I am often asked where I come up with the things I write. I think there is an art to writing. My main inspiration comes from thinking about my readers. For me, I want to touch the reader on a very personal level. I want to take them on a journey with the words I write flowing through their mind. I want my reader to feel all different types of sensations while they are reading.

Exhilaration. Passion. Heart Pounding. Intensity. Sorrow. Happiness. Measurement. Chills. Power. Thrill. Emotional Impact. Satisfaction. Struggle. Fury. Excitement. Fulfillment. Drama. Chaos. Random. Resolution. Meaning. Intrigue. Mystery. Hunger. Depth. Interest. Motivation. Captivation. Purpose. Compelling. Discovery. Joy. Grace. Reflection. Attentive. Understanding. Anger. Challenge. Survival. Need. Triumph. Connection. Drive. Determination. Depth. Strength. Diversity. Experience.

Inspiration can also come from the image captured in a picture, or the certain way a flower blows in the wind. It can come from a word that stands out in a conversation, or a story seen on the news. It can come from a remembered dream, or a forgotten memory. A song can reach in and touch your imagination or an experience while on an outing. Inspiration is all around you. You have to be ready to capture it and put it to paper. I keep a notebook by the bed. Sometimes I will wake up in the middle of the night and write down random sentences or when I wake up in the morning from remembering a dream. I also keep a smaller pad in my purse. When thoughts or creativity hits me I try to jot as much of it down as possible. Then I will explore it through a poem, book, or short story.

Inspiration can also come from taking in the experiences of others around you. Julia Cameron, who wrote Walking in this World, comments that "creativity is a spiritualrather than a intellectual endeavor." Others argue that it is a primitive subconscious that is channeled through the brain or mind. Inspiration can come from a popular quote:

It is our duty as men and women to proceed as though limits to our ability do not exist. ~Teilhard de Chardin

Seize this very minute; What you can do, or dream you can, begin it; Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Odd how the creative power at once brings the whole universe to order. ~Virginia Woolf

Take your work seriously, but never yourself. ~Dame Margot Fonteyn

Inspiration will always sing; inspiration will never explain. ~Kahlil Gibran

Some writers find they struggle with "writer's block". You can be in the middle of something and completely loose track and go blank. There are several ways to re-energize your mind and get back on track. If you feel you are at a loss for words don't give up. It happens, and often for no good reason. Here are some helpful steps to follow if you end up in this situation:

1. Get up, and stretch. Step away from your work and move around. Get the blood flowing through your limbs. Close your eyes and take a series of deep breathes. Slowly inhale and exhale.
2. Re-adjust your focus. Sometimes you can easily loose track in your work if you are too focused on the outcome. Set your work aside and pull out a blank page. Get ideas on paper and don't worry how they sound or are spelled. Just let your words flow.
3. Go Random. Get a blank sheet of paper and write a word in the middle. Write down as many ideas off of that one word as you can. It will get your creative juices flowing.
4. Try writing out of order. Start on your middle or ending if you are having trouble with your beginning. You may find that things start to fall in place.
5. Read your writing slowly and concisely. Ask yourself if it seems realistic to you. Sometimes you may develop a block when your mind can't grasp the reality in your writing.
6. Try writing something completely different such as a poem, song or manuscript.
7. Try some visualisation writing about your character. Write your characters name on a blank piece of paper. Close your eyes and envision the character in your mind. Think of their likes and dislikes and write them down. Describe your character. Read over it and see if something doesn't spark your imagination.
8. Turn on some music. Sit with your headphones on and relax and listen. Let the music fill you and take your mind on a journey. You might find a chorus or sentence in a song that will take your writing in a whole new direction.

Here is an exercise: Below this story is a slide show of several random images. Pick one and write something about it. Be it a poem, song, story or whatever. Just let your imagination run wild. Create. No what, don't give up.