The Method Behind the "Meh"

The last thing I want to do is write!

The first thing I need to do?

Write.

Ok, then. Let’s do this thing…

::Cracking Knuckles::

“Once upon a time in a faraway land—”

Great line, but disgustingly overused.

To give my writing sessions some oomph, I need the right inspiration.

A fellow writer and dear friend of mine noticed my attempt at consistency in writing, so she asked where I draw my inspiration.

“Anywhere!” was a tempting answer. It feels accurate, but like the first line of my make-believe fairy tale above, it’s not the best.

For your education and enjoyment, here are some of my most revisited vehicles:

1️⃣ Inspirational Venue. Anything outdoors. A walk. A rainy day by the window.

2️⃣ Water. The shower. The sound itself counts. Something about water inspires me.

3️⃣ Killer Playlist. Lyrics kill my focus, but soundtracks? Fair game.

4️⃣ Writing Prompt. AI can help with this one (if trained properly).

5️⃣ Ask Someone. “What should I write about today?” or “What would you like to read about from me?”

6️⃣ Current Events. Scour the web to learn what people are searching/talking about these days and write your take on it. We’re experts on our own opinion!

7️⃣ Rewrites | Part 1. Don’t like how a story or TV series ended? Rewrite it!

8️⃣ Rewrites | Part 2. Repurpose something you wrote before. Practice saying the same thing differently.

I don't always have these on hand, especially at work, which is fine. Most days, having two of them is enough to get my fingers moving. The trick is knowing which ones are available to me in the moment.

I can't control the weather, but I have AirPods. Sneaking outside would be difficult (especially during a meeting!), but maybe I can run the water a little longer than necessary. The key is being creative with what's already within my reach.

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