Tonight is another Writers’ Night Out meeting, and my rewrite of Wrecked seems to have run aground. I know there’s no substitute for sitting-butt-in-chair, but this week, I’m going to fire up some of my favorite YouTube writing talks from Jim Butcher, and see if that helps push my writing inspiration off into deep waters again.
What are some of your favorite ways to inspire your muse? What do you do when your writing grinds to a halt? Please shout out in the comment section below with your favorite tips and tricks.
Oh, and be sure to stop back in at the end of the week, when I’ll have New Hampshire crime writer J E Seymour taking over the reins for Fandom Friday. She’s also the guest blogger today over on Imaginary Friends: The Adventures of a Writer With a Day Job with a post about editing. Be sure to check it out!
Sometimes I do the opposite of butt-in-chair. I get my butt out into the world and have an adventure. Then come back to the chair to write about it.
Excellent point, Lori!
For me, right at the moment, butt-in-chair is the only thing that is working. Though maybe turning-off-the-internet would help too!
Mali, I think I’m going to have to add the turning-off-the-internet thing too!
Reading. Reading certain things to get myself into certain moods. But it’s mostly the act of plodding away day after day. I find that if I take a break, it’s hard for me to get back into things.
Funny you should say that about reading, Mel. This morning, I decided that tomorrow (crazy busy today), I will reread the opening chapters of a couple of my favorite books, in the hopes of getting me in the right frame of mind to rewrite my opening chapter. And yes, consistency is key for me as well.
Locking away my phone and its evil distraction, sitting butt in the chair, going out in the garden to weed. Weeding is great because your hands are busy but your mind can wander to all kinds of great places.
I hear you on the weeding, Jess – washing dishes works the same way for me.