You’re a writer, you love the process, you love words—but you get stuck. Suddenly you don’t know what to write or how to get started. On top of all that, the annoying critic won’t leave your head—judging everything you think, write, or do. What’s a writer to do?
Open to Creativity
First of all, drop the judge off at the door. Seriously, the judge will only hinder your progress and creativity.
Secondly, creativity can be found in everyday things—all you have to do is be open to it.
No matter where you are or what’s going on, there are ideas brewing all around. Creation is happening, ideas are blooming. For instance, you’re at the mall, shopping for a new pair of shoes or sports equipment, this is your chance to listen to conversations. What are people talking about? What about the staff? What’s their story?
Or what about the fifty year old man working at the local grocery store who carries out your groceries? Maybe he was a stockbroker at one time who got sick of the lifestyle and wanted a little bit more Zen in his life.
Creativity Everywhere
What about nature? Camping, hiking, biking, walking—what do you experience when you are outdoors? Do you notice smells, sounds? Is there a taste in your mouth? Describe your experience and create your story.
What about the neighbors? They seem so happy and friendly when they’re outside their home, but what’s really going on inside? What are they hiding over there?
How about at work or school? What’s happening behind closed office doors? Is there a conversation that must remain within those four walls?
Creativity and inspiration can even be found in your dish detergent. Who made the detergent? What hands touched the bottle before it reached you? What about the factory workers? What was going through their minds as they were busy preparing your detergent? What lives were they leading? Were they thinking about how much they hated or loved their job? Were they thinking what to have for dinner? Maybe they were a closet chef, having an affair, or possibly something more sinister.
You are the Creator
You are the creator here. You decide how you want your story to come alive. You get to decide what type of relationship you want your characters to have and what tragedies and triumphs you want them to face. You are in a grand position of deciding how your story should unfold. What an amazing privilege it is to be able to write a great story without limitations.
Creativity and inspiration are truly everywhere. All you have to do is reach out and make your choice.
