The greatest opening line ever written is found on page 1 of William Gibson's Neuromancer.

"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel."

I've read novels that I've enjoyed more, but no opening line has stuck with me as much as that one. In a single line, Gibson conjures a melancholy, lonely feeling, familiar yet hinting at something strange. I'll never forget it.

The rest of Neuromancer **is equally impressive as a creative work. Published in 1984, the novel put the entire cyberpunk genre on the map and popularized the term "cyberspace".

The Matrix, Ghost in the Shell, Cyberpunk 2077, Deus Ex and countless other movies, games, books, and fashion trends trace their roots to this book.

There is a ton of raw talent that shows in Gibson's writing - but beyond that, there's a practice that enabled him to come up with the imaginative world in the book. And that practice is the same one that will help you and me when we're feeling uninspired and creatively drained.

It’s a simple habit, but it may be the single most important differentiator between those who create memorable, innovative work, and those who don’t.

Gibson described it as building a "personal micro-culture", but I like to use just one word: exploration.

Today, we'll discuss some ways you can make exploration a more consistent habit in your life.

<aside> 🧐 In case you're interested, this script is part of the following video:

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This is why you don't feel inspired.

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