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8 Business and Life Tips for Artists, From Artists

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8 Business and Life Tips for Artists, From Artists

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Image courtesy of Rene Romero Schuler
We asked eight accomplished artists what advice they have for finding success in the art world.

While there are never any hard-and-fast rules when it comes to a creative career, and there are undoubtedly a thousand different ways to "make it," these artists offer up some guidelines that have helped them along the way.

1. Keep working!

Don't let anyone's opinion of your work stop you from doing what you are so driven to do. The work will evolve. I think taking in criticism along the way will definitely shape the direction of your practice. That is inevitable. But don't ever try to deliberately force your work to fit the desires of the masses.

First and foremost, focus on your practice. Second, make sure you have a strong, cohesive body of work. Third, make your presence known. - Rene Romero Schuler

2. Stay humble

... and don't sign anything until your dad looks at it first. - Tyler Wallach

3. Get out into the world and meet with people

I work alone in the studio-especially when getting ready for shows-for weeks on end. It can get lonely. By the time the show comes, I'm dying for social interactions. These shows are so important because they get me chatting with people about my art.- Teresa Haag

4. Consider the endgame

Look at your art as though you are a potential buyer. One thing that a lot of artists don't understand is that people usually want to purchase art that is going to live in their homes with them. In areas outside of NYC, LA, and Brussels and the like, if you do a work of high concept art that is a statement about the devolution of man as represented by rubberized foam worms suspended from a ceiling over kiddy pools filled with artificially sweetened coffee, you're probably not going to find someone to buy it for their home.

My advice is to look at your art as though you are a potential buyer. You can figure out a lot if you do that. Many years ago, I showed in San Francisco and couldn't sell a thing. I was depressed until I thought about it and did some careful research. I discovered that most of the homes owned by people that could buy my work had walls that were way too small for it. - Lawrence Lee

5. Surround yourself with supportive people

It is a huge benefit to have a community or network of people who love you and your work and encourage you at every opportunity. It's also true that you are the one who cares the most about your art. It's possible to succeed without having a good support system, but it is a lot more painful. - Linda Tracey Brandon

6. Hold tight to your vision

The first thing I tell them is to stop letting other people steal their dreams. It's really up to us as to how we filter what we're told and we have a responsibility as artists to bring what we have to say to the world. It's imperative.

Making art is like anything else when creating a business. It's about creating something first that is powerful, then going about the business of learning to run a business, then putting them together. I know it sounds simple and it's not, but that is the first step. - Jeanne Bessette

7. Compete only with yourself

Avoid competitions, contests and measuring yourself by how many shows you've gotten into or awards you've won. Seek validation internally, you will never please everyone. - Anne Kullaf

8. Create a solid foundation
Hungry for more tips? Check out these five tips for getting into a gallery.
If you want to go higher, you will need an unshakeable base-and that begins with good organization. I, in particular, use Artwork Archive to get organized. I am able to have a general vision of where my works are and what I have to do. That puts my mind at ease and has allowed me to think about other things. I can concentrate on what I like. - Amaury Dubois

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8 Business and Life Tips for Artists, From Artists

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Image courtesy of Rene Romero Schuler While there are never any hard-and-fast rules when it comes to a creative career, and there are undoubtedly a thousand different ways to "make it," these artists offer up some guidelines that have helped them along the way.

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21 Basic Photography Tips for Beginners to Take Great Pictures

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Taking your first steps in the photo world? These photography tips for beginners will help you develop your raw talent into an outstanding portfolio.

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"10 Artists Who Inspire Me to Make More Art"

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"10 Artists Who Inspire Me to Make More Art"

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10 Artists Who Inspire Me to Make More Art

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My challenge to you is to pull out your journal and make some sketches or notes about what captures your imagination or speaks to your soul from these artists, or any 10 artists you admire. These scribblings will fuel your future creations, just as these artists' creations were likely fueled by similar notes, sketches, and fragments in their artist journals.

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THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT YOUR FEATURE IS TO CREATE IT

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Poems, readings, poetry news and the entire 110-year archive of POETRY magazine.

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Denise has been studying and teaching art and painting for 40+ years. She has won numerous prestigious awards for her art and design.
Drawing Tips for Beginners

In this article, we'll look at six drawing tips for beginners:

1. Remember That Anyone Can Draw

2. Doodling Is Still Drawing

3. Learn About the History of Pencils to Understand Lead Grades

4. Try Charcoal Instead of Regular Pencil Lead (Instructions on How to Use and Sharpen Charcoal Pencils)

5. Try Toned Paper

6. Consider the Placement and Shape of the Eyes

Tip #1: Remember That Anyone Can Draw

The idea that people cannot learn to draw is ludicrous. Just the idea that you aren't talented enough to learn creates a mental block that will prevent you from learning. Talent isn't some aristocracy that you are born into, or if you are not you are doomed to mediocrity. If that were so all my children would be artists, or perhaps I would not. Just like learning the piano, languages or mathematics, drawing can be taught and learned. It is time and practice that makes all the difference.

Tip #2: Doodling Is Still Drawing

Drawing is one of those things that everyone likes to do. Sure, we call it doodling, noodling, scribbling or dabbling and not drawing, but that's what we are really doing. You might call it cartooning, depiction, design, etching, graphics, likeness, picture, sketch, layout, art, composition, doodle, portrayal, outline, tracing, caricature, representation, rendering, illustration, image, portraiture, conception, brain-storming, form, motif, stylization, abstraction, decoration, replica, copy and more.

Drawing Is Easy Art

The great thing about drawing is that it eliminates color and only concentrates on line and form, so it is really the easiest form of art there is. I doodled from a very early age and it wasn't till I was 13 that someone told me I had a talent and should think about taking art classes in high school. It was a revelation. Before that, no one told me much more than that I had really poor spelling skills. One English teacher told me to buy a pocket dictionary and WEAR IT. I would be offended but I was totally aware of my atrocious spelling (thank God for spellcheck!).

Tip #3: Learn About the History of Pencils to Understand Lead Grades

By the fourteenth century, paper was being used more and more by artists. Early drawings done by Leonardo da Vinci and other High Renaissance artists were done in sanguine or red chalk, pen and ink or silverpoint. Silverpoint was actually expensive to use because it was made of real silver combined with an element to make it softer and shaped like a pencil. As you know, silver tarnishes or turns black with age. This is perfect for drawings. One soft silver line turned into a dark line with age. Too bad we can't really draw with silver today. I would love that. Later they made pencils out of real lead, but lead is poisonous and prolonged contact with it can give the artist lead poisoning. Even surrounded by wood, the lead was dangerous because people love to put things in their mouths... enough said.

Carbon was the likely alternative. Carbon or charcoal is very fragile and breaks easily. So some genius mixed the carbon with clay. The clay stabilized the carbon making it stronger and the carbon was still dark enough to be visible on paper. Today this "lead" has various grades of hardness.

Pencil Lead Hardness Scale

HB is the clay and carbon in equal amounts in the lead and makes for a nice hard lead with light crisp lines.

2B through 6B are softer and softer, mixing less clay with the carbon so the lines made are darker and softer. The problem is that these leads are also easier to break than the HB.

2H through 6H have less and less carbon to the amount of clay. They are very hard and make lighter and lighter lines. These are often used by architects, who want very thin, very precise lines.

Tip #4: Try Charcoal Instead of Regular Pencil Lead

I find regular pencil lead, even the 6B soft ones, to be extremely shiny. This is no problem when you are just sketching for yourself, but if you want to scan and share these drawings the glare makes them hard to scan. The shininess of the lead photographs poorly and can't be saved digitally without plenty of camera and lighting expertise. I prefer charcoal.

How to Use Charcoal Pencils

The charcoal pencils also come in HB through 6B and sharpen well if you use a knife (or Exacto blade) and sandpaper. Never try putting a charcoal pencil in a pencil sharpener. You will be very disappointed with the outcome.

Also, sharpening manually allows you to give yourself a very long point to the pencils so that using the side of the pencil gives wide soft lines, while the point still gives crisp ones.

On top of this, I buy vine charcoal. This is not mixed with any clay or binder and the vine charcoal is so soft it can be rubbed off with your finger. It makes it perfect for changing things of fixing mistakes before committing to the HB or other charcoal pencils.

