Goodreads asked Ray Blasing:

How do you get inspired to write?

Ray Blasing Inspiration, for me, usually arrives the moment I read something that matters. A well-argued article, a deeply flawed argument, a powerful story, or even a glancing comment can spark an idea that expands into something larger—an angle worth exploring, a truth worth surfacing, or a nuance that deserves daylight. That’s often the genesis of my Substack pieces: one stimulus that cascades into a broader conversation I feel compelled to contribute to.

I keep an ongoing log of ideas—possible essays, possible chapters, and even possible future books—because the world today offers no shortage of problems, questions, and teachable moments. We live in what I jokingly call a target-rich environment for writers who care about ethics, leadership, truth, and the direction of the country. The challenge isn’t finding something to write about; it’s filtering among the many possibilities so my time and energy land on pursuits that genuinely matter.

It also helps that I truly enjoy writing. The act itself—the shaping of ideas, the clarity that emerges through language—feels like a creative calling. And now, in retirement, I’m fortunate to have the space to follow that impulse.

My bigger challenge is the opposite of writer’s block: avoiding the gravitational pull of the writing vortex. When inspiration hits, I can easily disappear into it for hours or days. So part of my discipline now is remembering to lift my head, step away from the keyboard, and spend time with the people and experiences that make life rich. Balance is its own craft.

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