Finding Your Writing Inspiration

Have you ever sat down to write and just can't seem to find the words? Nothing comes to mind no matter how hard to try to think of something to write. In ancient times when philosophers or mathematicians or writers could not come up with the next advance for their times, they blamed "the muse". The muse was this mythical entity that granted all inspiration. Shakespeare often references female lovers as muses. So, you sit down to write... and the muse is on coffee break.

So, should inspiration not be knocking at your door the exact moment you decide to write, here are some quick ways to get it going.

Wander.
Well, your mind that is. Let your mind wander. Loosen up, don't focus so hard on getting words onto paper. Find when and where you do your best thinking or dreaming. Some people do best early in the morning and some are night owls that focus best after the sun sets. Find your perfect location to think. It might be on the back porch in the sun or under the covers with a cup of tea. Where ever you are most comfortable is where you should be to let your mind wander. Once you're able to loosen up, you'll be able to start writing.

Just write.
Some people find that letting their mind wander simply doesn't work as well. They get too distracted and sometimes end up thinking about obligations they have for the day or errands they need to run. For these people, just getting words onto paper can be enough to get them going. So, start writing. Write absolutely whatever comes to mind. A to-do list, a conversation you've been thinking about, a confrontation you've been preparing for. Just keep writing, even if you end up repeating the same word two-hundred times. Many times, once you get started it's hard to stop.

Read.
Read an article. Surf the web. Pick up your favorite book. Many times ideas are inspired from other authors. Articles are especially helpful because usually the authors do not have the length or time to cover all aspects and points of an issue or idea. Expand on their article and explore an area that they just touched on but did not delve into.

Go for a run.
Sometimes genius can come out of complete physical exhaustion. So go for a run, ride your bike, swim a couple miles and see what kind of ideas come. This is actually another way of loosening up. Once you're exhausted you really can't focus on distractions.

So, here are some ideas for getting started. Make use of them.