They do NOT erase easily. You will need to use a kneaded gum eraser with charcoal. The kneaded gum eraser is not like regular erasers. You don't rub with it. You knead it and shape it into a point or thin space and blot with it. It pulls up the charcoal a little at a time. Knead it some more and keep blotting to pull up the charcoal.

Video: How to Sharpen Charcoal Pencils

Tip #5: Try Toned Paper

Sometimes I used toned paper and pretend that the tone on the paper is the middle value. Then I have to build up the darker values and use a white charcoal pencil or white pastel pencil for the highlights. I like the toned paper because some of the work is already done with the middle value already there. Also, I like being able to add a highlight just where I want it.

The deal is that you cannot and should NOT mix the white with the black. It doesn't look right or good. The area where the white goes must first be free of any black smudges to be pure. This is done with a kneaded gum eraser.

Tip #6: Consider the Placement and Shape of the Eyes

Point of View Is Key to Eye Placement: Usually, eyes are placed halfway between the top of the head and the chin... but not always. The exceptions to the rule happen with points of view and ethnicity. If the person is tilting the head up the eyes will appear higher, if the person has his head tilting downward the eyes will appear lower and you will see more of the top of the head. Always consider the perspective so that you can get the placement right.

Eyes Are Not Almond-Shaped (And They're Tilted): Consider the shape of the eyes as well. Eyes are not really almond-shaped. The upper curve does not usually match the lower eyelid curve. Also, some eyes are tilted so that the outer point is higher than the inner eye tear ducts, or vice versa. Take note of this as you draw and you will get a better likeness.

Video: My Grandson in Charcoal

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on September 25, 2020:

Candi,

I'm so happy you found my tips helpful. I draw something every day and so I have honed my skills. Just like an athlete must exercise every day to get strong, if you will just keep it up you will see improvement every day. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Candi on September 15, 2020:

Your work is soooo amazing Denise. I love it!!! And I have used your tips to draw some not so amazing pictures!!!!

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on July 25, 2020:

Vanshika Anand,

I'm so glad you found these tips helpful. Do come again and check out my other articles on drawing. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Vanshika Anand on July 25, 2020:

It's really helpful to me and I like these tips thanks for these tips it will help me in my drawing

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on October 12, 2018:

Terry Daisley,

I would love to look at your work. Send it to my email listed above under contact author.

Blessings,

Denise

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on October 12, 2018:

Thank you, John. I do try to work on good content.

Blessings,

Denise

Terry daisley on October 12, 2018:

Hi there, I have never took any at clear and just want your opinion on were I land with skill levelHey ya. Can I send you a couple of pics.? Denise

Johnc792 on August 16, 2018:

As I web site possessor I believe the content material here is rattling great , appreciate it for your hard work. You should keep it up forever! Good Luck. eedaeddfdfbd

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on July 30, 2016:

Oh my friend, Cornelia, you make me blush. So kind of you to think I am great. I really want to be someday, but I don't think I am there yet. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Korneliya Yonkova from Cork, Ireland on July 30, 2016:

Thank you for this tutorial hub, my friend. I learned so many new things and techniques. Maybe you are right that anyone could draw. But I think that very small amount of people could be great artists like you. Your works are really amazing! :)

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on July 21, 2016:

Hi Norma, do you still live in Fresno? We could be neighbors. I'm glad you are going to try again. It isn't easy keeping a likeness but creating a face drawing isn't so hard. People want the drawing to look like them so that's where the real study comes in. The smallest change of eye placement or length of nose and suddenly the drawing doesn't look like the subject anymore. It's all about measuring and practice. Good luck. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Norma Lawrence on July 16, 2016:

I loved your article. I can draw animals but drawing people is out. I have tried but the results are terrible. After reading your article I am going to try again. Thanks so much. I went to college in Fresno.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 26, 2016:

hari,

I'm so glad you will start again. Inspiration is everywhere; old faces, young faces, family faces, friends faces. Draw whatever is closest to you and expand from there. You may be surprised where it leads you. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Hari Prasad S from Bangalore on June 26, 2016:

Inspirational hub. Thanks paintdrips. I stopped it but will start again. Wiill refer this article to keep the momentum.

- hari

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 25, 2016:

DDE,

Thank you for saying so but I think anyone can draw who really wants to learn. It does take a lot of time and dedication, though. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on June 25, 2016:

Art is amazing and requires talent.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 20, 2016:

MsDora,

Well, a good drawing is necessary for a good painting. And it is easier to draw in black and white than to work out all the color variations. I think that's what I meant about easier. It is the black and white plus shading without color that is easiest. Sorry for the confusion. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on June 20, 2016:

Drawing is easy art? I still don't think so, but you're a good teacher and illustrator. Thanks for the challenge, the instructions and the inspiration.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 17, 2016:

Dbro,

I'm really sorry to be confusing. I'm a professional freelance artist working with publishers of children's books and sometimes working with fine art photography as well. My father was one who discouraged me from the arts because he was rightly concerned that I wouldn't be able to make a living. But I love it so much... as you say, the sheer joy of it. You just couldn't dissuade me from pursuing it and though I may never make a fortune, I make a small living and that's enough for me. Still it has taken me many years of practice all the time, every day without fail to get to place where I think I'm marketable. That's all I meant. Thanks for talk to me about it.

Blessings,

Denise

Dbro from Texas, USA on June 17, 2016:

Hi, again, Paintdrips. I'm kind of confused by your response to my comment. Nowhere in my comment on your article did I mention anything about monetary profit. I know from my own experience that pursuing a career in the arts, maybe especially the visual arts, is no way to try to make a lot of money. I think most people, myself included, create art for the sheer joy of it.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 17, 2016:

jeffduff,

You make a good point. Few have the drive, tenacity and sheer love of art to continue practicing year after year when there are easier methods at their disposal such as photography. Still I find a person with both artistic skill and a good camera can marry the two and come up with some fabulous combinations. The spark of art comes from within. If you haven't the time or inclination to put in the kind of practice it take, then get a camera and develop your talents there. By the way, all these drawings were done by myself. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Jeff Duff from Southwest Wisconsin on June 17, 2016:

In a general sense I agree that anyone with modest (or better) intelligence can learn to draw, but I will admit to my belief that drawing with great skill is an artistic talent. All of the pencil artists who did the drawings above are talented, far better than I and the majority of people will ever be! Anyone can splash oil paints around on a canvas, but extremely few oil painters come close having the artistic talent of a Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh or Picasso.

To go a step further, I believe that this is part of the impetus of the widespread popularity of photography. It allows for an impressive artistic expression by people - like myself - who have not the manual dexterity (and patience) to become good at drawing or painting!

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 16, 2016:

AudreyHowitt,

My sister is also a singer and guitarist but not me. I'm so glad you like my process. I appreciate you saying so. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Audrey Howitt from California on June 16, 2016:

I just have never done this--although I doodle all the time--I was always a singer and my sister was always the artist--and we still inhabit those roles--I loved that you shared your process with us--it helps demystify it a bit more for me

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 16, 2016:

Dbro,

My friend, you are very welcome. I love encouraging fellow learners in the arts. It isn't a popular thing, in that it often isn't profitable. All the more reason to encourage people to pursue it. It think it has other benefits far beyond monetary "profit"; such as its therapeutic qualities, aesthetically pleasing and personally calming. And I have the added incentive of remembering how it felt to be told I was wasting my time and all artists starve to death, etc. I never want to be guilty of that kind of inhibiting, negative, belittling dogma. If art is in you, let it out where everyone can benefit from seeing it. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Dbro from Texas, USA on June 16, 2016:

This is a great article, Paintdrips! I really appreciate all of the lovely drawings you used to illustrate your ideas. I agree with everything you said about learning to draw. I'm not sure I'd say drawing was "easy," though. It is as challenging to me as it was 50 some odd years ago when I first started making marks on paper. It is, however, endlessly compelling and rewarding to me. I appreciate your encouragement to people learning to draw (I still am). I think gaining proficiency in drawing is more a matter of motivation than it is "talent."

Thank you again for this valuable article.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 16, 2016:

Thank you so much, Nell. I figure many people are artists deep down and were never given the chance to explore that side of their creativity. It probably came out in other ways, like cooking, baking, music, singing, or interior decorating. The shading thing does take some practice to actually see the 5 values in a form. But after a while it become second nature. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 16, 2016:

Reynold Jay,

Thank you very much for that. I was thinking I could maybe teach at the college level, maybe online classes so I don't have to travel far. I would love that. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 16, 2016:

billybuc,

Well, that "Anyone can draw" remark does imply anyone who really wants to. Those that have no interest need not apply. However all artists need and appreciate the patrons. Thank you as always for the encouragement and the virtual high-five. I always love that.

