CornerScribe

Find your Mojo

Since I’ve been sick, I’ve been struggling to pull myself back onto schedule. My creativity feels like it’s at an all-time low. It’s amazing how much physically feeling rotten has affected my writing.

So, here are a few tips I’ve come up with to help.

• Don’t be too hard on yourself. After all, when you’re sick, you’re supposed to take it easy, right? This one is hard for me; I want to push myself to get right back into things as soon as possible.
• Take better care of yourself physically. That means sleeping enough, eating right, etc.
• If you’re feeling up to it, get outside. Even if you just sit on the porch for a while, being outdoors can be a big help.
• Take yourself out. Go to dinner, the mall, a bookstore, anywhere you enjoy. Grab a coffee and watch the people. Take a notebook with you and jot down any ideas that come to mind.
• Ask for help. Whether it’s housework or your writing, ask for the help you need so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
• Tackle easier tasks first, if possible. I’ve been spending more time writing than editing, for example.
• Do something creative. This doesn’t have to be writing-related. You can knit, paint, draw, cook, whatever you enjoy. Once you start feeling creative again, it will carry over into your writing.
• Dig into your journal, notes, etc. This is a great time to pull out ideas you’ve been fermenting for a while. Since you’ve already been mulling it over, it will be easier to jump in and get started.
• Take some time to relax and read. Grab a novel, some blogs, a magazine, whatever. The relaxation is as likely to help as the material itself.
• Do something you haven’t done in a while (or ever). Again, this doesn’t have to be writing-related to be helpful.
• Take a nap. The rest will help, but that isn’t the main point. Put a notebook by your bed and tell yourself that you’ll remember, and write down, your dreams. With practice, you’ll find that you do it more and more regularly. I’ve written a couple stories loosely based on dreams I’ve had.
• Watch some television. Think about the basic plot line of the show you’re watching and how it could be changed. What would happen if the characters were moved to another place, time, etc? What if you changed their genders or their ages?
• Check the news. There are usually lots of interesting stories out there, if you avoid the mainstream media. Try news sites that cater to a specific niche, or use Google News to search for news with specific keywords.

If you’re struggling to find that creative spark, then I hope these tips help you. They’ve helped me over the last week!