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:~: Friday, July 28, 2006 :~:

Inspiration, or the Lack Thereof

I'm posting late today, for a variety of reasons, everything from a hair appointment to a spontaneous meeting at school.

The number one reason I'm blogging late?

I couldn't think of anything to write about.

I hear that from my students quite often -- "I can't think of anything!" "I don't know where to start!"

Sound familiar?

Inspiration can strike in the oddest of places -- a newspaper article, a photo, a snatch of conversation. But sometimes, it's nowhere to be found.

Here are my top strategies for breaking the lack of inspiration:

1) Reading
2) Taking a walk
3) Mowing the grass (I have no idea why, but it works for me)
4) Making lists -- just random words, etc.
5) Freewriting

What do you do when you're feeling less than inspired to write?

4Comments:

Blogger Joan Swan said...

I OFTEN have this problem when considering blog topics. Maybe because I'm trying to anticipate what others will want to read...which is an impossbile feat, maybe because I think my topic is boring or tired, maybe because I'm on the spot...OMG, a DEADLINE! Lord help me if...er, when, I sell!

Sometimes no matter what you do, inspiration or motivation or drive or whatever it is that's lacking continues to lack.

I think taking a break from writing is a good way to rekindle that flame.

Aside from the ones you've already mentioned, I like to: see a movie, go shopping (usually grocery shopping b/c I don't have the $$ to shop for anything else), organizing/uncluttering/cleaning the house, research, reading.

I'm looking forward to hearing other's techniques.

5:11 PM  
Blogger Evanne Lorraine said...

Oddly enough, they're discussing the same topic over at www.plotmonkeys.com (another group blog).

Plain old writer's block hasn't been a problem for me - but there've been times when life's rich pagentry distracts me - so far it has always passed.

8:20 AM  
Blogger Linda Winfree said...

I felt like such a slug, Joan, for this post! But I honestly couldn't think of ANYTHING -- which is kinda rare for wordy ol' me. :-) I like the cleaning house thing, too. It's fairly mindless and lets my mind roam.

Evanne -- I love the "life's rich tapestry" idea. Sounds so much better than my full TTD list!

6:12 PM  
Blogger Kristina Knight said...

Taking a walk usually does it for me...if not I try reverse psychology, or at least my personal form of RP -- I read a book I hate.

I have a couple books I hate but that I refuse to get rid of. Why? Because when I'm uninspired/don't wanna write I pick it up. The characterization is bad, the plot is bad -- and it gives me that "I can do better than this" attitude and inspires me to get back to work. The words I write may not be great at that point but the process at least gets a few words on the page. :)

2:42 PM  

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