How to get inspired

Sometime after Christmas but long before Easter I’ve usually had enough winter. This year, with quadruple the amount of snow and a decrease in the temperature by roughly 2 million percent, my winter slump is even worse. This winter slump has led to a case of writer’s block that may be my payback for saying I never run out of things to write about.

I turned to some of my favorite bloggers and writers and asked them what they do to overcome writer’s block. Their answers were pretty genius:

Sometimes I fall back on telling the story of something that happened a while ago. Something that I learned from or a cute parenting story I’ll always remember. Kathy of Kissing the Frog
Write more. Even if it’s kind of junky gibberish that no one ever sees. It gets the kinks out eventually. – Angela Amman

Yep, write to get out of a writing funk because even if there’s just one great sentence, it will be enough to keep you going. – Gretchen of Lifenut

In my composition teaching, I always advise students to avoid paralyzing themselves with rules. For example, focusing too much on never using “I” or thinking exactly how long it has to be can bring on the worst writers’ block. An academic named Mike Rose did a study about this at UCLA and published a well-known article about it. “Rigid Rules, Inflexible Plans, and the Stifling of Language: A Cognitivist Analysis of Writer’s Block” If you can let go of the rules, you may solve the Writer’s Block – even if you have to go back and correct some things later.- Alicia of Naps Happen

I go for a quiet walk in the woods. The quiet gives my head a place to stretch. I bring a small pad and pencil and something always shows up to be said between the trees. Chrissy of Heartbox Studio
Read, listen to music, read stuff I’ve written before, think of fake band names, and write – Lance of My Blog Can Beat Up Your Blog
I look at pictures… – Kelly of Mom Got Blog

I try to write something that is the complete opposite of what I would normally do. Like a paragraph of science fiction. Usually that helps me shake it off because then I’m like, “This is so dumb, I’d rather be writing about….” and there’s the idea. – Stephanie of Binkies and Briefcases

Create a schedule such that I have absolutely no time to write. Guaranteed head full of ideas. Not much help though. I CAN tell you that lying in bed yelling “I hate you world!” into my pillow does NOT help. – Tara of Don’t Lick the Deck

The very best thing for me is always exercise and a hot shower afterward. It gets the blood flowing to my brain and I usually come up with so many ideas I end up wishing I had pen and paper with me on my run or in the shower. – Suzanne of Toulouse and Tonic

Read. Walk by the ocean. Listen to music. – Katie of Practical Parenting

I read. I read anything and everything fabulous. I let other people’s words consume me until my own begin to pour out. Sometimes it takes a while, sometimes not so long. But reading is the best and most direct route to writing. – Jo Ashline

Word balloons. One word in the middle (doesn’t matter what) and branch off from there. – Kristi of The Robot Mommy
I’ve realized my writer’s block is usually at its worst when I’m tired. If I bite the bullet and go to bed early one night, I usually find that my thoughts are way clearer the next day. If I’m still stuck, I just start typing sentences and see where it goes. – Paige Kellerman

I get a writing prompt and give myself permission to write poorly, but I must write. A couple of places to go for prompts: SanDiego Momma or Mama Kat’s Losin It. The prompts make it fun and take you out of your head. – Stefanie Mullen of Ooph

I think my answer is to fill myself up with inspiration by way of reading, music, photos, deep breathing. And then give myself permission to write imperfectly. – Debbie of Sandiego Momma

Exercise. Bring pad/pen on elliptical (or notes app on phone). When you’re in the zone, the ideas come. Norine of Science of Parenthood

You can also read through this list of advice from several of the authors of “I Just Want to Pee Alone” put together by Jen of PIWTPITT

If you need more inspiration or help with blogging or want to give your social media following a boost you MUST join us for BlogU this June. I’m on the faculty along with some amazing bloggers. There’s far too much to list here so visit the BlogU Conference site to take a look then buy your ticket. Can’t wait to see you there!!

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