If you’re like me, you’re never at a loss for story ideas. They seem as plentiful as the stars in the sky. The tough job is to focus on the glimmer of light worth following. Discerning the direction my work will take requires a knowledge of the various parts of a story that fit together into a completed manuscript, such as character, conflict, suspense, motivation, faith, romance.
Pulling all those pieces together, like a giant jig-saw puzzle, can be a challenge. When I’m tired or have worked too long, my vision for the story blurs. Sometimes the framework may be in place, but the middle remains a giant void unable to be filled. At other times, I’ve pulled in so much information that I’m unable to fit the parts into a unified whole.
Some may call that writer’s block. I think of it as being stalled, like a car that sputters and dies. When the driver repeatedly turns the key in the ignition, the engine floods and refuses to start.
“Let the motor rest,” my husband would caution, which applies to the overworked writer as well.
Whether you feel blocked or stalled, try one of the following five tips for inspiration. The ideas aren’t new. We’ve all used them from time to time, but they’re worth reviewing once again.
ENHANCE YOUR ENVIRONMENT. Do something nice for your writing space, whether it’s a private office, a cubbyhole in the corner of your bedroom, or an area in the kitchen you’ve claimed as your own. Engage your senses. A scented candle, soft music playing in the background, a favorite photo that recalls a special place or a relaxing trip, a plush throw covering your legs, a bouquet of flowers or a candy dish filled with chocolate can change the ordinary into something special that opens you to new possibilities.
EMBRACE NATURE. Most of us sit for hours each day at our computers. We need to give ourselves permission to spend time outdoors. A walk in the woods, a stop at a local pond to feed the ducks, a short break to build a snowman with the kids can be welcome diversions. Pausing to enjoy the beauty and bounty of God’s creation provides a breath of fresh air for our bodies and our minds.
EXERCISE. Turn that stroll through nature into a power walk, and you’ll free the endorphins, lower your blood pressure and come back refreshed and renewed. Thirty minutes at the gym, a Zumba class, or a bike ride -- even if it’s stationary -- sweeps away the cobwebs and restores energy and enthusiasm.
MAKE A DATE WITH YOURSELF. Remember the old saying, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy? It also applies to Jill. Reserve a few hours in your weekly schedule for something you enjoy. Go shopping at the mall, have lunch with a friend or visit a local museum. You’ll come home eager to get back to work.
SET ASIDE TIME FOR PRAYER. I doubt Seekervillagers need to be reminded of the importance of making time for God, no matter how busy our days may be. Praising the Lord and focusing on the Divine elevates our thoughts, brings peace and nourishes our spirits and our souls. Often the answer to a story question pops into my mind when I’m in prayer as if the Lord is thanking me for spending time with Him. Focusing on something bigger than ourselves allows us to think beyond the finite and open ourselves to the possibilities that only God can reveal.
What tips can you offer to boost inspiration? Leave a comment, and let me know if you want to be entered in a drawing for a copy of HIDDEN AMISH SECRETS. The photos included in this blog are from our recent family beach vacation. In my opinion, there’s nothing like surf and sand to enhance creativity. What’s your Happy Place and how does it help to ease your stress and heighten your productivity?
Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby Giusti
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Good morning, Debby. Not often I am the first to comment! These are great ideas. My favorite spot to write is my living room chair, and yes, I usually have a throw over my legs. Your pictures are great. And I noticed the second from last picture makes a face in the clouds! No need to put me in the drawing. I won the book last time and currently reading it. I am enjoying it! Will write a review soon.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter took the face in the clouds photo. Elsa was swirling around the Gulf when we were there the week of the Fourth. We kept praying, and it turned toward the East so we only had two days of red flags. You can see storm clouds in the distance in a number of the photos.
DeleteI have a favorite spot in our family room where I write with my AlphaSmart, and yes, I love the warmth of a throw in winter.
I feel like I'm always dealing with a "block" of some kind. I never have enough ideas, so getting the inspiration to flow is hard. I've never been one for exercise, but I'm beginning to see how just getting up and moving is not only good for the body, but the mind as well. Great ideas!
ReplyDeleteI have ideas, but finding that perfect idea that will grow into a full-length manuscript is a challenge. Don't get discouraged. You're trying to find the "right" story...and you will!
Deletelove those gorgeous beach photos, Debby :) Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carrie. What's your Happy Place?
DeleteI get inspiration from reading. Ideas for characters especially if I read some quirky interesting character.