Blessings,

Denise

Nell Rose from England on June 16, 2016:

Wow! I am blown away by your talent! I can't draw, well I can, as you say, we all can, lol! but the one thing I am useless at is shading. That's why I could never say my drawings are up to much. My aunt was an exceptional artist, and my brother is pretty good too. I love this hub, its really fascinating to watch the whole process form, nell

Reynold Jay from Saginaw, Michigan on June 16, 2016:

Hi Denise, This lesson is one I never received in college art classes! I could have used it to good practice. Lots of good information--you would have made a great college art professor for me! Well done.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on June 16, 2016:

I'm just going to move right by that section that says "anyone can draw" and return to my own reality....I'll just sit back and enjoy your talent and not try to force mine, which has been hidden now for 67 years. LOL

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Drawing the Human Face (Tips for Beginner Artists)

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Drawing is a fun thing to do. Most people love to doodle even if they aren't "artists" or imagine they have any drawing skills. It helps us to think, solve problems, imagine. Learn more about drawing and try these tips for drawing faces.

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10 Quick Tips on Drawing to help you in your drawing skills.

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6 Simple Camera Hacks To Get You Off AUTO Mode Forever

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7 SIMPLE photography TIPS I wish I knew EARLIER

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Take Your Digital Photography to the Next Level!

Whether you are a beginner or more experienced with photography, here are some of our favorite tips that will help you improve your photography!

This rule helps you take eye-catching pictures by using one of the most effective rules of composition.

If you want to take pictures that have a "wow" factor built in them, the Rule of Thirds is the composition secret you need to take advantage of!

To use the rule of thirds, imagine four lines, two lying horizontally across the image and two vertical creating nine even squares. Some images will look best with the focal point in the center square, but placing the subject off-center at one of the intersecting points of the imaginary lines will often create a more aesthetically composed photograph.

When a photograph is composed using the rule of thirds the eyes will wander the frame. A picture composed using the rule of thirds is usually more pleasing to the eye.

If you want to take great photos that you'd be proud of, by using the rules of composition, check out the easy-to-follow Incredibly Important Composition Skills Course!
Read our article on The Rule of Thirds to learn more.
Camera shake or blur is something that can plague any photographer and here are some ways to avoid it.

First, you need to learn how to hold your camera correctly; use both hands, one around the body and one around the lens and hold the camera close to your body for support.

Also, for handheld shooting, make sure that you are using a shutter speed that is appropriate for your lens' focal length. If you're shutter speed is too slow, any unintentional movement of the camera will result in your entire photograph coming out blurry.

The rule of thumb is not to shoot at a shutter speed that is slower than your focal length to minimize this problem:

1 / Focal Length (in mm) = Minimum Shutter Speed (in seconds)

So, as an example, if you're using a 100mm lens, then your shutter speed should be no lower than 1/100th of a second.

Use a tripod or monopod whenever possible.

Are you confused by any of the terminology? Do you want to easily control your camera and finally get rid of the confusion about focal length, aperture, shutter speed, and other settings?

If so, check out our most recommended course: Extremely Essential Camera Skills. It's the easiest and quickest way to learn how to take great photos while learning all the basics of your camera.

Learn to use the Exposure Triangle

To get your photos looking their best, you need to master the three basics: Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO.

You also need to understand the relationships between these three controls. When you adjust one of them, you would usually have to consider at least one of the others, to get the desired results.

Using Auto Mode takes care of these controls, but you pay the price of not getting your photos to look the way you wanted them, and often disappointing.

It's a better idea to learn how to use Aperture-priority or Shutter-priority modes, and ultimately shoot in Manual mode. To easily learn how to do it, we recommend the Extremely Essential Camera Skills Course.

If you can only buy one filter for your lens, make it a polarizer.

The recommended type of polarizer is circular because these allow your camera to use TTL (through the lens) metering such as auto exposure.

This filter helps reduce reflections from water as well as metal and glass; it improves the colors of the sky and foliage and will help give your photos the WOW factor. It will do all that while protecting your lens. There's no reason why you can't leave it on for all of your photography.

We recommend Hoya Polarizer Filters for the best combination of performance and price.

When photographing landscapes, it helps to create a sense of depth, in other words, make the viewer feel like they are there.

Use a wide-angle lens for a panoramic view and a small aperture of f/16 or smaller to keep the foreground and background sharp. Placing an object or person in the foreground helps give a sense of scale and emphasizes how far away the distance is.

Use a tripod if possible, as a small aperture usually requires a slower shutter speed.

The simple approach is usually the best in digital photography, and you have to decide what needs to be in the shot, while not including anything that is a distraction.

If possible, choose a plain background - in other words, neutral colors and simple patterns. You want the eye to be drawn to the focal point of the image rather than a patch of color or an odd building in the background. This is especially vital in a shot where the model is placed off center.

Flash can look harsh and unnatural especially for indoor portraits. Therefore, there are various ways you can take an image indoors without resorting to flash.

First, push the ISO up - usually ISO 800 to 1600 will make a big difference for the shutter speed you can choose. Use the widest aperture possible - this way more light will reach the sensor, and you will have a nice blurred background. Using a tripod or an I.S. (Image Stabilization) lens is also a great way to avoid blur.

If you absolutely must use flash, then use a flash with a head you can rotate, and point the light to the ceiling on an angle.

To ensure you get the most flattering light for portraits, landscapes or anything else you want to capture - watch this great video here.

The ISO setting determines how sensitive your camera is to light and also how fine the grain of your image.

The ISO we choose depends on the situation - when it's dark we need to push the ISO up to a higher number, say anything from 400 - 3200 as this will make the camera more sensitive to light, and then we can avoid blurring.

On sunny days we can choose ISO 100 or the Auto setting as we have more light to work with.

If you want to capture a subject in motion, then use the panning technique. To do this, choose a shutter speed around two steps lower than necessary - so for 1/250, we'd choose 1/60. Keep your camera on the subject with your finger half way down on the shutter to lock the focus and when ready, take the photo, remembering to follow them as they move.

Use a tripod or monopod if possible to avoid camera shake and get clear movement lines.

Experiment with Shutter Speed

Don't be afraid to play with the shutter speed to create some interesting effects.

When taking a night time shot, use a tripod and try shooting with the shutter speed set at 4 seconds. You will see that the movement of the object is captured along with some light trails.

If you choose a faster shutter speed of say 1/250th of a second, the trails will not be as long or bright; instead, you will freeze the action.

Try shooting other compositions with moving objects or backgrounds such as waves on a beach, crowds of people walking, cars commuting, with different shutter speeds to either capture blurred movement or snapshots that freeze everything sharply in time.

Whenever using slow shutter speeds to blur movement, it is critical that the camera is stabilized to eliminate camera shake. We recommend the AmazonBasics 60-inch Portable Tripod as an excellent entry-level option for taking photographs with slow shutter speeds.

BONUS TIP: Invest More In Learning (and Less on Gear)

If you're thinking about spending thousands on new cameras and lenses, think twice.

People often end up disappointed that their shiny new toys aren't producing that "wow" factor they were expecting.

You can take stunning photos that you'll be proud of, even with a modest digital camera fitted with its standard zoom lens. But you need to have a solid understanding of the basics.

That's why it is critical to master composition and light, before spending anything on new gear.
We recommended the following course to dramatically improve your photography:

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Top 10 Digital Photography Tips | ExposureGuide.com

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Take Your Digital Photography to the Next Level! Whether you are a beginner or more experienced with photography, here are some of our favorite tips that will help you improve your photography! This rule helps you take eye-catching pictures by using one of the most effective rules of composition.

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In the last decade, podcasts have exploded in worldwide popularity.

From celebrities like Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey from "The Office" to your 15-year-old nephew, everyone seems to have a podcast.

There's a reason podcasts are so popular. Their versatility, accessibility and ability to transport, educate and empower is hard to beat.

For writers looking to bust writer's block, hone their craft or spice up a boring commute, there's no shortage of podcasts from amateurs and experts alike.

But writer beware: You might find yourself binge-listening for hours.

Subscribe to these writing podcasts

Here, we've compiled 33 writing-related podcasts worth subscribing to.

