Lucynda Storey-Erotic Romance Writer

Sometimes our muse takes a vacation.  We don’t want to write.  We’re depressed, frustrated, worried, a host of negative emotions that effectively stall our writing engine.  Some call this writer’s block.  It’s a lie.  This is NOT writer’s block.  You’re ideas are still there, you are just engaging in behaviors that are working to defeat you; that keep you from reaching your goals.

So, how can you get your muse back on board with you?  Or, how can you drop her off at the next station if she’s the one stalling you?  Here are 10 simple things you can do to get in the right frame of mind and get back to putting words on the page.

1.  Read some insiprational quotes.  Let the words of wisdom from those who have gone before you remind you that you are capable of a lot; that you are able to conquer procrastination and fear. Here are some for this week from Self Growth:

Life ought to be a struggle of desire toward adventures whose nobility will fertilize the soul. - Rebecca West, 1892-1983

Mistakes are the portals of discovery. - James Joyce, 1882-1941

The wisest men follow their own direction. - Euripides, 484 BC-406 BC

Just search for the term: inspirational quotes and find your own favorite site.

2. Listen to music.  Uplifting music.  Dare I say, classical music?  Generally, something with a good beat, and not in a minor key.  If you need words, think summer.  Think the Beach Boys (Surfin’ Safari, those sorts of pieces), think’ feel good music’.

3.  Laugh and smile.  We say “fake it to make it” around here a lot.  We are so good at telling ourselves negative things…which are lies…why not tell ourselves something good?  Train your body to smile rather than frown.  Laugh…a solid, good guffaw.  Turn on your television and find Nickelodeon and a sit-com.  Or got to On-Demand if you have cable. There are usually a lot of good laughs on Everybody Loves Raymond and some of the older sit-coms like I Love Lucy.  Pick up a kids joke book at the library.  Those jokes are so bad you have to laugh.

4.  Take a walk.  Appreciate nature.  Watch birds, waterfalls, the floating of a leaf on the wind.  Get up in time to watch a sunrise, or make sure you take the time to watch a sunset.  Revel in the amazing world around you.

5. Go to the park, especially on the weekend once school has started.  Watch kids play.  Be a kid.  Swing on the swings, slide down the slides, have fun.  Listen to the laughter of the young ones.  Remember when you had fun and were carefree and capture that feeling and take it home with you.

6.  Practice regularly random acts of kindness.  Do something for someone else just because.  Not because you owe them, but because you were thinking about them, read about something in the news, heard about a need on the radio.  Sending cards to people is a terrific random act of kindness.  Do you remember the last piece of postal mail you received that wasn’t a bill, advertisement or other piece of “junk”?  Mail used to be something everyone looked forward to.  You could be the surprise we’re all waiting to get.

Practice with meaning, saying the three most important words in the world…I Love You.  To assume the people you care about know.  Everyone needs to hear them.  Everyone needs to say them.  There is not much in life sweeter than those words said sincerely.

7. Allow random acts of kindness in your life.  Be appreciative and say thank you, but when someone wants to do something nice for you…LET THEM.  It is as much fun to receive as it is to give.  It’s all about attitude.

8.  Remember the good times of your life, the blessings you’ve received.  Remember the times where you laughed, where you marveled in the beauty of the world, where you let music take you away to another place.

9.  Daydream…about positive things.  Think about world peace and for a few minutes imagine what it would be like if it really happened!  Picture the contract in your hand, typing ‘the end’ on your novel,  being five or two or even one page further than you were yesterday.  Dare to believe in yourself!

10. Take a hot bubblebath, relax, light some candles and think about…nothing.  Let the heat soothe your muscles and your mind.  Put a do not disturb sign on the bathroom door; warn the family that you are taking an hour (or half hour…whatever you want) for yourself and  you won’t answer their calls unless it is life and death (the real thing, not a fashion emergency) and blood is involved.

Sometimes, it’s okay to play hooky.  Not everyday, not even often, but do it when the blahs are hitting and you aren’t motivated to put your fingers on the keyboard and get a sentence, a paragraph, a page written.

Barbara Kingslover reportedly has been quoted as saying “Don’t wait for the muse.  She has a lousy work ethic.  Writers just write.”

I couldn’t agree more.  But sometimes, we need a little time to get our work ethic in order by tuning up the engine and getting our minds in the right frame to do the work we’ve been blessed to do.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 at 9:39 am and is filed under Lucynda Storey, Goofy Stuff, Writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.