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KATHERINE BRANDON (GINA'S ALTER EGO) |
Kick Your Muse's Butt--How to Find Inspiration When the Words Won't Flow by Gina Ardito |
There's a reason why the blinking prompt on your monitor is called a cursor. When the creative part of your brain gets distracted, that blinking prompt mocks you until the most colorful invectives race through your head. So next time your muse refuses to come out and play with you, try luring her to the forefront with one of these tips: Music. Turn up the tunes, sing, dance, or just let the rhythm carry you to a better place. Art. Study the scenery of landscapes, the clothing and expressions in portraitures. Ask yourself questions: Why are the dogs playing poker? What's Mona Lisa really thinking? Did Andy Warhol paint Campbell's Bean With Bacon Soup? Take a shower. Something about hot water and the enclosure actually frees your mind to think outside the box. Go for a walk. Take a break from your normal scenery and seek out something new. Add scents to your room (candles, air freshener, etc.). The sense of smell is highly evocative and brings memories, visions, and ideas. Exercise. You know this one. It's endorphins. Famous quotations. One of my favorite research books is a Quotations Dictionary. I've come up with lots of scenes by simply reading the words of famous people. Read. Books, magazines, newspapers, children's stories, maps. The possibilities are endless and so are the story ideas inside. Eavesdrop. Know that obnoxious person speaking loudly on the cell phone? Listen in. Make up the other half of the conversation. Or head to Starbucks, a diner, a local park. Anywhere you'll find two or more people conversing. Note body language and facial expressions. People watch. You can still watch body language and facial expressions. But you have more freedom to imagine what they're doing, where they're going, and why it might matter when you have to fill in the dialogue. View photo websites. Try stock photo sites or sites like Flickr. Or just type in "couples" or "love" in Google Images. See what pops up. Color or draw (with bright, vibrant colors!) Don't think it matters? Consider this. Which color gives you a more visceral reaction-mint green or fire-engine red? Which evokes better images? Meditate. Sometimes your muse just needs a little quiet time. Blogs. Some of my favorite sites for inspiration are pretty quirky: My Life Is Average, Emails From Crazy People, It Made My Day. Just remember these can also suck time so be disciplined about how often you fall back on such distractions! Interview a friend or relative. If you're fortunate enough to have your parents or grandparents around, ask them about their dates, teenage years, or early married life. Ask a neighbor couple how they met. Talk to a child you know (not your own) about his/her favorite day, toy, or person. Window shop. Antique stores, gift shops, craft stores, even garage sales are treasure troves of inspiration. Find stories in a jewel case, a painted thimble, or a unique lamp. Word puzzles. Crosswords, jumbles, encrypted quotes, even word searches can jumpstart your creative spark. Board games. Play a solitaire version of Scrabble, or other games that might open blocked passages. Try Scattergories, Imaginiff, and Apples to Apples for starters. Bring in the family and make a night of it. Sometimes, you have to reconnect with those you love to continue crafting your stories of love. With these helpful tips, that cursed cursor will stop blinking and start flying across your pages! |