Every writer looking to improve their knowledge of the English language should bookmark this podcast. With helpful and insightful tips on grammar and storytelling, Mignon Fogarty's widely popular podcast is sure to help you improve your writing skills.

Hosted by Kelton Reid, The Writer Files is a long-running podcast that delves deep into habits and habitats of famed writers. Reid interviews writers from a broad spectrum, giving each listener a chance to see into the mind of an accomplished wordsmith within their genre or interest.

A great place to start: Learn the secret to how to land your pitch meeting and more with Emmy-nominated TV writer and professor Sandy Fries in " How Emmy Nominated TV Writer Sandy Fries Writes." " Take a listen to Reid's recent and helpful podcast episode titled "Productivity Secrets from NY Times Bestselling Author John Zeratsky."

This National Public Radio (NPR) program discusses language examined through the lens of history, culture and family. The podcast is rich with detail and exciting storytelling and typically runs for about an hour. You'll hear upbeat conversations about the language of current events, new words and slang, semantics and other topics that will make you go, " "

A great place to start A fascinating episode from earlier this year, " Hidden Treasures," dives into old Civil War Letters for a vivid portrait of the everyday lives of enlisted men and how ordinary people spoke back then. A more recent episode, " Goody Two-Shoes," walks you through how to write a fitting epitaph for someone you love.

Writing Excuses is hosted by a group of writers who provide quick tips for writing techniques. This fast-paced podcast runs about 15 minutes per episode, with the fun tagline "Fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart." Previous seasons have covered genre and structure, and the most current season (13!) is all about character.

This award-winning podcast is hosted by the always honest Mur Lafferty. Length varies, but episodes typically feature an interview with an author who has a new book. The episodes often provide encouragement to "would-be" writers to believe in themselves and get writing.

Dead Robots' Society is a fun podcast by aspiring writers, for aspiring writers. Inspired by Mur Lafferty's podcast, the hosts share writing insights typically related to writing novels.

Well-known author Jeff Goins hosts this podcast about life, collective work and artistry. Goins is known for his inspirational messages, and his podcast is no different. This podcast is all about finding what you were born to do, and getting started creating a portfolio of your dreams.

A great place to start: In an inspirational episode, Goins talks about " Getting Paid to Pursue Your Passion in 48 Hours or Less." Goins discusses his own passion-focused experiment and how it worked out for him. In a more recent episode, " The 3 Stages of an Artist's Work: Transaction, Compromise, Gift," Goins offers insight into the phases of the writer's journey and how necessary each stage is to better understand your purpose as a writer.

Author Joanna Penn covers many topics related to writing, including publishing, developing your craft and where to find inspiration. Penn also interviews many professionals in the field.

This podcast is hosted by two writers, veteran author Shawn Coyne and self-proclaimed struggling writer Tim Grahl. Their goal? Help writers create great stories. The twist? These hosts put their own work up for critique. Coyne also offers many practical tools to help writers craft a story that works.

Beautiful Writers Podcast features conversations with some of the most well-recognized writers in the world. Host and writer Linda Sivertsen interviews best-selling authors like Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry McMillan, Dean Koontz, Glennon Doyle Melton, Cheryl Strayed, Brené Brown and many more. Episodes are typically in-depth and include personal anecdotes from creatives in the business.

In this NPR podcast, hosts gather stories from Americans across the country. Although not a traditional podcast for writers, this podcast offers inspiration for excellent storytelling.

In host Damian Barr's The Literary Salon, authors read excerpts from their books - all in front of a live audience in glamorous locations.

A great place to start: In a popular episode, Okechukwu Nzelu reads from his second book, The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney . In " EXCLUSIVE: new reading from You Will Be Safe Here, " Damian Barr gives an exclusive new reading from his powerful debut novel, You Will Be Safe.

Award-winning author K.M. Weiland hosts this podcast that offers mentorship and advice to aspiring writers hoping to publish their own novel someday. Weiland offers practical advice on many topics related to storytelling and story structure.

A great place to start: " 4 Steps for How to Turn an Idea Into a Story That Rocks" is a practical podcast chock-full of helpful advice about setting up personal systems within your creative discipline. Weiland shares how to control and cut down on distractions to reclaim your full creative capacity in " Creativity vs. Distraction: 13 Tips for Writers in the Age of the Internet."

This podcast offers an invitation into a writing class, where you'll hear and be inspired by insight and advice from experts. Hosts Allison and Andrea love telling stories, and through their writing class listeners get the chance to learn and grow in their own storytelling.

Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin hosts a podcast on ways to practice happiness and how to find a more fulfilling everyday life. Although this podcast isn't specifically for writers, it features many well-known bestsellers who share helpful habits that have made them successful. It also includes co-host Elizabeth Craft, Gretchen's sister, a TV writer living in Los Angeles.

In this Hugo Award Finalist, veteran podcaster Mur Lafferty and co-host Matt Wallace offer advice to writers with deadlines. The purpose of Ditch Diggers isn't to offer information on honing the writer's craft, but on pressing through tough deadlines and helping writers pay their bills through writing. This is an explicit show, you've been warned.

A weekly podcast for writers to geek out over science fiction and fantasy writing. Podcast hosts are Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, and Wes Matlock.

In this vibrant community for copywriters and would-be copywriters, experts in the field offer inspiration, encouragement, and concrete advice on advancing in this ever-growing writing niche. Copywriters Kira Hug and Rob Marsh host the show and offer many resources on their site.

A podcast about creative writing and literature, The Drunken Odyssey is hosted by writer and literary reviewer John King. The purpose of this podcast is to discuss the writing life and foster a sense of community amongst writers.

Hosted by writing coach Ann Kroeker, this podcast is designed to help writers hone their talent through practical tips and inspiring insight. Episodes are typically under fifteen minutes, and are meant to offer quick solutions to many different topics.

A great place to start: In " Next-Level Writer: Where Are You Now? " Ann poses 10 questions that will help you evaluate your writing world so you can identify your starting point. In a practical episode titled " How to Sort and Stack Your Ideas and Tasks to Transform as a Writer and Person ," teaches listeners how to save and implement ideas, solutions, tools, and tips so you don't lose what you learn.

The brain child of publishing professional Jenn Baker, this interview-based podcast discusses the lack of diversity in the book publishing industry with other professionals working in-house as well as authors and those in the literary scene. Listeners are encouraged to be more attuned to the impact of not just what they read and write, but also, what they don't.

A literary radio show and podcast hosted by David Naimon, Between the Covers features long-form in-depth conversations with writers from all kinds of genres and backgrounds. The podcast is usually an hour or more, and it delves into the creative process behind impactful books to provide listeners advice and inspiration.

Fact-checking is a must when writing, well, anything, and this podcast will make sure you understand why it's important to do so. Journalists Sarah Marshall and Michael Hobbes cover people or events that've been miscast in the public imagination. From pop culture stories to murder mysteries, fiction writers will enjoy these interesting tales the reminder to triple-check your stats before considering something "done."

A great place to start: The " Kitty Genovese and "Bystander Apathy"" episode is sure to capture your attention. A more recent episode, " The Disappearance of Chandra Levy," tackles the topic of a nationwide obsession and whether it's "disingenuous to think you can turn the story of someone being murdered into anything else."

The Writing University's Eleventh Hour podcast highlights recordings of talks from distinguished writers, novelists, poets, essayists who present at the Eleventh Hour Lecture Series during the University of Iowa's Iowa Summer Writing Festival.

With 250+ episodes, So You Want To Be A Writer is a free weekly podcast hosted by journalists and authors Valerie Khoo and Allison Tait. This versatile podcast will give you a bit of everything you need to navigate the publishing world - whether you love the creative inspiration of Elizabeth Gilbert, need writing opportunities and updates on publishing trends, or writing tips to help you grow, you'll find it here.

A great place to start: In an episode with Kirsten Alexander, author of the hosts and their guest share scientifically proven ways to beat writer's block. More recently, Khoo and Tait featured advice on writing funny books for kids in " Meet B.G. Hilton, author of 'Champagne Charlie and the Amazing Gladys.'"

Mitzi Rapkin produces and hosts this literary podcast that's been around since 2015. Each week the 30- to 50-minute podcast features an in-depth interview with a fiction, non-fiction, essay, or poetry writer who shares their journey with messy first drafts. Equal parts investigation into the craft of writing and conversation about the topics of an author's work, this podcast regularly hosts notable authors like Celeste Ng and Ann Patchett.

