This is something that writers feel comes in tidal waves some days and then can disappear for weeks at a time: inspiration. To fix those times when you are all set up to write, fingers at the keyboard or pen/pencil at the paper, but are depleted of inspiration, you just need a little boost! (This does not mean you will be inspired for one particular story, however.)
My mom is a teacher and avid scrapbooker. Because of this, there are whole books of miscellaneous, patterned paper hidden throughout our house. One day, I was looking to find paper to decorate a planner, and instead found myself going through a couple of these books and taking out any sheet I found neat looking. These pieces turned out to be great for quick impromptu writing sessions. I look at these papers and write whatever my mind thinks of when I see them. Or, if I am trying to get a certain feel for a scene, I can sift through the papers to see if one matches what I am trying to accomplish. From there, I write out any associations that accompany the paper (these can be details like texture or entire characters!).
Another way of obtaining inspiration is engaging your senses. Possibly the strongest memory trigger is smell. Find some lotion, lip balm, air freshener, laundry detergent, or even a drink. (coffee or tea both have a variety of strong smells to me. I also think the two usually smell better than they taste.) Get a good whiff, or ten. What memories do you immediately think of, what connections do you make in your head? This could lead many places: the too-flowery perfume of a preteen; the manly, eucalyptus cologne a little girl smells in her dad’s closet, the sweet, thick air of a carnival full to the brim with kettlecorn and candy apples.
Now, you might ask, what do I do with this inspiration? Where can I put the writing that comes out of this? Well, this can depend on what you produce. Much writing, surprisingly or not, is things that will never be published, never be worked on for more than a day, never have any “use.” Although every bit of writing does not funnel into a magnum opus, they each help you as a writer. You are improving your ability to make a reader see, hear, smell, taste, touch, feel (here, touch is the physical sense, while feel is psychological) everything you incorporate into your writing.
You know when you hear “practice makes perfect”? That’s wrong. Practice won’t make perfect, but practice will continue make you better and better! I like to think that there is no perfect, but rather an infinite expanse of skill before you. See how far you can go!
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