Writing, Yoga Pants, and a Nervous Breakdown

Just what do I do when I’m not writing? I can’t answer that question, because obviously I am always writing. I spend hours and hours in a baggy t-shirt and yoga pants, sipping on a Frappuccino, typing away as endless brilliant thoughts enter my mind.

Oh yeah. That’s what I wish my day was like. It’s more like franticly type up a blog post while on lunch break, and try not to get mustard from my soggy sandwich on the keyboard.

When I’m not writing, I’m doing all those mundane, everyday things that everyone does: washing mounds of dishes, returning library books seconds before I’m charged a late fee (that should be recognized as a super power), attempting to make food that is healthy , tastes good, and only takes ten seconds to make (I found out a meal like that only exists in lands with fairies, magic, and unicorns), and wishing I didn’t decide to go to college (then again, I may miss those nights of crying over homework that doesn’t make sense and is completely inapplicable to real life…not).

My only escape from the madness is writing! Don’t ever leave me writing. I need you desperately.

But what happens when even my precious writing seems mundane? What do I do when I run out of ideas, inspiration, and motivation?

I have a nervous breakdown.

But once that’s over, I need something to get that creativity going again.

So, what do I do?

I read.

Sometimes all I need is to curl up in my Lazy-boy with a good tale. Nothing like discovering another world with memorable characters to make me forget about my writing doldrums. And as a bonus, sometimes something in the book will spark an idea for a whole new story, and just like that, I’m back to writing.

But sometimes I don’t have to read a whole book (or two or ten) to get re-inspired. Sometimes all I need to read is a few thousand words—this time not fiction. Online articles about writing are great for pumping me up to write again, and I can feel productive because I’m learning about the craft. Plus, it gives me an excuse to spend time on Pinterest, which is where I find most writing articles.

Speaking of Pinterest…

I pin stuff on Pinterest.

It isn’t wasting time. It’s gathering inspiration. 😉

Searching for images that relate to a story I’m working on keeps me in that story’s world. And if I’m not working on a particular story, then the images I come across may give me an idea for one. I have a whole board dedicated to images that set my imagination going and another for photographs of people that could make excellent characters in a story. You can check them out here.

I go for a walk.

Sometimes, I just need to get away from all things writing, reading, and idea generating. Taking a fifteen to thirty minute walk is just the thing to reboot my brain. Although, sometimes I end up going over story ideas while I’m walking. I guess I just can’t escape.

(Those pesky story ideas that just won’t leave you alone.)

So now that I’ve told you about what I do to get back into writing mode, I’d love to know what you do to get re-inspired?   (Maybe I’ll learn a new trick.)

Your comments are another thing that keeps me inspired to write.  So get to  commenting already!  You wouldn’t want to be responsible for my nervous breakdown would you?  😉