The blank page can be decidedly taunting... and simultaneously thrilling. It can be all too easy to slip into the guise of the tortured artist, shrugging off tasks with the excuse of a bad case of writer's block or the inability to do something original. Fact is, being a creative is bloody hard work. Not as glamorous and carefree as the suits would like to think (no, it's not just about playing foosball and cackling hysterically while "concepting"). Inspiration isn't something that simply strikes most times. It needs to be sought out.

Interning in Europe taught me a great number of valuable lessons, but strong strategic thinking that speaks to a human truth in a succinct and surprising way wasn't the least of it. My mentors would guide me. "Go out," they urged. "See the world. Sometimes the best ideas come from spending a day in the sunshine, or going to a gallery, or simply walking into a toy shop at 3 pm on a Tuesday afternoon." Ideas don't happen while you're sitting at a desk, pulling your hair out and staring at that daunting blank page with bloodshot eyes and a belly full of caffeine. They happen when you least expect them to strike... and take hold of you completely.

Working as a creative requires the ability to come of with hundreds of ideas daily. To do that, one must compile inspiration from a number of places. It doesn’t always come from watching TV and waiting for the next great 30 second revelation. You have to actively keep yourself stimulated and aware of things that people are talking about.

My first year in NY has been thrilling and sobering, here is a list of things that keep me intrigued/ struck my fancy.

Gondry’s sweded trailer for “Be Kind Please Rewind” and his subsequent interactive installation show at the Deitch gallery. He created a group of mini-sets within the gallery space for visitors to book 1-2 sessions in to film their own sweded (or original) movies. Genius, no? Gondry has one of the most innovative minds period. He manages to combine childlike humor with a fine visual style and universal themes that appeal to just about anyone with a heart or brain.

The book Mortified (and Post Secret). The overall idea that we love to sneak into the minds of others, to watch strangers reveal the skeletons in their proverbial closets to unwitting readers and audiences astounds me. I believe that great, compelling ideas should come from a place where we embrace the sticky, nasty, uncomfortable flotsam of life with humor and sensibility, without the glossy sheen that makes humanity more palatable. Please. What's genuine or compelling about that?

We sneak into strangers' conversations, too.   Overheard in NY always manages to give me oddly humorous insight into the lives of New Yorkers

Designer Mike Perry- all I want is his book HAND JOB: a collection  of handwritten type. It's a great contrast to the all too cool & clinical design we see too much in the interactive space. 

Flickr- searching random words/ terms always jumpstarts my brain and helps me visualize my ideas.

The movie, HELVETICA. Hey, just because I’m a copywriter doesn’t mean I don’t get giddy about type. A must see for anyone interested in visual identity, advertising, design, art, the sociology of commercialism.

Copywriting is all about being concise, and I've found that certain exercises help. Like writing answers to questions in 50 words or less posed by Common Ties. Setting those kinds of clear boundaries allows me to choose my words very carefully, and the answers always wind up being quite poignant.

The uppcoming release from Portishead (I’ve only been waiting for 10 years) and the fact that there will be a Coachella on the East coast this fall (that, coincidentally Portishead will be headlining). Music is one of the best tools to have in a creative's toolbox. It not only keeps us motivated and positive, but can spur some big ideas. Like my next example...

Great band (Arcade Fire), great album (Neon Bible), great simple interactive site. 

Fact is, inspiration is everywhere. If you know where to look.