What do you do when your mental idea factory comes to a grinding halt? Sometimes it’s not enough to sit staring at a blank screen. In fact, you might not want to be sitting at your computer at all. Check out where these MiG writers get their best ideas:
Debbie Ridpath Ohi: My best ideas come when I'm out for a walk. I used to always listen to music or audiobooks when I was out walking but now I tend not to listen to anything except my own thoughts. Inevitably, without really trying, I'll come up with a solution to a plot problem that's bugging me, or a new story idea.
Andrea Mack: I usually get my best ideas at the most inconvenient times. I often get them in the shower. There’s something about that running water and not having a pen and pencil that seems to inspire me. Do they make waterproof notebooks? I also get ideas in the middle of the night, when I’m supposed to be sleeping.
Christina Farley: My best ideas come when I run. I think part of it is that I'm away from everything that can distract me. Maybe there is something about endorphins pumping through my body that kicks in that creative adrenaline too!
Carmella Van Vleet: I find that I'm most creative, oddly enough, in the shower or bath. I guess there's something about the soothing and warm environment that loosens the cobwebs in my brain. (Maybe I was a mermaid in a former life.) In fact, when I'm stuck I'll often grab my journal and a pen and climb into a hot bath for inspiration. Sometimes I take notes but most of the time I just close my eyes, let my mind drift and play "What If". Maybe it works because my bathroom is the only quiet room in the house!
Kate Fall: My best ideas show up when I'm driving, especially when I'm on the same old commute and don't have to pay attention to my route. I cue up a playlist on my iPod that suits my story or shut off the radio altogether. I keep index cards in my purse and have been spotted in parking lots jotting down notes. I also get great ideas while I'm researching and reading non-fiction. And every time I go on vacation, I come up with a story based on the new place I'm visiting.
Where do you get your best ideas?