ReplyDeleteI like that, Mary! In fact a book I just finished has provided ideas for the heroine in my next story.
DeleteMy happy place is my home, sitting in my recliner, feet up, book in hand.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great Happy Place, Linda. No travel involved!
DeleteI finished an enjoyable book last night and can't decide which story will be my next read! But that's a good problem.
I have a recliner that is my indoor happy place. I can sit there and read, or look out the windows at the beautiful countryside. My outside happy places are my yard and garden. Digging in the dirt, seeing the flowers and vegetables growing in my garden, and watching the beautiful sunsets are all inspiring to me! Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteI have a flower garden and would like to grow veggies next year. Love your indoor and outdoor happy places. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteHi Debby! I like to go for a run for inspiration. Running lets my mind wander and ends up reducing stress. My happy place is Valparaiso FL, which is where my son and his wife live. They are 30 minutes from Ft Walton beach and Destin beach. Love your photos, Debby!!
ReplyDeleteI used to run, Sally, and loved it! Really clears the mind.
DeleteValparaiso sounds lovely. My photos are from Miramar Beach/Crystal Beach, east of Destin. That whole area is so beautiful.
I agree with Mary. I get inspired by reading ~ whether it is about a historical figure or event, blog posts by all you generous women at Seekerville, a newspaper/magazine article, or books...they can get the creative juices flowing. (Thank you for the opportunity to win to win the book, Debby. And for the great ideas.)
ReplyDeleteBecky, so glad you enjoy Seekerville. We're grateful to you and all our Villagers!
DeleteI agree that reading is inspirational!
Lovely post and timely advice! I'm needing a bit of inspiration right now!
ReplyDeleteYou're a busy lady, Erica! Sometimes it's hard to let creativity flow when we're running from one thing to another. Taking time to calm our spirits and relax a bit is usally a good way to increase inspiration, IMHO.
DeleteHi Debby:
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures of the ocean. When I was taking difficult logic classes in college at Santa Barbara the problems were like those pictures of chess boards where the reader is asked to solve for checkmate in three moves -- no matter what the opponent does. Some of those problems can be solved in minutes if you are creative and lucky. Some can take all weekend and produce nothing but time wasting frustration.
When I had an unsolvable problem I would refuse to work on it. I would program my subconscious mind to do the work for me and when it came up with a solution to pop it up into my conscious mind. It is important to state the problem very accurately to your subconscious mind. Be very clear what it is you want for an answer. I would do this and then I would not think about it again. Hours later and sometimes days later, as I walked along the water's edge, the answer would pop-up in my head. Even very complex problems would be presented to me as a 'satori'. This system has worked very well ever since.
One might ask: What is that which you call the subconscious mind? Well it could be your muse; it could be thought of as God helping you out; it could even be a simple inspiration whose time has come.
This actually happens often in life when we are trying to remember a person's name. Try as we might, the name of the actor who played Bob in the Great White Shark, will not come to the surface. We know we know it but the message from the memory banks is being blocked. Trying harder to remember often makes recall all that more unlikely. We give up. A few minutes later, the name pops up! This just seems to be the way the mind works.
Even philosophers have to be reminded that metaphors are not real. They cannot be used as proofs in logical arguments. With "writer's block' nothing is really being blocked. Solutions can have noting to do with 'blockage' and still work.
Consider:
You're on the banks of a big river waiting for a nice log to float by. The log is the idea you need at the time. No log ever comes down the river. You go home thinking you were blocked by there being no logs.
Next day there is an idea log. You jump in to get it, wrestle it, and it gets away. You were blocked again by losing the great idea you needed.
Next day you have help standing on the bank waiting for a log. Ten great logs come down the river. You and your help jump in the river, grab all the logs, all with great ideas, but no ideas that meet your particular needs. Again you have been blocked.
Next day hundreds of logs come down the river. They form a logjam which requires dynamite to blow them apart. You put on your spiky boots and roam the logs like a pro log roller but are blocked again. Too many ideas presented at the same time. It was like trying to find a needle in a hay stack. You were blocked again.
In all these cases nothing is really blocked except the river traffic.
The solution is to generate usable ideas. Blockage has nothing to do with it. Just try anything without the metaphor of blockage getting in the way. Tell your mind what you want and wait for the answer. :)
I agree, Vince. Taking time away from the problem helps! That's the reason for a nice long walk in nature.
DeleteAnd you're right about recalling names. When I allow my mind to go blank, the name comes to me.
Aren't minds wonderful!?!