
Good post. Although I'm quite visual, I'm definitely an audio/tactile learner. Tell me how to do something and let me get my hands going at the same time and I'm much more likely to understand/learn/remember it. Being dyslexic this was something my mom figured out on her own. Like when it came to spelling, if she spelled a word out loud to me and I said it out loud and wrote it down at the same time I was much more likely to remember how to spell it later on. Which leads to visual…I can often tell when a word doesn't *look* right, which is a good signal for me to look it up.
Ranae Rose says
Interesting idea. I'm a tactile learner. If someone tells me how to do something, it's alarmingly likely to go in one ear and out the other. But if they walk me through it hands-on, that I'll remember!
Rebecca Bradley says
Alberta – I'm with you there. I really hate being told what to do! :)Bish – I think a lot of people mix the learning styles. It's about what works best for you. It obviously worked well for you with dyslexia. I hope it's something teachers do consider when teaching kids that have difficulties with the way they are being taught.Ranae – Absolutely. I can't just be told. If someone is telling me directions, I just look at them with a blank look on my face and I get very frustrated. Give me a drawn map or even better a sat nav, I can get anywhere!
Elise says
Great post! I'm very visual and tactile myself. I find things that fill my senses inspire me the most. 🙂
Patti Larsen says
Rebecca, this is awesome! I usually go about examining inspiration from a creative POV but the analytical way is very interesting…
Katie says
Great take on Inspiration! I would have to say I learn with a combination of all four types. I can't learn different things the same way. Every learning experience I have is different and requires different ways of learning.Thanks for a great post! It was definately "inspiring"!
Arlee Bird says
I like to have a combination of all learning methods to learn best. It's kind of like opening up all of the senses to make written scenes come to life.LeeTossing It Out
Rebecca Bradley says
Elise – Thank you. That seems to be the common response through out with the creative types on here doesn't it.Patti – Thank you. I'm not sure where the idea sprang from. I wrote it late, in the middle of the night (UK time) and it was just there. Sometimes we just have to let these things flow don't we :)Katie – I'm glad you liked it. That's quite a good point. I suppose it does depend on what it is we are actually trying to learn.Arlee – A good point. Sometimes I don't think we use all the sense enough. I know I can be taken back to a place in time, in an instant with a smell. It's about knowing these things about people and the more we know, the more real our characters can become.
Ellie Garratt says
Fascinating post. I'd say I'm a mixture of number one and four. Visual prompts are great for inspiring me, and I definitely learn new things through doing them.Great post!Ellie Garratt
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Ellie – It's all about the way in which we take the world in isn't it and we're all individual. It's what makes us a never ending supply of inspiration for books 🙂
Ruchiraa says
I like how you make it so scientific and analytical.i think I get more of my inspiration via reading.
Rebecca Bradley says
Ruchiaraa – I also love to read and have recently broadened my reading horizons.