A great place to start: In her interview, writer and editor Sahar Mustafah talks about how she explores her heritage in her fiction. A recent episode you can't miss is " First Draft - Ann Napolitano," where she discusses her novel, Dear Edward .

The StoryADay challenge "exists to help you learn how much you're capable of writing in a month." Presented by Julie Duffy, the podcast version helps you figure out how to keep that commitment up for the rest of your life. In bite-sized, 10- to 15-minute episodes, listeners can get creativity challenges, writing prompts, and regularly published posts on the craft of writing.

This podcast is all about providing weekly inspiration for writers. Hosted by Brooke Warner of She Writes and Grant Faulkner of NaNoWriMo, each theme-focused episode of this podcast features an interview with a writer, author, or publishing industry professional. There's always a takeaway at the end of each episode, too, kind of like this: Everyone is a writer, and everyone's story matters.

If you write (anything), this podcast is for you. Every week, this podcast, presented by the National Centre of Writing, interviews writers about their writing journeys and techniques, from early-career debuts to self-publishers and narrative designers.

According to host Kirsten Oliphant, this podcast is the place for you if you're a writer, blogger, or creative who wants to build an online platform without being "smarmy."

Segilola Salami is a mom, author, freelance writer, blogger, the host of her podcast that focuses on books and publishing. Aimed to be entertaining and educational, this show welcomes guests from all walks of life to share how they've gotten from point A to B with their published novels.

The American Theatre is the nation's only general-circulation magazine devoted to theatre. Its podcast is home to playwrights who want to talk about the things usually left unsaid. "In a conversation that dives into life's muck, we learn what irks, agitates, motivates, inspires and - ultimately - what makes writers tick."

Zach Bohannon and J. Thorn co-host this podcast that began with the belief that their conversations about self-publishing, writing, craft, and marketing could help other aspiring writers. Since 2018, the podcast has been listened to more than 100,000 times, so they must be saying something right.

A great place to start: You don't want to miss " The Mentorship Model for Authors," where you'll discover different types of mentorship and why authors need them. In the recent episode titled, " Peer-to-Peer Feedback," Bohannon and Thorn discuss why feedback is important as well as the etiquette involved. They even provide guidance on how to ask for feedback and how to give and receive it.
Your turn: What are your favorite podcasts for inspiration or writing tips? The original version of this story was written by Brianna Bell and updated by Farrah Daniel. We updated the post so it's more useful for our readers. Photo via Rawpixel.com/ Shutterstock

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20 Inspiring Writing Podcasts to Subscribe to Right Now

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In the last decade, podcasts have exploded in worldwide popularity. From celebrities like Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey from "The Office" to your 15-year-old nephew, everyone seems to have a podcast. There's a reason podcasts are so popular. Their versatility, accessibility and ability to transport, educate and empower is hard to beat.

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Ugh, it happened again.

Another week or month has passed, and you've made zero progress on your writing goals.

Deep down you know your writing is important, but you can't take consistent action.

What's really going on here?

The truth is, you don't feel inspired.

You can't help but marvel at other writers who do persist, and have a large body of work you can't even fathom achieving.

How do you get there?

How do you find the inspiration you need to stay the course long enough to become the prolific, popular, and successful freelance writer you dream of becoming?

The Dirty Little Lie You Tell Yourself About Inspiration

If you're struggling to find inspiration, you might be guilty of "believing in magic" when it comes to your writing career.

People who fail to do the things they say they want to do believe in fairy tales, like this one:

They believe successful writers have "made it," and have no problem staying motivated because they've "arrived."

This couldn't be further from the truth.

Regardless of how successful you are, there will be days you feel uninspired. In fact, what once seemed like a passion-filled calling can turn into a bit of a slog after a while.

Professional athletes love the game, but they don't necessarily want to train their bodies every single day.

Business owners love money and recognition, but they don't necessarily enjoy the process of getting their business off the ground.

You love expressing yourself with words, but you won't necessarily enjoy each and every writing session.
"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily." - Zig Ziglar
You have to learn to inspire yourself every day if you want to turn pro and become a popular author or successful writer. To keep your inspiration fresh, you'll have to find various unique ways to get inspired.

Fortunately, I have 99 different ideas for writers - use them whenever you're struggling to turn intention into action.

So here's how to get inspired to write:

1. Do the One Thing They Always Tell Writers Not to Do

Watch T.V. Some of the best writing in the world can be seen in the scripts of your favorite shows. Pay attention to the dialogue, listen for the clever storytelling methods, and use them in your own writing.

Use the ideas of the show creator and the personalities of the characters to get inspired. Think about what goes through Don Draper's mind when he writes an ad on Mad Men or the way Carrie Bradshaw wove her own life into her daily column on Sex and the City.

Once I paid attention to the writing in my favorite shows, I drew inspiration from the stories and turned a seemingly useless activity into creative fuel.

2. Read Your Old Love Letters

If you've been writing for a while, you must have gotten a compliment or two about your work. Keep a file with positive comments you've received about your writing. Whether they're emails or blog comments, reading over compliments you received and hearing how you've helped people will motivate you.

3. Embrace Your Insignificance

Realize the universe doesn't care about you. Oftentimes, we lack inspiration because of fear. We're afraid because we feel like the world is waiting for us to fail, like there's a spotlight shining on our inadequacy. We live on a planet that's one of billions of planets in one of billions of galaxies, each of which contains billions of stars. In the grand scheme of things, you're insignificant. Nothing you do "matters," except that it matters to you. Go for it, because you have nothing to lose.

4. Make the Subtle Shift from Goal-Setting to Habit-Forming

Goals give you inspiration by providing an end point, but habits weave inspiration into the core of your being and make it automatic.

Instead of saying, "I want to finish my manuscript," say "I want to write 30 minutes per day." The second statement comes without the pressure of expectation. You're just putting yourself in a position for continual inspiration.

Habits trump goals every time. The most prolific writers aren't the most goal-oriented. They're built to show up every day and do the work.

5. Tell Yourself You're Not Good Enough

I once heard a story about a successful real estate agent who was constantly asked about how to break into the industry. He gave them all the same answer, "Don't get into real estate. You're not cut out for it." He gave that answer because he knows it acted as reverse psychology for those who were cut out for it, and filtered out those that weren't. Try a little reverse psychology on yourself. Try to convince yourself you're not good enough, and then get offended. Of course you're good enough! You were born to write. Trick yourself to put a fire in your belly and get inspired.

6. Start a Chain Gang

Buy a calendar. Mark an x on the calendar each time you complete a writing session. When you complete a few days in a row, the x's start to form a chain. The longer the chain grows, the more inspired you are to keep writing. Picture a calendar with 29 days marked off. You'd almost certainly write on day 30, right? Visuals and imagery are powerful. Seeing a representation of the work you put in will inspire you to keep working.

7. Become the G.O.A.T.

Focus on becoming so great you can't be ignored. Most writers are worried about what the competition is doing and idolize their favorite writers. Instead, you'll focus on being so good the competition will start to watch you. Embrace the attitude of Michael Jordan in his first few seasons. He knew the league was going to belong to him before it actually did. He put his head down, did the work, and demolished the competition to become the Greatest of All Time. You can be the same. Put your head down, write, and one day people will say "Who is this?"

8. Take a Dump

Have a bowel movement. I first learned this unusual writing tip from James Altucher. He says if your body isn't "clear," your mind won't be either. You may also come up with some interesting ideas while you're, erm, indisposed.

9. Embrace Your Inner Hulk

Get angry. Anger is easy to express. When you're angry you know exactly why something pisses you off. What pisses you off about the world, your niche, or life in general? Vent your frustrations and your powerful words will pour out.

10. Become a Better Writer Without Becoming a Better Writer

Have you ever seen a professional athlete who's in a slump? Nothing about his routine changes, he plays with the same quality teammates, and the team is run by the same coaching staff. Later, you find out he was having personal issues and that was the source of his decline.

Look at Tiger Woods. He never recovered from his personal scandal. What does that tell you? It tells you life outside your craft is just as important as practicing it, if not more.

Think about how many aspects of your life can affect your writing. Your diet, exercise routine (or lack thereof), relationships with friends and family, and stress level are a few among many factors influencing your writing. When you lack inspiration for writing, look at other areas of your life. If those aren't going well, your writing will suffer.

