Friday, July 25, 2008

Five Thoughts to Discover Your Writing Inspiration


"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." (Jack London)

Inspiration is all around us. A word, a song, or a picture can propel us forward to greatness.

Today inspiration came to me via Suzanne Lieurance, my writing coach from the Working Writer’s Coach, The National Writing for Children Center and my summer boot camp writing buddy, Lisa H. from Peace and Laughter in the Moment..I think. Job boards are also inspiring because when a job speaks to you, a slew of ideas begin to cascade through your head and you can’t wait to write them down and submit.

Consider using one or all of these five approaches to find your inspiration.

1. Music is a major source of inspiration. Listen to your favorite music when relaxing and ideas will come like a waterfall.

2. Free writing creates moments of the muse. You may be stuck on a topic and your writing is reflecting boredom. Even if you have to write the same words over and over keep doing it and before you know it your creative power is unleashed and you have a novel, article or EBook.

3. Next is reading. Great minds do travel in the same dimension. Get out a favorite book that is close to your own niche and read away.

4. Carry a small personal recorder in your purse or pocket. Now if you are in the shower that may be a little difficult. Dry off your writing hand and use the pen and paper that is laying on the bathroom vanity. Or run dripping wet to the computer and type it in.

5. Go to the park if you are feeling stuck. This is a wonderful chance to practice meditation and prepare your mind to receive great thoughts.

I like to take bike rides early mornings so I can "hear" the quite and "see" the Forrest with out the trees. Where are you when brilliant ideas pop in your head?


Write it down,

Carma

4 comments:

  1. Hi Carma,

    I find some of the best ideas come to me when I am doing something not related to writing at all - say cooking or in the yard with the dog, or playing with my grandson.

    Sometimes, it is good to remove ourselves from that obstacle that might be blocking the thought process.

    Great post,
    Judy
    http://www.localfoodconnections.com

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  2. Hi Carma,

    I'm not having any trouble generating ideas. Just the opposite. I have so many ideas for articles or queries that I don't know where to begin! And I'm finding that spending all this time on the internet is keeping me from writing. Any suggestions?

    Theresa
    Stress-FreeParent.blogspot.com
    http://buzz. Prevention.com/communities.category/stressfreemom

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey Judy you are right. Sometimes you have to step outside of your circle, self or focus and let your brain do the work and soon ideas will be flowing in.

    Thanks for stopping by.

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  4. Hi Theresa, Boy do I understand what you are saying. The internet can be over stimulating and time consuming.

    Do you hand write? Turn off the computer and take out your pen or pencil. Start writing. Don't go on the internet everyday and when you do go on reserve a certain amount of time for comments and research.

    I have run into the same problem. It is so easy to get off track. I have arthritis in my right hand and hand writing can be painful if I do it too long but typing does not bother me so I have to turn on the computer all the time. If I keep the internet window and outlook closed, I am not so tempted to spend too much time looking around and answering and reading emails.

    I also use my favorites center to save sites I want to come back to later. Not just the ones I like to visit regularly. This will save some time from looking around. When you see a site you really want to explore, just save it for later.

    Also I am discovering that writing is a busy, busy, business as Suzanne has said.

    Carma

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