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Author’s Block: What To Do When Your Muse Goes On A Vacation

By Barbara Conelli

You don’t get new writing ideas, or you do but you seem unable to turn your ideas into sentences, paragraphs, chapters. You feel that your writing is going nowhere, you are going nowhere, and you start questioning your own talent and skills.

Before you throw the computer out of the window and renounce writing forever, try these simple steps. Believe me, they work. Guaranteed! (Actually, you may find out that you don’t really need your spoiled, capricious muse after all.)

1. Don’t obsess about it
Okay, so maybe you’ve planned to write a certain number of pages or words every day and now you’re falling behind the schedule. So what? Relax. When things get better, you will soon and easily make up for the lost time. Writing is a creative process that should be allowed to flow naturally. You cannot (and you mustn’t) force yourself to write at all costs when you don’t feel like it. Writing is fun and you should find pleasure in it. Let’s face it, if you don’t write with passion, the result will be flat anyway. So stop worrying about it; a short break will do you good.

2. Get out of your comfort zone
Look for new experiences. It doesn’t matter what you do, and it doesn’t need to be related to your book. Just get out of the house and have fun. Go away for the weekend, try a new exciting activity, go to a concert, meet new people. New experiences bring new waves of energy into your life and wake up your tired brain. Forget about your writing for a couple of days and focus on new, fun stuff instead. You will see that new ideas will start popping up in your head in no time and you will find joy in writing again.

3. Create a writing ritual
Create your personal writing ritual. Some writers have their own “writing corner” where they don’t do anything else but write. Others have “writing clothes” that they wear only when they work on their book. You can have your personal “writing tea”, “writing food” or “writing scent”. Such rituals get you in the mood for writing and send a clear signal to your brain telling it that now it’s time to be creative. If possible, set a specific time for writing every day. Switch off the cell phone and tell your family and friends not to disturb you, unless it’s a question of life and death. Stick to your writing rituals and indulge in your writing routine. You will grow to love it.

When your muse leaves, it is your chance to experience new things, come up with fresh ideas and eventually become a better writer. So don’t fear your muse’s vacation time: You know you can write another great chapter of your masterpiece without her.

Barbara Conelli is a bestselling author, travel writer and proud indie publisher. She’s very passionate about sharing her publishing journey with fellow authors. To learn more about Barb’s Chique Books filled with Italian passion, please visit her website http://www.barbaraconelli.com You’re also welcome to check out her blog for more articles about independent publishing http://barbaraconelliblog.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Authors-Block:-What-To-Do-When-Your-Muse-Goes-On-A-Vacation&id=6626794] Author’s Block: What To Do When Your Muse Goes On A Vacation

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