Keep Calm and Have a Bath

One of the most common questions I see aspiring writers asking is, “How do you get inspiration? What do you do when you’re out of ideas?” It’s a writer’s biggest fear, running out of ideas to write about, to get ‘Writer’s Block’. Here are my top tips for sparking the imagination (or at least this is what I do).

1. Have a bath
   This is the first thing I tell anyone who asks me this question. I don’t make this my number 1 tip because I think cleanliness is inspiring… I say this because somehow it works every single time! The act of sitting in a hot bath, soaking, seems to relax my mind as well as my body. Perhaps you could call it a form of meditation? By doing this my mind will always begin to wander and ideas will flood to me. I’ll have so many ideas I won’t know what to do with them all! I always make sure to have a notebook by my bath.
2. Listen to music
   I keep a music playlist on which I keep music which I have found inspiring or reminds me of scenes within my writing. If I need to get in the writing mood or need inspiration I will lay back and listen to this music and allow my imagination to be sparked by the tune and the lyrics. However, I won't listen to music with lyrics during the act of writing as the lyrics will distract me from what I am writing. At this time I prefer to listen to instrumental music. Everyone is different in what they choose to listen to while the work.
3. Google Images
   Sometimes when I have reached a limit to my imagination I will use good old Google. I will search words and phrases within Google Images and see if any pictures appear which might give me ideas.
   As writing practice I also enjoy using images to prompt stories or poetry. Sometimes, merely the act of writing these stories, can induce ideas for my WIP.
4. Go for a walk
   Being cooped up at home can sometimes make the task of writing a chore. That is the last thing it should be! When it all starts to seem a bit much then put on some track pants and go for a walk. If it's raining then go do something else that you enjoy but takes little mental concentration. I find a walk can be relaxing and the feel of breathing fresh air rejuvenating. Listen to the sounds of the world around you or listen to music and soon enough I'm sure you'll start dreaming up scenes to write about.
5. Take a break
   If none of the above work then I think it is time to put your current WIP aside. I'm not saying for forever, just for a while. Let go of the story and the pressure of needing to keep going at the harrowing pace you likely have. Try to put it off for as long as you can, weeks, maybe even months, then return to your WIP with a fresh mind. Like a computer that has been reformatted, many of the thoughts that were crowding your mind before will be gone and there will be room for new ideas to be processed.

Scarlett Van Dijk

Image courtesy of njaj at FreeDigitalPhotos.net