Explore Your World

As the tagline for my blog lets you know, I'm a hillbilly hermit. I don't go out a lot. New people in big numbers make me nervous. Even so, one of the things I do to get my writing mojo going, is to leave the house.

*gasp* I know, very shocking.

But necessary.

When you're staring at the same four walls everyday or the variation is home/work/grocery store/home, that can be very taxing for your creativity. Take it to the streets, take a walk, go somewhere new, or even go to somewhere you love but haven't gone to in a long time.

Shake things up.

This is my advice for the next October when you're writing a poem each day and you're starting to feel drained of new ideas. When you're feeling stuck, try something different. Explore the world around you.

You're inspiration is waiting for you. Sometimes you have to look for it.

Tamara Woods was raised (fairly happily) in West Virginia where she began penning poems after a boy broke her heart. She shares poetry, short stories and writer interviews on her blog, PenPaperPad. Her writing has been featured in Mamalode, In the Powder Room, and many others. She is the editor for The Reverie Journal, which will be releasing it's first poetry collection early October. She also hosts #writestuff TweetChat where writers talk about writing every Tuesday at 9 pm EST. She is a hillbilly hermit living in Honolulu with her Mathmagician.

Finding inspiration in the world around you

Some people say writer's block is a myth. I think it's more of just a lack of inspiration. The imagination well may feel dry, but trying to observe like around you in a different way can dispel that gray pall. 

Take a good look around you. 

Your walk to work. Are there people sleeping on benches? Is your favorite coffee shop on your way? 

Car ride to drop off the kids at soccer practice. Is there a Mom you try to avoid? Wonder what her life is like at home? 

The scar on your knee: Remember that time you were trying to sneak into a concert, 

and you snagged your jeans while trying to snake through that hole in the fence?

You cats wrapped around your ankles while sipping pumpkin latte from your favorite mug. Feels like home doesn't it? 

The crisp sounds of leaves crunching under your feet. Can you smell autumn in the air? 

Stopping to smell the roses on your way to the mailbox, It reminds you of grandmother.

Anything can be inspiration. 

The best tool to have in your poet's kit, are your senses, especially when you're paying attention to the emotions. One of the reasons people connect to poetry is the feelings it evokes. Taking in the words, interpreting them through the reader's lens of experience and then she nods in understanding.

If you're feeling the pinch of writer's block and you're wondering what to write. If you're looking for inspiration and you're coming up short, try looking at things a different way. Try closing your eyes and listening to the world around you. What do you hear? Even if your home is quiet, you may still hear birds tweeting outside, the house settling on its haunches or the clack of your dogs toenails against the vinyl kitchen floor. What do the sounds tell you?

Try imagining what your life would look like from the outside looking in. You may find it mundane, but your grandchildren running around driving around batty while your husband is snoozing in the lounge chair could make for an interesting poem about home, family and life. 

There's so much inspiration in the world around you. You may just need to look a with a new pair of eyes. 

Count Down: 9 Days until OctPoWriMo!

Tamara Woods was raised (fairly happily) in West Virginia, where she began writing poetry at the age of 12. She shares poetry and short stories on her blog PenPaperPad, is a contributing writer for the online ‘zineLefty Pop and writes articles as a full-time freelance writer. She is editor for an upcoming poetry journal collaboration, and hosts #writestuff TweetChat where writers talk about writing. She is a hillbilly hermit in Honolulu living with her Mathmagician.