Divine Inspiration

Not surprisingly, I am procrastinating. It's hard to get work done because the only thing that can really force me to be productive is when a paper is due the next day, reinforced by the growing urge to fall asleep. As neither of these conditions is present at the moment, I'm trying to do everything other than work.

In that spirit, I'm wondering what motivates people to do things. I mean I only "work" when I have to. But I also only do things I enjoy when I have too. In my insufferable creative writing class, all of the students walk around with their notebooks, jotting things down, writing awful poems (that they think are brilliant), documenting their thoughts. I've never thought or felt anything that pressing that I was compelled to document it (either in writing, in a song,  in a piece of art, etc.) Which is why I have tons of blank Moleskine notebooks. I feel like one of the few people that can read something, or look at a piece of art and literally not think a thing. My mind will be a complete blank. Often in those situations there is someone near by who needs feedback, so I have to jump start my brain and I'll tell myself "Quick, start thinking something!!" Does this happen to you? 

This dilemma has been put into sharp focus because 1) I have a final portfolio for Creative Writing due on thursday, and have yet to execute a poem I'm even slightly pleased with; and 2) my roommate's band is rehearsing in the living room, and I see all of their notes and lyrics and I wonder where they come from. I'm starting to worry that I simply lack the imagination to create something from scratch. 

I frequently think about some of my heroes (Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant) and how they are able to develop so much about a character and communicate so much to the audience with a simple gesture. How do they do it? How does someone create The Office? It is mind-blowing. Just the simple act of Brent straightening his tie, or his smile/grimace--there is so much nuance and genius in it...It boggles the mind. I'm not even aiming that high really. I'm not expecting to make something like the office, or write a song like "Poses"--I just don't want to be a complete hack. Thoughts?