Avoiding and Overcoming Writer's Block: 27 Ways to Lure Your Muse -- by Rachel

The muse that lives deep in your subconscious is something of a sprite. You can write without her of course, if you don’t mind being methodical. But when the muse shows up, she takes your writing to a whole new level, offering plot surprises, adding in soulful wisdom you didn’t know you possessed, and giving your story a dreamlike quality.

The problem is that your muse is not easily tamed. She comes and goes at her own will. She is notoriously right-brained and knows nothing of schedules and deadlines. And yet, like the stray cat in your neighborhood, she can be lured in.

Over the years, I’ve learned a few things that work with my muse. Your muse, I’m sure, has his own personality, so your mileage may vary.

•  Ask yourself tough plot questions before you go to sleep. Your mind will get to work on it without your conscious self even being aware.
• Let your mind drift. When your guard is down, as you take a shower, walk the dog or do dishes, great ideas will surface.
•  Flirt with writing challenges that are too difficult for you. Your muse will take the dare, if you give her time.
•  Explore scene kernels. Take a snatch of dialogue or a small piece of action and set your mind to simmer for a few days before trying to expand it into a full-fledged scene.
•  Fire your internal editor. You can invite him back later once your muse has completed her work.
•  Release guilt, self-doubt and worries. The muse likes to play, so be a child at play.
•  Read poetry. It will enrich the word creator within you.
• Write lists of random evocative words. (See above).
• Take entire writing days. Send the kids to Grandma’s. Take a vacation from your day job. The longer you immerse yourself in the writing, the more your muse will surface.
• Take breaks from the writing. Muses need their rest too.
• Write dangerously. Forget the market. Forget your audience. Break a few conventions. You can always scale back later.
• Do your research. Whether you’re writing about a Viking ship or a modern day heart surgeon, your muse can be more creative if she’s well-informed.
• Say no. No to committee meetings. No to social media and Candy Crush. Writing time is golden, and it has to be protected.
• Follow rabbit trails. Leave the outline, and see where the what-if leads. Sometimes the muse just knows.
• Sleep well. A rested muse is more creative.
• Conversely, stay up late. If you’re on a roll, don’t let the muse leave.
• Do something you haven’t done before. If you’re not a singer, sing out loud. Cook exotic meals. Learn origami. Trying something new, especially something physical, releases another part of you.
• Let your muse free while you immerse yourself in a new book or movie. She’ll extract ideas that become totally original when they mix in with your story.
• Put it in writing. Notes have a way of kick-starting your muse into action.
• Twist the story without a clue of how it will resolve itself.
• Ask yourself what new and terrible things could go wrong for your character. Brainstorming new disasters and conflicts will add plot devices.
• Ask yourself what other motivations the character has in a scene. After you've exhausted every reason, keep listing, no matter how far out. Finding unexpected motivations will add dimension and creativity.
• If you're stuck rewrite the last scene. Switch from 3rd person to 1st, or write it from another character's POV just for play.  It may spark new ideas.
• Go outside. Sunlight and wind and grass invigorate us, and thus our stories.
• Live mindfully. Taste what you eat. Turn off the TV and listen to the sounds in your home. Feel the words on your tongue as you talk. Bring your senses alive and it will build new grooves into your story.
• Be patient. If your story is in knots, work on some other aspect. Meanwhile, your muse will be untangling the story threads under the surface.
• Most of all, don’t try too hard to design the first draft. Ride the story’s waves. Control has its place, but the stories with the biggest hearts come from a place of freedom.

There is more to the mind than we know. It has multiple levels and works in ways we don’t always understand. Give those deeper levels permission, and your muse will work hard for you.