11. Make It Impossible to Edit While You Write

Write with the monitor off or with white text. This is the definition of writing a crappy first draft. When you can't even look at the words on the screen, you won't be able to enter into self-editing hell while you're writing. You'll let loose and write with reckless abandon. Afterward, you can clean up the carnage and make it pretty.

12. Imagine Your Worst-Case Scenario

Think about the worst-case scenario in terms of your writing career and decide you can handle it. Fortunately, the negative consequences are more emotional than tangible or financial in terms of things like writing a book. At the very least, you're out of a small investment and your ego will get a little dent. You can't sell negative books. Your worst pain will be the feeling of rejection. Although rejection is a tough pill to swallow, you face bigger dangers in life without fail, like getting in a car and driving it, without batting an eye.

13. Start Acting Like a Child

What advice would a five-year-old give you about your writing? Would they tell you to focus hard, create solid outlines, and hit your daily word count? No. They'd tell you to have fun. Remember fun? When you were a child, you only cared about exploration. You didn't waste time worrying about the future. The present was all you knew. I get it. You have "big dreams," but if you take yourself too seriously, writing will get rote. If you're feeling stuck trying to edit your manuscript, write something ridiculous. Write something totally unrelated to your niche for pure fun with no intention of publishing it. Act like a child and watch your curiosity and creativity flourish.

14. Dumb It Down

Stop trying to sound smart. Once you realize you don't have to write with tons of flowery language and words that could be replaced with simpler words, writing gets easier. People enjoy straightforward writing better anyway.

15. Make Money Your Muse

Take writing jobs as a freelancer if you're looking to get writing without having to come up with your own blog post ideas. As a freelancer you'll work within the guidelines of what your client wants. This offers the benefit of making money, plus you'll develop a writing habit along the way.

16. Use your 9-to-5 to Fuel Your 5-to-9

Scott Adams, most known for his cartoon strip Dilbert, used real-life experiences from his job as inspiration for his work. Charles Bukowski wrote a novel loosely based on his own experiences as a post office employee. Even mundane jobs like these can inspire you to write something interesting about them. Some say you should write what you know. What do you know better than the activity you perform 40 hours per week?

17. Discover the Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Create an immaculate space for your writing. A cluttered environment clutters the mind. When you're in a clean space, you can feel it. That feeling can translate into a calm and focused state of mind while writing.

18. Don't Believe the Myth

Remember this phrase from Jerry Seinfeld: "Writer's block is just a made-up excuse for not doing your work."

19. Sign Your Life Away

Create a contract with yourself. Make an actual signed document stating what you're going to accomplish with your writing and place it somewhere prominent.

Imagine you're sitting down to write and you look up to see an agreement you made with yourself, not just mentally, but physically. Wouldn't that inspire you to hold to your commitment?

These little "nudges" might seem trivial on their own, but combining them changes your environment and makes it more conducive to productivity and creativity.

20. Make Your Writing Career a Family Affair

Communicate your goals with your family and friends. Writing takes up time, and if you're not clear about your intentions, your spouse or loved ones can start to resent and even become jealous of your writing. Let them know it's important to you, set boundaries for when you'll write, and when you're not writing make sure you're 100 percent off, meaning you're spending time with the people you love and not in your head.

21. Get Meta

Write about how you feel about your writing. One of the most successful posts I've ever written talked about my struggles with writing. It was meant to be a venting session, but I realized it was worth sharing. Like anger, frustration leads to expression.

22. Converse to Create

If you listen carefully, the conversations you have with other people can inspire you to take something they've said and run with it. Listen intently, and see if there's anything in your dialogue that sparks interest or could be used as a writing topic. Cormac McCarthy said he used actual conversations with his son in the bestselling novel The Road.

23. When Inspiration Fails, Try Desperation

Turn your pain into passion. If you feel the dull monotony of sitting in a cubicle every day pushing papers, working in a factory on the assembly line, or any other job that isn't being a full-time writer, use that desperation as fuel. Sometimes inspiration isn't enough. Sometimes you have to get fed up to do the work.

24. WWJD

Ask yourself, "What would Jon do?" If you've been following Jon Morrow's work for any amount of time, you know he has a no-excuses attitude and is driven to succeed. Would Jon give up on a writing session if he wasn't "feeling it?" Would Jon cry in the corner about someone leaving a negative comment on his blog post? When in doubt, do what Jon does and bang out 1,000 words per day no matter what.

25. Create to Connect

It's easy to get caught up in numbers - how many subscribers you have, how many views your website gets per month, and how many comments you receive - but remember, you're writing for real people. Even if you have just a few readers, get to know them. Send out an email to your tribe telling them they can each get 15 minutes on the phone with you to talk shop. Add prompts to your blog posts to encourage readers to share their lives with you. When you create with the intention of connecting with other human beings, it inspires you to work that much harder, because you can feel the person on the other end of the screen.

26. Become the CEO of You, Inc.

Come up with a name for your publishing company. Perhaps you don't have to go as far as creating an LLC, but do something to establish what you do as an actual career and not just a hobby. If it means spending $25 to get business cards printed, so be it. Something in your mind has to transition into feeling and acting like a pro.

27. Don't Follow in the Footsteps of Great Writers

Let go of your need to be the next great author. When you compare yourself to the likes of Hemingway, Plath, or Murakami, it's hard not to get discouraged about your own writing. Focus on becoming the best writer you can be. There are plenty of successful - and financially independent - writers who aren't legends, but are pretty damn good. Become pretty damn good.

28. Do the Math

Remind yourself: each time you sit down to write you're ahead of 99 percent of other aspiring writers. Most people do nothing. They talk, wish, and wonder. The mere fact that your fingers are touching that keyboard makes you special.

Inspire yourself by reminding yourself you're part of an exclusive club - the doers. I get inspired when I realize the steps I've already made go way beyond those of most people. Once your foot is in the door, step all the way through.

29. Answer Random Questions from Total Strangers

Answer questions on Quora. Users on Quora ask questions about topics ranging from personal development to health to what Kim Kardashian's favorite color is. Other users on Quora answer these questions. Many authors and bloggers use Quora to practice their writing by answering questions. You're also allowed to leave links in your Quora responses, and many people drive traffic back to their websites through using Quora.

30. Get Zen, Then Pen

I meditate for 20 minutes every morning before I write. When you wake up, you usually start the day feeling anxious. The practice of meditation helps relieve stress and clears your mind of negative thoughts. You'll feel refreshed before you pen your first word.

The headspace app comes with a series of guided meditations you can use to start fresh every day.

Leo Babauta of Zen Habits has a great introductory post on how to form a daily meditation habit. He also happens to be one of the most prolific and successful bloggers in the world. Coincidence? I think not.

31. Choose Quantity Over Quality

Write ten ideas per day around your writing. They could be ideas for new blog posts, book titles, and book sections or chapters. By the end of the year, you'll have 3,650 ideas. Most of them will suck, some will be good, and a few will be amazing. Your creative muscles will be strong, and you'll have endless material to write about.

32. Teach an Old Draft New Tricks

Revise an old piece of writing. This has a two-fold benefit. First, you'll realize how much you've grown since writing that piece, which will give you the confidence to know you'll improve in the future. Second, if you really add some beef to it, you'll have a brand new piece of writing to share with the world.

33. Surround Yourself with Great Work

I once visited an art museum that had a photography section. It was filled with famous photos of famous people by famous photographers. I lost complete track of time and was immersed in the photos. When I left the display, I felt almost dizzy. That day, I went home and wrote a couple thousand words in a way that seemed effortless. Seeing great art in other forms can inspire you to create great work yourself. Visit a gallery, go to an opera, or watch a play. Feel the passion and inspiration from the artists you just watched, and use it in your own writing.

34. Put a Pot of Gold at the End of Your Rainbow

Setting goals doesn't often work. The reason why they don't work is because we don't like to work! We want results. It's why workout DVDs are called Beach Body or Six Pack Abs in Six Weeks instead of Exercise Regimen for your Core. You know you'll have to do the work, but the results are what compel you to get started. Create statements around the rewards you'll reap from your writing and the results you want, e.g., "Writing my book will give me the money, attention, and sense of accomplishment I've always longed for. " When you think of setting goals and building habits in terms of the rewards they'll afford you, you're more likely to follow through.

35. Drink Rocket Fuel to Skyrocket Your Inspiration

Drink coffee. Coffee has fueled the creative inspiration of writers for centuries. I'm not sure if it's even possible to write well without it.

