Artistic inspiration is usually defined as a starting point of any work of art, and the main guideline which leads and steers the artist during the creative process. Though the forms in which artistic inspiration manifests itself to a writer are innumerable, there are three categories within which all these forms of inspiration can be placed. These categories include: inspiration derived from past events and works written by other authors; inspiration originating from the author’s first-hand experiences; and inspiration drawn from the author’s inner struggles, reflections, and contemplations. They are explored in the subsequent analysis, on the examples of William Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, biographical works of Native Americans, and the poetry of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Each of these aforementioned works of literature is unique in its own way, but what is important is that, while analyzing what it was that inspired their authors to write them, the same rules can be applied to all of them. Seeing how very little connection between these examples can be found, as they seemingly do not correlate on any level, testifies to the universality of artistic inspiration which transcends the boundaries of space and time within which we are able to find any logical explanation. Furthermore, in addition to being the main power which drives the writers’ imagination and the main guideline of their thoughts, one other important trait of inspiration is that the understanding of its origins is essential for the understanding of the message a work of literature conveys.