How to Get in the Mood...

Oh yea, baby, you know what I'm talking about. You know there are times when you are sitting there, all alone in your darkened bedroom. You get that feeling in your body. That tingly sensation in your fingertips. You know you want to do it. You feel the cool, smooth surface of your desk, and you know the time is right. So, dim those lights, pop open a can of Monster Energy Drink, and start pounding that keyboard...

But there are times when you just don't feel like it. You've heard the excuses. "I have a headache" "I'm too tired, I'll do it tomorrow."

Well, enough of that. Here are some methods you might want to try to get you in the mood.

Start by doing it by hand - I've always felt that using a pen and paper is a much better way to start off, rather than using your word processor. You can be extra sloppy. If you mess up, don't worry, just cross it out and try again. When you've got it all down on paper, transfer it on to the computer, where you can clean it up, fix any mistakes. It's basically like a second draft. But be careful not to get your ink everywhere...

Do a quickie - It doesn't matter if it's one word, one sentence, or one page. Just bang it out. Whenever an idea pops in to your head, no matter how big or small (no, size does not matter), get it out of your head and on to the page. Trust me, they'll keep coming to you until, eventually, you'll have a story on your hands.

Watch someone else do it - Sometimes, getting inspiration can come in a variety of ways. If you're trying to write a fantasy story, watch your favorite fantasy movie, or read a chapter from your favorite fantasy novel. It'll help get you in the mindset you need to flesh out your story or characters.

Do it in a place you've never done it before - Sure, the bed or the desk might be a place to get started. But, after a while, it can start to become boring and will eventually turn you off from doing it ever again. So, spice it up a bit. Go to a nice, relaxing spot, like a park or the library, and really go to town on it.

Find a partner to do it with - Sometimes, writing on your own can get a bit tricky. You start to doubt yourself, or find yourself at a wall that you just cannot seem to hop over. So, bring in someone else - a friend, peer, coworker, and have them help you out a bit. They can give you advice, point you in the right direction, even help you flesh out an idea.

I hope these words of advice really do help put you in the mood to write your next big idea. And if you thought this post was for anything other than how to get your next writing idea off the ground, then shame on you. Such a dirty mind people have nowadays. Eesh...