ARE YOU DRY?

     I've been living in Colorado for almost fifteen years and I still can’t get used to the dryness. If I want to zap one of my kids with static electricity (which I would never do and they can’t prove it) I would not have to drag my feet across the carpet. Everything I touch get zapped, which is why I’m in the habit of grounding myself before I pick up my laptop.

     However my article isn’t about that kind of dryness. I’m talking about the dryness of inspiration. Those times when we are so on fire for our passion and then all of sudden it leaves us. Maybe we get discouraged or we don’t feel value in what we’ve done, or maybe it’s a physical aliment that beats us down. Whatever it might be, we can rise above it and fight to get that the inspirational fire back into our souls.

                                       MY LIST

1. Get active! Even taking a walk increases the blood circulation to the brain. I get some of my best ideas when I’m in motion. 

2. Subscribe to daily quotes. I like all kinds of quotes. From movies, to writers, or even scripture verses, are huge motivational tools. 

3. Look for writing prompts (Writers). Just the other day I saw a request from an online publisher for flash fiction (500 words or less). It was not only a great exercise, but if they like my piece it will be published on their site. With my juices flowing, I also dug into my own WIP and made great progress—a win win even if the exercise doesn’t get chosen. 

4. Subscribe to bloggers who shares similar interests. For writer; find an agent, publisher or editor you admire and subscribe to their feed. My favorite agent is Rachelle Gardner, of Books and Such Publishing. I may not read her blog everyday, but I try to read a few times a week (she’s a daily blogger). 

5. Set-up a blog. Lots of free sites out there! Start off with a once a month blog. Blog about your passion, use the internet to learn more about your passion and then share it! Develop your own ‘groupies’ who can help inspire you.  

6. Get on facebook. I know, it’s scary at first, but going after your dream is scary and why not team up with others who either are going through the same thing or have already been there and can offer advice. 

7. Critique Group (for writers). I can’t tell you how much I love my writing group! They are the reason my first novel was good enough to land a publishing contract. They didn’t hold anything back and really stretched my writing potential (and still—the sequel is going through the group currently).

8. Keep friends close! Friends are those who will lift us up at all times. I know if I’m having a bad day, need a prayer said for me, or just feel down, I have those friends who bring me back into the light. We all have those times and need encouraging words, so be on the lookout for those you can encourage as well.

     These are just my suggestion to help keep the spring flowing and not allow your inspiration to run dry like the desert rivers. Meanwhile, I continue to lather up my physical body with lotion to combat the dryness of Colorado air. 

What are some things that help keep you inspired to follow your dreams, whether it’s writing or making lifetime changes for your health? 

Happy Writing!