Friday, January 9, 2015

Day 166...Tips For Getting & Staying Inspired













Welcome to Day 166...

Most of us know that writing is no easy task and one ingredient that you need to start, to stick with, and to finish writing your draft is this necessary but intangible thing we call inspiration.

Websters defines inspiration as a person, place, experience, etc., that makes someone want to do or create something.


So today here are some things you can do to get and stay inspired:


Visualize Your Own Success  

A book signing...a video tour...imagine yourself in the center of a flurry of success

Get Outside

Stop thinking so hard and immerse yourself in the sun, fresh air, and soft breezes.  

Get Outside Of Yourself and Your Writing  

Sometimes you just need a break from you and the project at hand.  Meet a friend for lunch, or go shopping, but stay in tune with the sights, the conversations, and the places around you. You just might find the next idea or character you were looking for.

Set Small Goals

Small being the operable word. Momentum is key when writing.  The best way to build momentum and stay on track is to set small goals.  Success rarely comes in an explosion - instead it's usually built step by step.  

Hit the Pause Button on Negative Thoughts  

You create what you believe.  So keep it positive.

Complete a Mindless Chore

Like laundry, some house cleaning, yard work.  The mind is a funny thing.  I'm a big believer in the power of the Super Brain that will serve up the perfect ideas, plot lines, and dialogue when your busy doing other things and...when you least expect them. 

Plant Inspiration Seeds
Read a book in your genre by another successful author, watch or read interviews with positive and successful people.  

Listen to Your Favorite Songs or Music
Great music can energize and inspire.  Find the tunes that rock your world and plug in.

Watch A Great Old Movie
Dead Ringer, Gone With the Wind, anything by Hitchcock.  Get lost in a great story, one that's executed by great actors and directors.  

Finish What You Started
Sometimes unfinished business is holding us back.  If you have another project or task - like some personal paperwork or emails that need to be returned, get done whatever needs to get done by getting it off your mind or off your desk.

Capitalize on Your Inspiration Triggers and Come Prepared
Start to notice, the times, the places, the events or people that inspire you and then use them to your advantage.  For me it's power walks with my pups or the early morning hours. Inevitably those are the times I get my best ideas.  The ideas are usually so clear and so good, I now try and remember to bring my phone along so I can type out some quick notes 

Build An Inspiration Box
Find a place to store compelling articles or pictures with great stories, personalities or locales.  Anytime you need a little inspiration simply pull out the box and get lost for a while.

Take A Break and Google Your Heart Out
One of my favorite writing breaks (that inevitably get's my inspiration going) is doing on line real estate searches.  I look at beautiful homes in beautiful locations.  This inspires me to work harder, write better and sell more books so one day I can relocate to my dream home.

Stay True to You
Please, please write what you love.  Finishing a manuscript is a huge investment of time and energy.  If you don't love what you're writing or doing, no amount of helpful hints will keep you inspired for the long haul.

Jump Ahead a Step
If my writing is lagging on a certain scene, then sometimes jumping ahead and working on the conclusion, or formatting my manuscript, or working on the cover design will get me inspired to finish off the draft.

That's all for today.  Hope you're feeling inspired and remember sometimes...

"You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club."  Jack London
.
Here's Today's Takeaway Lesson...

"Inspiration Does Exist, But It Must Find You Working"  Picasso

Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 

Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife
Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net
Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins


365 Days & Counting...


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