Friday, June 1, 2012

5 Tips to Jumpstart that Fickle Friend - Creative Inspiration


I’d like to welcome to my blog Melanie Slaugh.   
A fellow writer, she is enthusiastic about the growing prospects and opportunities of various industries and writing articles on various consumer goods and services as a freelance writer. She is here today to share 5 tips to help you access that ever elusive creative inspiration.
We all strive to create the kind of writing that lures readers in and pulls at their heartstrings, the kind that grips people and makes them feel as though they’re a part of the story that is unfolding, the kind of writing that is born from inspiration
Anyone can put words on a page but not just anyone can write in a way that compels people to keep reading and makes them feel that they are as much a part of the story as the characters themselves. 
However inspiration has a way of coming and going in random intervals, which can be frustrating to writers who are looking at a looming deadline or are desperately wanting to wrap up a piece, start a piece or get through a sagging middle. What do you do when your inspiration seems to be hibernating? 
  1. Get out of the house – Writer’s tend to become enslaved to their computers without even realizing it, logging hours upon hours behind the screen. If you’ve reached a standstill in your writing it might be time to get some fresh air and take a walk. Enjoy the scenery; breathe in the beauty of nature, and let inspiration unfold before you. 
  2. Write something else – If you’re working on a freelance article or trying to finish up a book chapter you might need to take a break and do some personal writing. Pen a poem or update your blog, write for you instead of for your deadline. Take a break from the pressure and write for the joy of writing. It can be just the revitalize you need to get back to the grind and finish up what was previously stalling you.
  3. Cross something off your bucket list – Feeling uninspired could be the result of a lack of inspiring events in your everyday life. Maybe it’s time to finally try out that kickboxing class you’ve been eyeing or to go skydiving for the first time. Do something you’ve always wanted to do but been scared to pursue. Breaking free from a personal barrier may be just the push you need to break free from your inspiration barrier. 
  4. Take the day off – Blow off work for a day and take a personal day. Go to the beach, take yourself on a picnic, or hike a new trail. Sometimes the stress of life can get to be too much and can start to hinder your productivity. Take a breather and let yourself relax. Of course, you can’t do this every time you’re feeling uninspired, but every few months it’s OK to take a day and focus on you.
  5. Fit in a workout – Go for a run or hit the gym for a spin class. Get your heart pumping and blood flowing. When you have a healthy body you have a healthy mind, and doing something positive for yourself can help you clear the cobwebs out of your head and leave you rejuvenated and revived. 
Sometimes all we need to do is change up one thing in our daily routine to find inspiration where it was otherwise lacking. People are creatures of habit, but following the same routine day in and day out can mean we end up stuck in a rut, feeling uninspired and unproductive.   
                            Change, even if it’s minor, sparks creativity, so embrace it. 
I personally have used all of these tips.  I’d love to hear any other ways you find inspiration so                                          Feel free to comment.
Thank you Melanie for this inspirational post.  Melanie Slaugh writes extensively for internet service providers and also topics related to internet providers in my area for presenting the consumers, the information they need to choose the right Internet package for them. She can be reached at slaugh.slaugh907 @ gmail.com.

4 comments:

  1. Finding inspiration is one of the few problems I haven't encountered as a writer ... yet. Of course, having deadlines is good practice for coming up with ideas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right. Deadlines, even self-imposed can be a great kick in the pants for the creative muse. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  2. Such great advice! I'm printing a copy of Melanie's list and taping it to my forehead---well, okay, maybe not my forehead but definitely keeping it close enough to see.
    Thanks for the tips!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for stopping by Sandy, I must add your suggestion of "cutting the lawn" to the list of inspiration tips. (household chores - who knew they could be inspire the muse?) When I think about it I have had some inspiration while vacuuming but never while cleaning the bathrooms. LOL

    ReplyDelete