Earthwolf http://www.writinghood.com//Earthwolf. New posts by Earthwolf Five Ways to Spiritually Renew a Writer’s Soul http://www.writinghood.com/Writing/Five-Ways-to-Spiritually-Renew-a-Writers-Soul.148553
  • Fire. Fire symbolizes rebirth, romance, and passion. If you're feeling spiritually deprived, rekindle your psyche by placing candles around your writing area. Turn off the lights and allow the fire to refresh your inner being. If you're outside, try lighting a bonfire or using an outdoor fireplace. The smell of roasting wood can work wonders on your writer's soul. Feeling adventurous? Try out different brands of incense.
  • Hiking. Exercising releases endorphins and leaves you feeling good the rest of the day. If you take care of your physical being, your spiritual being has a foundation it can use to restore itself. Find a favorite spot that you find aesthetically gorgeous: the woods, a lake. The choice is yours.
  • Music. Rather than listen to your usual collection of songs, try a different genre. If you like heavy metal, listen to classical. If rap dominates your musical collection, try country. Work to find the beauty in that particular song. Read the lyrics. Relate them to a particular emotion that you want to explore through writing. If you want a pensive mood, try listening to Beethoven's Moonlight sonata. If you're writing darker material, try listening to one of Shostakovich's symphonies.
  • Look for motivational quotes. Go to sites such as Quote Land. Look for quotes about writing or anything that you find motivational. Cut them out and display them around your work area. If you ever need a motivational budge, look over your quotes. Ensure that you refresh the quotes every once in a while so that the quotes don't become uninteresting.
  • Take a bath. Using water automatically symbolizes rebirth. With a bath, you can cleanse not only your physical self, but your mental and spiritual self as well. If you're feeling experimental, try bubble bath. The smell of soap, the bubbles, and the warm water not only creates an enjoyable experience, but it will leave you in a good mood that will allow you to write.
    • ]]>     Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:37:46 PST     10 Unusual Ways to Cure Writer’s Block http://www.writinghood.com/Writing/10-Unusual-Ways-to-Cure-Writers-Block.145357

  • Write down a list of titles

    Let your imagination rampage through any series of words, and use them to create titles that appeal to you. Even titles such as, “The Mortal Mirror,” “The Girl who Grew Weary,” or anything else you come up with may give you ideas that you can develop into stories. Try thinking of stories that go with the titles you dictated.

  • Research a topic that interests you

    Generally, you’ll find that you’re more successful with writing if you write about something that you find genuinely interesting. Choosing a topic will alert you to what subjects please your brain, thus sparking your muse.Knowing more about that interesting subject makes it easier to write about, and through researching, you may discover new angles on the topic that will rejuvenate your store of writing fodder.

  • Read song lyrics

    Song lyrics may allow you to zone in on certain emotions and motivate you to write.

  • Freewrite

    Get a pen and a piece of paper, set a timer for two minutes, and write down anything you can think of without pausing to think. This will alert you to what’s on your mind and may act as a gateway to more serious writing.

  • Engage in online roleplay

    There are several roleplay sites on the internet. Whether you want to write only a couple sentences each post or five paragraphs, you can easily find a roleplay site that suits you, of just about any topic you can possibly imagine. By just writing out the actions of a single character and interacting with other characters on the site, you can bounce your ideas off other people, improving your original ideas and even leading to the birth of new.

  • Google random words

    Think of the strangest, most obscure words your mind can form and search for them using a search engine of your choosing. You’ll find the activity both interesting and muse-forming.

  • Try writing in a different area

    . By merely migrating from your standard desk, you can plant yourself in a new environment that may help trigger new ideas. Try writing in your bathroom, your neighborhood park, the closest coffee shop. The locations are endless.

  • Take note of your dreams

    Keep a dream journal or recorder next to your bed, and as soon as you wake up, document the dreams you experienced. Later, look back on your dreams and try to find common themes or reoccurring scenes. They may give you a clue of what to write about.

  • Try writing in a different form

    If you usually write novels, try writing a play. If you’re used to writing plays, try writing poetry. Sometimes expanding your types of writing will motivate you enough to expand on previous ideas.

  • Read old works

    If you have a character you find interesting, think of characters from that character’s backstory. Often, you can integrate old ideas with the new and break free from an obstacle that prevents you from writing.
    • ]]>     Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:06:07 PST