According to the Oxford Dictionary, rituals have many definitions but are mostly“a series of actions or type of behaviour regularly and invariably followed by someone.” Why are rituals important to writers? Well, rituals are mental cues to trigger the flow state, or meditative state, in which a creative is at the height of their concentration. Rituals help circumvent unavoidable stress. Sometimes there are things in your life that you cannot remove. Even if you are…
With all that effort placed on writing, it’s important to keep our work somewhere safe. And organised. When I was younger, I used to write my ideas on post-its. And as you guessed it, I misplaced most of them. Sometimes I found them after a quick search, other times I found them years later hidden all the way at the back of a drawer, plastered or wedged into the wood. As I got older, I…
I have a plan for what order in which I want to post my articles. Mostly chronologically, but I wanted to get this article out now rather than later. My friend, AK Lee, has begun a monthly prompt challenge for 2026, and I am excited to get started. Let’s start with the basics: What is a prompt? Under the Oxford Dictionary, prompts “(of an event or fact) cause or bring about (an action or feeling),…
In the last article, I spoke about allowing inspiration. Now we will talk about where you can source those inspirations to stimulate your imagination. Again, this is not a comprehensive list, but a list to help you launch your research in the right direction. Art Fairs or Museums: Art stimulates the mind and soul. Have a walk around with friends or family and explore. Pro tip if you have kids: print out a sheet of…
As a followup to the previous week, this post will concentrate on how we can expand our field of vision. Below is a list of places, sources, and whatnot to help you find ideas so you can make those precious connections. Please note this is not a comprehensive list. More like a sampler. Ideas in the shower & other places: Many people say they find their best ideas in the shower. The reason? Well, when…
