Science
I have a PhD in psychology and worked as a research scientist for several years. What fascinates and inspires me is the common ground between art and science: both are interested in fundamental questions about the world, and both are ultimately aimed at understanding and explaining these issues, albeit using very different sets of tools.
Juliet Conlin by Annette Koroll
I live in Berlin
With its low rents and costs of living, Berlin is a haven for artists. Here, I can go to a concert by the world’s best philharmonic orchestra one evening, and open mic readings in artist collectives’ squats the next. Due to its eventful history, the place is infused with a gritty restlessness and experimental spirit that is truly inspiring.
Nature
I love nature, because it is the exact opposite of art. I try and spend as much time as I can in natural environments, because it is both humbling and inspiring to know that nature was here before me and will (hopefully) be here long after I’ve gone.
I have number form synaesthesia
In my brain, numbers are more than their value, they have very distinct properties. Odd numbers are round and soft, and even numbers are sharp and slightly unpleasant. I also perceive numbers in three-dimensional space. I like to think of it as my brain making weird, creative connections.
I used to hate opera …
… until my son became a classical singer. I found it loud, over-dramatic and slightly hammy. But through the eyes of my son, I learned to appreciate the exquisite storytelling of opera, and can now only wonder at the almost super-human, organic sounds that the human body can produce.
Lists
It may sound strange to be inspired by lists, but unless you are independently wealthy, you probably have other things to accomplish during your day, e.g. your day job, the school run, housework etc. I find it very liberating to tick chores off my list, freeing up valuable time and mental space for my creative writing.
I am bilingual
I am a native speaker of English and German. Having access to two different languages is a great asset, especially as a writer. If I can’t find the right word in one language, I’ll switch to the other and work my way back, and am amazed at how malleable a language can be.
Getting out of the comfort zone
Like everyone, I have preferences for certain types of music, books, climates and foods. But it can really get the creative juices flowing when I break out of my comfortable habits – by hitting the nightlife at 2 am, listening to Indonesian folk music, talking to strangers on the bus – to let in new information and insights.
My children
I have four children, who inspire my creativity two-fold. On the one hand, children’s imaginations are far less constrained than adults’ about what is ‘true’ (why shouldn’t a tree be purple?). But being a parent itself also requires a high level of creativity: ‘veggie-faces’ on their plates to get them to eat their greens, inventing comforting stories to get them to sleep, or to take their fears away about monsters under the bed.
Finally, I let my brain rest
Well, this is probably just an excuse to watch bad TV shows! But I find it important to take regular ‘brain’ breaks, to switch off and not worry about finding the right plot line, the right character trait or the right twist to my story.
