Where's the Muse? Some tips to get you started.

Every writer gets stuck now and then. You rack your brain trying to "find" the right words or "The Muse" but it doesn't come. Over the years, when I was really serious about writing and publishing, I came up with a few things that helped me.

• Get a big posterboard and paste up as many adjectives and verbs as you can think of all over the board, randomly. Then tack it on the wall and look at it when your stuck.
• Make a collage from magazine clippings, add a few words or phrases. Let your imagination just flow. No particular theme. Hang it up.
• Carry around in your purse, (briefcase, backpack) a small notebook in case something strikes you so you can write it down.
• Do the above with the small notebook but "eavesdrop" on peoples conversations in public. (But don't be obvious or you might get dirty looks) Write down something that you think a future character in your story might say.
• Buy a micro-cassette recorder and keep it handy in your car or purse/bag in case you need to grab an idea quickly.
• Take about fifteen minutes and sit down with your notebook and write down as quickly as you can all the junk in your head. It doesn't have to make sense. This will free your mind to be more creative and not hold on to every little sentence or poem you write because you will have gotten all the nonsense out of your head. Does that make sense? Sorry, I'm using that word too much.
• Read other writers. If your writing a romance novel, read other romance authors, writing poetry.....read poetry! Just be carry that you're not unintentionally copying someone's work.

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I hope this helps. God Bless Everyone with their Writing Endeavors!