36. Journey into the Wild

Go for a walk in nature. There's an odd connection between walking and inspiration. There's something about wandering about that stirs up random thoughts in your mind. Ideas come to you when you aren't so focused on them. A walk in nature will distract you with its beauty enough to make room for the muse to sneak up on you.

37. Switch Your Scenery

Imagine you're lying back in a hammock in Bali. You're surrounded by warm weather and a fresh breeze with a coconut by your side to sip on. You also have your laptop in your lap. That sounds like an inspiring environment to me. There has long been a link between travel and writing. Seeing new parts of the world is inspiring in and of itself, plus it will surely give you new material to write about as well. And even if you can't make a physical trip, just spending a few minutes visualizing an exotic destination can provide valuable writing inspiration.

38. Devour People's Brains

Read. Read. Read. You can't be a great writer without being a great reader. Read a wide range of material. If you write non-fiction, sprinkle some fiction into your reading and vice versa. Reading widely opens new doors in your brain and helps you make odd connections between ideas.

I just finished my second book. I pulled and wove in ideas from billionaires, dead Roman emperors, and Harvard psychologists. I didn't go searching for the information. I conjured it from the recesses of my mind while writing, because I've read 100 books in the past two years. It's like Neo in the Matrix where he "downloads" the ability to fight in Kung Fu style.

With reading, you can "download" hundreds or thousands of years of human experience and use it at your disposal.

39. Write in This Insanely Inspiring Environment

Write in a bookstore. Writing in an environment surrounded with words is inspiring. Go to your favorite section and browse the titles. Seeing the names on book covers will cause you to picture your name on your first or next book, and you'll be ready to pen your masterpiece.

40. Put a Gun to Your Head

I submit guest post pitches to various blogs before I feel ready to write them. Once my pitches get accepted, I can't quit. As you know, it's a big no-no to flake on a guest blog owner, and I'd never want to ruin my reputation. Finding situations that force your hand can keep you from sitting on the fence.

41. Search for Instant Inspiration

A quick Google search can give you inspiration by spoon-feeding you endless ideas for your writing. If you're stuck on a topic to write about, do a search about your subject and run with the results. You don't have to come up with new ideas by yourself all the time. You don't even have to use the ideas you find to create a finished result. The process could serve the purpose of getting your fingers moving, which is the most important step.

42. Chase the Muse

Inspiration can be tricky to capture. To maximize your chances of spotting the muse, come up with clever traps. For example, you can come up with a writing problem you're trying to solve right before bed, let it stir in your subconscious mind while you sleep, and wake yourself up in the middle of the night and jot down what comes to mind in your hazy subconscious state. You can set prompts on your phone to randomly write whatever comes to mind at the exact time. Carry a pen and paper with you everywhere you go to capture ideas as they come. It seems mechanical, but careful planning can inspire you to create more.

43. Star in Your Own Montage

Visualize yourself putting in the work it takes to become a great writer. Visualizing the type of outcome you want is effective, but visualizing becoming the type of person capable of achieving those outcomes is even more powerful. Take a few minutes every day and visualize yourself being in a state of flow and writing effortlessly. It's like picturing yourself hitting the game-winning shot. If you can see it, you can believe it.

44. Find a Tango Partner

Find a writing partner to keep you accountable. Working with someone who's "in the trenches" like you will help both of you inspire each other. There's strength in numbers.

45. Find Inspiration in Your Rearview Mirror

We've all had moments in life we cherish. Why not use those moments as inspiration for your writing? If you're feeling stuck, try to remember an amazing moment in your life - time spent with your children, a vacation you went on, your wedding day - and write about that. The moment will inspire you to write because the moment itself is inspiring. If it was a pivotal moment in your life, you can recall how you felt and what the atmosphere was like.

46. Eviscerate Your Excuses

Find examples to eliminate your excuses. The undisputed heavyweight champion of blogging, our very own Jon Morrow, isn't able to use his hands, and has written blog posts read by millions. Stephen Hawking moves his cheek muscles to write. You have writer's block? Boo hoo.

If seeing examples of people with legitimate obstacles thriving at what you do doesn't inspire you, I don't know what will. You've been blessed in one way or another. Regardless of what you don't have, you have something someone else would kill for. Be grateful and use your gratitude as a well of inspiration to create.

47. Join a Local Gang

If one partner isn't enough, you can join groups of writers to increase the effectiveness of group support. I'm part of a local writers' club where we meet in person, and I'm a member of an online community of writers. We share insights and tips, and keep each other motivated.

48. Fake Your Own Death

Write your obituary. This exercise provides a two-fold benefit. First, you're putting words on the page. Second, you're thinking about the type of legacy you want to leave. My guess is you want "renown writer," or at least "writer," somewhere in the description. It will remind you of your ultimate mission and the fact you'll regret it if you fail to follow through. As best-selling author Stephen Covey says, "Begin with the end in mind."

49. Tune In to Tune Out Writer's Block

Listening to music boosts your effectiveness in many areas such as exercise. It's also a great tool to inspire your writing, as long as you don't make it a distraction. Some writers have been known to play the same song on repeat while they write, saying it gives them a calming sense and the music fades to the background while they write. Music has been known to "set the mood" in more ways than one. Pick an inspiring song and let it inspire you to write.

50. Choose the Opinion You Like Best

Have you ever looked at the same piece of writing at different times and had two different opinions?

We're quick to look at the negative opinions of ourselves and our work and believe them to be true. We accept negativity with alarming ease. Our mind can just as easily believe the good things we tell ourselves about ourselves. The next time you swing between both opinions of your writing, choose the one that inspires you. It's okay to toot your own horn (in your mind) when you've penned some damn fine words. In fact, you should do it every time you feel good about your writing to keep the inspiration going.

51. Let Your Fingers Do the Talking

Get your fingers moving. The act of typing itself can lead to a flow state and productive writing. Sometimes, I'll start a blog post by typing "I don't know what to write about," just to get my fingers moving. The staring at the blank page without typing contributes to writer's block.

52. Get Back in Touch with Your "Why"

Remember your why. Did you get into writing because you wanted to improve people's lives? Do you have interesting stories to share? Do you want to entertain people? Go back to the source of inspiration that made you want to write in the first place. Revisit it often.

53. Find Writing Inspiration in Dark Places

Life throws curve balls at you. While you can't avoid certain situations from happening to you, you can use them as sources of inspiration to create.

In an extreme example, Viktor Frankl used his experience in a Nazi death camp as inspiration to help others through his writing with his book Man's Search for Meaning. You can let negativity overwhelm you, or you can use your experiences to inspire yourself in a cathartic way through your words.

54. Remember that Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Have you ever had a loved one go on an extended trip? When they come back, you're overjoyed to see them, and you cherish the moments you have together a little bit more than usual. Why not create instant inspiration by doing the same with something you wrote?

Take a draft you've worked hard on and "lock it away" for a week or two before you revise or add to it. If you distance yourself from it for a bit, you'll be inspired to jump back into a relationship with it, just like a loved one coming back from their trip.

55. Look Back and See How Far You've Come

Think about something that was once hard for you to do, but you now find easy. When you're struggling to put together an introduction, edit the chaff from your sentences, or transition between points, remember that practicing these things will lead to a point where it becomes second nature.

56. Picture Your Name on a Best-Selling Book

If you've never written a book before, go on Canva and create a cover for an imaginary book and put your name on it. Stare at it and imagine how it will feel to have a published book with your name on it in the future. The first time I held a copy of something I created, I was euphoric. I continue to chase that feeling each time I write.

57. Let Life Inspire Art

Many imagine successful writers as people locked up in cabins with typewriters, toiling away at their work in isolation until they resurface with their manuscripts. Some of the best writers, like Hemingway, spent as much time living and adventuring as they did writing. If you want to make your writing more interesting, make your life more interesting. If you're feeling frustrated, step out into the world, enjoy it, and let your experiences compel you to write again.

58. Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Enter a writing contest. Writing contests often pay for top prize winners. There's one incentive.

The popular writing blog The Write Practice hosts writing contests multiple times per day. During its most recent contest, the blog partnered with Short Fiction Break, which displayed every single piece submitted to the contest. They encouraged writers in the contest to comment on each other's pieces and get to know each other, which created a hotbed of inspiration.

Knowing you're a part of something larger than yourself can be inspiring. Use a writing contest to show the world what you've got.

