De-mystify Your Muse

by Shaunna Privratsky

Have you exhausted all of your article ideas? Does your brain hurt when you try to envision an original plot for a short story or novel? Can't think of a single thing to write about?

Some writers may feel that inspiration is up to the mysterious forces of the Muse, that mythical creature with idea-dust to sprinkle on us when the well runs dry and makes that horrible sucking sound like an over-enthusiastic vacuum. The truth be told, you have your own personal muse right inside your mind. Here are some sure-fire ways to wake up your inner muse and guarantee you will never run out of material again.

Try freewriting for five minutes. You can make lists, do word associations, cluster ideas or just write random thoughts. Take a look at what you've written and decide what genre best suits it. Make connections, do research as necessary and you have a fine start for a new piece.

The past is a goldmine of ideas. Remember how it felt to be a teen fighting against your parent's seemingly cruel restrictions? Write for teen or family magazines. Or craft a heartfelt essay about the importance of letting go when your children are ready. Explore the other side of the fence and maybe realize your parents had your best interest at heart.

Even the basis for a short story or novel can come from your memories. Fictionalize people's names and characteristics to avoid hurt feelings.

Read, read and read some more. Not just in your favorite genre; sample all the forms of writing. No time to read an eight-hundred-page tome? Grab a magazine, newspaper or go online for newsletters and web content. Other authors are an endless source of ideas. You might be reading an article about gardening and decide to write about your Mom's thirty-year-old rose bushes. You could talk about the love and care she lavishes on them or turn it into a how-to piece.

Keep a journal. Your thoughts and feelings are a treasure trove of material to add to stories, books, articles, essays, poems or just about anything you choose to pen.

Maintain an idea notebook or file. Remember that nightmare you had last week? Perfect fodder for a scary story. That article idea you had while waiting your turn: "Ten activities to do while Standing in Line."

I used to have scraps of paper everywhere. I'd be so enthused when I jotted down a phrase or quick idea, but when I couldn't find it my brainstorm would vanish. Having things in one place means an instant idea reference book.

Be nosy - inquisitive minds want to know. Go surfing on the Internet or cruise the library shelves when you need to research. As you do your homework, you'll find dozens of additional suggestions to pursue. Just writing research questions can also lead to more material than you could ever use.

Do what you love. What is your hobby? Do you collect anything? Hobbies, collections and pastimes are a never-ending source of ideas. You can write informative articles, essays or even incorporate your special interests into your latest fiction. Maybe your heroine is knowledgeable about beehives and collecting honey. Or your manly hero has a secret vice for knitting afghans.

Anyone can write a how-to article. Look around your home or workplace for things you do that might be of interest to others. Everyone is an expert on something. Turn your special skills into profitable writing.

Try something new or remember when it was first new to you. Have you recently learned how to make candles or acquired a new pet? Perhaps there is a brand-new baby in your family or at a friend's house. Write about all of your firsts - from your significant first kiss to the first time you changed a tire. List all the tips and points in a logical sequence to form an effortless article.

Amuse your readers with a story about your "dream" vacation that was more of a nightmare of missed flights, lost baggage and stolen travelers checks, all before you left Cleveland. Or turn your "firsts" into nostalgic essays or stories. Who could resist the memories of holding your first born? Or the first time you realized you were truly in love?

Trite, but true: nature is an endless source of material. When you're stuck on a story, take the proverbial walk in the woods, or just down a busy sidewalk. Notice the sky, the wind, the smells, sounds and the taste in the air, perhaps a tangy autumn breeze or the warm gusts of summer. Nature is beautiful, whether you live in the country or a teeming city.

Consider recycling - your writing, that is. Do you have any article, stories or essays just sitting in files? Dust them off, [figuratively speaking] revise or update as needed and send them out again. Often writers make more money with reprints than from the original sale.

Turn off the television! TV is the biggest drain on inspiration, because everything is spoon-fed to the viewer. He doesn't have to think; therefore his brain quits imagining. Or she becomes so immersed in the make-believe worlds in the talking box that she is incapable of conjuring any of her own. Too much television watching also wastes precious writing and reading time.

Observe people when you need a fresh injection of material. Watch your friends or loved ones or take a stroll in a crowded store. Listen to the conversations you overhear. Does anything spark your curiosity? Are you intrigued by someone's uncharacteristic behavior? Imagine what could be causing it and you're off and running on a new storyline.

Use your creativity as a catalyst. I was once afraid of running out of topics to record, now my mind conjures them almost faster than I can scribble them. The more ideas you generate, the more you will encounter for an endless source of inspiration.

You may have even more methods to fire up your inner muse. By using any or all of these methods and a little practice, you'll never run out of writing material again.

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Learn 1,000' of more writing tips in Shaunna Privratsky's new book, "Pump Up Your Prose." She has authored over 200 articles and is currently hard at work on her next book. FREE sign up to The Writer Within Newsletter at http://shaunna67.tripod.com <javascript:ol('http://shaunna67.tripod.com');>