Top Ten Ways to Get Writing Inspiration

I always say you can't wait on "the muse" to write, but it is definitely a plus if you're feeling inspired. So today I've rounded up my top 10 favorite ways to get inspired (or re-inspired) to write my books and stories! :D 

1. Read a Book or Watch a Good Movie. This ALWAYS does the trick for me. Invest a little time in some well-crafted characters, and a cool plot and I always come away bubbling with ideas and itching to write on my own stuff. Obviously, don't copy what you read or watch, but just use it as a way to inspire you to write your own amazing works! 
2. Listen to some music. If you are able to make a playlist-- or maybe find a new album to listen to, this is a crazy good way to get inspiration for writing. One of my major tips that I've been using for years is to use a site with stock music for films, audio dramas, etc. I started with an app called Booktrack which lets you paste in your own book and add music and sound effects to it for an immersive reading experience. (Which is really a cool idea), but I only used it for writing, lol. I'd pop in some of my book, add music for certain times and essentially create a mini playlist with it and never actually take it out of "draft" mode. But obviously, that's kind of weird and backwards, as there are plenty of websites where you can even download music for free if you want to. You can search by mood on these sites, or even by instrument, genre of music, etc, which makes it so awesome for finding music to inspire you! Classical music and soundtracks are also great ways to get "mood" music which will have you reaching for your pen in no time. ;) (Really! You should try it.) 
3. People-Watch. Even if you're the kind of person who likes to stay around home, it's a great idea to go to some public or semi-public place to people watch. It's super fun, can be incredibly interesting, and will help you understand ways to make your characters even more rounded and realistic. Try a train station, a coffee-shop, a library, a mall or department store, a hospital (but don't go if you don't have to, lol) or even just sitting in your car in a parking lot or next to a busy sidewalk. There are chances to watch people literally everywhere, and if you keep your eyes open it can be really helpful. 
4. Create a Book Mood-Board on Pinterest. Basically works the way the music playlist does but for the eyes. Creating a mood board or story board on Pinterest for your book is a great way to collect ideas, get inspired, and maybe even do some research the fun way, lol. 
5. Try Mind-Mapping. It's actually really fun. Basically you write down on a (large) piece of paper something you're thinking about. It can be totally random. And then from there you draw a line connecting it to another bubble of thought, connecting each bubble of thought that goes along with another, or branching out and starting off in a new direction from the main bubble, and so on till you decide you're finished. It's cool because you can easily end up with a developed (to some degree) story even when you just start with something simple or boring. 
6. Read some Blogs.  There's so many awesome blogs out there with great tips and inspiring posts in all different niches!  Go to some of your favorite blogs and read some of their posts, or use Pinterest to search for posts in a certain topic from all different blogs. 
7. Read the News. Whether it's politics or the amazing "feel-good" stories from around the world, the news can be a source of a ton of great ideas. Obviously, there is a lot of bad news out there, and I'd suggest reading news in general with caution, but it can really be a good way to get ideas for your book.
8. Discover historical stories. Let's take it back now! History is a treasure chest loaded with inspiration. From old photos to articles on history to little known bits and pieces, there is SO much to be found. A good place to look is on history blogs or websites, Pinterest, and of course, historical books!
9. Talk to People. People are intriguing, let's just all agree there. And talking to people is a great way to get experience for your characters. Ask them questions, try to determine their character and personality. You can have a long, nice reminiscence with your grandma or a quick conversation with your grocer. If you're watching, listening, and thinking, a lot will be revealed. ;)
10. Spend some time in nature. Take a walk or climb a tree. Enjoy the time out nature to just be free to think. No technology, and preferably alone... You might be amazed at how inspired you can get just from giving yourself some time to be quiet and think. 

Question of the Day:
So there you have it! Ten of my top ways to get inspiration for writing! What are some of your favorite ways to be inspired? Let me know in the comments! 

Before I go, be sure to follow me on Pinterest! I know I talk about it a lot but it really is a great tool for writers! If you are on Pinterest already, go follow me so we can share bookish pins and inspire each other-- and if you're not on Pinterest, you really should start an account! I have lots of boards, from character development to storytelling to inspiration to mood boards and more... And here's a quick tip. If there's a blog post you really enjoy and found useful, go ahead and pin it so you can share it with others and have easy access for yourself later! Win-win, y'all. :D

You all have a lovely day!
<3
Victoria

P.S. If you liked this post, you'll probably enjoy these posts, too!
Ten Things I Wish I Knew As a Young Author
Five Writing Myths That Aren't True
Five Different Ways to Plan Your Book