One of the biggest challenges of being a writer (for me) is patience. Sometimes impatience can be poisonous to my creativity and excitement because I’m focused on the little things rather than the big picture. Here is a list of some tools and strategies I use to stay positive and keep the muse happy…
1. I just found two iPhone Apps that I adore! Check out Happytapper’s Vision Board and Gratitude Journal. They’ve already helped me focus more on my major goals and remember the simple and daily parts of life that bring me joy.
2. Every few months, I visit breathe books for a 1/2 hour session with Aurora. Aurora is a psychic. Some people may not be open to doing this, but it always puts my mind at ease and fills me with enthusiasm for the future. I’ve been fascinated by psychics since I was very young. My friends and I used to spend nights huddled around a Ouija board. We would seek out psychics, learn about Tarot cards, and try to perform Past Life Regressions. These experiences have found their way into my writing and I still believe that there is more to life that what our five senses tell us.
3. This American Life is packed with characters just waiting to be brought to the page (check out the iPhone App!). As I listen more to this program, I realize the power of radio. I’ve listened to episode #199: “House on Loon Lake” twice (once with the hubs). The story is creepy, poignant, and mysterious- all things that I work to bring to my novels.
The great thing about this world is that these resources are endless if you want to find them. What’s inspiring you right now?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I stumbled upon your blog after visiting Gena Hamshaw’s choosingraw website and as a fellow writer and lover of all things inspirational, i took to it immediately! The This American Life broadcast is now my favorite thing to listen to at the office. I laugh. I cry. Thank you for the head’s up! It makes the day.
Thanks for stopping by, Jodi:) I have visited your blog in the past and really enjoy your posts. Thanks for writing about that fantastic interview with Meryl Streep. It was a joy to listen to!
I have found that handstands are the best cure for writer’s block. Turning everything upside down for a few minutes gets the blood pumping to new cells. Sometimes, you can come up with your best stuff while inverted!
I was just talking with Lady today. She suggested setting my intentions for the day in the morning when I get up. I keep a to do list and flag things for that specific day, but that’s different from setting intentions. I really love that concept – waking up and decided what you want to get out of each day. I wrote myself a little reminder note on my desk blotter.
Sierra- I love headstands too, although I don’t know if I can stay in one long enough to brainstorm!
Al- Setting intentions has changed my life. As soon as I started focusing on what I wanted to happen as if it already had happened, new opportunities and positive outcomes started popping up!
omg okay so here is just how moronic I am, halfway through reading through your post I accidentally dropped my cup of coffee on my desk and shut the internet explorer in error and I could not find your web site again right up until 4 days afterwards to finish reading through where I left off mainly because I didn’t remember how I linked to your site in the first place ahaha in any case it was worth the hold out..thank you