59. Act Like a Hollywood Script Doctor

Rewrite a dissatisfying ending of a popular movie, short story, or book. It'll get you in the mood to write because you're familiar with the subject matter. If you have the gall to rewrite a popular story, you should be confident enough to create your own.

60. Don't Fall into the Routine Trap

Write when you're most creative. You don't have to be a morning person to write well.

Some people are more creative at eleven at night. Blindly copying routines that don't suit you is a surefire way to fail. Create an environment and schedule that aligns with your strengths.

61. Make a Creative Pilgrimage

This may seem a bit drastic, but moving to another city can inspire you to be more creative. In his book Where Good Ideas Come From, Stephen Johnson claims that moving to a more populated city fosters creativity through "superlinear scaling," which is a fancy way of saying that the more people you're exposed to, the more creative you are. Maybe you're not in a position to move, but if you're young and mobile, perhaps you should take your talents to the Big Apple or out West.

62. Exercise Your Neurons

Your brain needs exercise like any other part of your body. If you're not feeling inspired, try playing some games that involve words. Hitting a triple word score in Scrabble can remind you of your creative writing prowess. The education company Lumosity has a line of brain games that help you increase your vocabulary.

One of my inspirations for writing is the words themselves. I was one of the weird kids who looked forward to vocabulary tests, because new words excited me and stimulated my brain. Play brain games with words to inspire yourself to pen them.

63. Cast Yourself Away

Go on a thinking retreat. Bring books to read, but no electronics. Spend time alone to be with your thoughts and consider what steps you want to take in your writing career. Bill Gates does this for two weeks every year to crystallize his vision for Microsoft's future as well as his charity foundation. You're not a billionaire with unlimited free time, so a day or two will suffice.

64. Use These Two Words as Inspiration

Interesting questions lead to interesting answers. Many of the best pieces of writing started with the phrase, "What if?" Use hypothetical questions to inspire new ideas. For example, you could ask, "What if I wrote a piece saying the exact opposite of what most people believe about _____?" or "What if we lived in a world where everyone was bluntly honest all the time?" These types of questions create open-ended areas to explore, giving you new material to think about and write about.

65. When in Doubt, Ship

Seth Godin has written 18 books, and has been quoted as saying, "I feel like a fraud as I read you this, as I brush my teeth, and every time I go on stage. This is part of the human condition. Accept it. Now what?"

Other creative people like Neil Gaiman and Tina Fey have reported feeling the same way, regardless of the amount of work they've put into the world.

What's the difference between them and the people who let their inspiration die? They ship.

They put their work into the world regardless of how they felt about it, and it paid off. If they can create while plagued with doubt, so can you.

Look far and wide for examples of successful writers and you'll find one common denominator - shipping. Let their stories inspire you to do the same.

66. Let Technology Lend a Helping Hand

Use idea-generating tools from companies like Hubspot and Portent's Content. With ready-made ideas and headlines, you should have everything you need to get started.

67. Be a Little Creepy

Have you ever looked at a couple across the room at a restaurant and wondered what their lives were like? Have you ever walked past an older person at the park and thought about what crazy experiences they've had? People-watching can be great inspiration for writing. You can observe people you don't know, and let the mystery of their lives inspire you to write a story about what they could be like. It's part writing exercise, yes, but knowing you can draw material from anywhere is inspiring.

68. Eat a Sh** Sandwich

Charles Bukowski once said, "Find what you love and let it kill you."

He was referring to what many, including bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert, call a "shit sandwich."

If you don't love something enough to go through pain for it, you don't really love it. Your shit sandwich is the one thing you cherish so much you can endure for it. How is that inspiring? Well, if you're capable of going through heartache for something, it has an inspiring quality drawing you to do so, or else you wouldn't do it.

Is writing your shit sandwich? If so, get really hungry, because life is going to give you an all-you-can-eat buffet.

69. Say "Hi, My Name Is _____"

Attend a conference for writers in your niche. You have to be careful with conferences because they're a waste of time if you go without any predefined goals, but they're great for meeting and affiliate yourself with industry insiders and the atmosphere of the event will make you want to perform well when you get home.

70. Go to the Source

Reach out to your favorite writers and ask for advice. Many people do this, but they do it the wrong way. First, send them a message simply thanking them for the work they've done and leave it at that. Tell them how you've implemented something they've taught you. After your initial outreach, come back later and ask a specific question regarding a situation. Don't just say "let me pick your brain." Most are willing to help if they're not too busy. Some won't respond, but others will. Use their words as inspiration, follow up with their advice, and let them know when you've implemented it.

71. Get Yourself Some Education

Take an online course on writing. I took Smart Blogger's Guest Blogging Certification Program. Before taking the course, I wouldn't have had the guts to pitch big-name blogs. I thought they were "off limits." Seeing examples of people who went through the course, some of whom built million dollar businesses with the course being the catalyst for their growth, inspired me to level up my game.

Finding the right online courses by the right instructors makes a world of difference. Having a laid-out blueprint for success gives you confidence to follow through with the steps required to build something valuable.

72. Pat Yourself on the Back

Take a piece of writing you've done and evaluate it based solely on what you like about it. Even if it's just one sentence. Find something to highlight as inspiration to keep writing in the future.

73. Follow The Artist's Way

Use stream-of-consciousness writing like Julia Cameron's famed morning pages to get your creative juices flowing. Many writers swear to this strategy, saying it unlocks the creativity hidden in their subconscious minds.

74. Find Inspiration in Everyday Heroes

I once listened to a podcast by serial self-publishing author Steve Scott. He was recapping the strategies from his latest book launch, which resulted in $60,000 in royalties. Hearing his story was inspiring because he isn't Malcolm Gladwell. He started self-publishing books and kept doing it until he figured out how to become one of the best. He's what you would call an ordinary person doing something extraordinary in the publishing world. There are many examples of self-published authors you can use as inspiration. Find them on Amazon and read their stories. Once you know it's possible to make a killing without the gatekeepers, you'll be inspired to do it yourself.

75. Embrace Your Inner Barbara Walters

Interview people in your niche about a topic you're interested in. Creating profiles of other people might seem less daunting than coming up with a topic from scratch. You can use their stories in your books or blog posts.

76. Dare to Be Different

Embrace your inner weirdo. Your idiosyncrasies and strange ideas are what make you you. Don't be afraid to show them. The more personality you put into your writing, the better.

77. Throw Your Big Hairy Goals in the Garbage

When I encounter someone who has a puffed-up chest and talks about what they're going to do, I know they're going to fail. Most "grand missions" end abruptly. To stay inspired, gain momentum. To gain momentum, create the smallest goals possible. Your brain likes to "win." If you set laughably achievable goals and succeed, your brain equates it with making progress. A series of small wins is better than no wins.

For example, if your goal is to write 250 words per day, and you reach it every day for a week, it will inspire you to either write at the same pace again or up your word count. If instead, you'd started out by setting a goal of writing 1,000 words per day, you could've gotten discouraged and quit. The first goal inspires you to continue, while the second is demotivating.

78. Stop When You Hit the Sweet Spot

Cut your writing short right when you're in the groove. Pick up where you left off the next day. You'll be inspired to dive back into the page because you'll have been thinking about where you left off.

79. Sleep with the Enemy

Make friends with fear. The sooner you stop expecting fear to go away, the better off you'll be. Remind yourself that fear is a sign of you doing something amazing with your life - something most others won't do.

Fear is the enemy of inspiration, but thriving in spite of your fear is inspiring. If you're afraid of being criticized, hit publish anyway and feel inspired from overcoming the hurdle. If you fear your writing won't be captivating, press through and ship, because one day you'll write something people will love.

Action is the best deterrent to fear, but it never erases it. Each step you take forward alongside your fear will inspire you to do it again and again.

80. Bore Yourself to Death

You stare at the blank page and nothing comes to mind. You feel blank and stuck. You're bored. Good. Boredom filters out the pretenders from the contenders. Sometimes inspiration won't sneak up on you until you stop looking for it. If you stop trying to force the situation and let the words come to you, they'll come. Those writing sessions where you'd normally quit after ten minutes of boredom may bring a creative breakthrough at the eleventh minute.

81. Literally Write for One Person

The idea of writing for one person has been offered time and time again, but what if you went into insane detail about the person you're writing for?

Instead of writing for "a member of your target audience," come up with a customer avatar even an experienced marketer would find a bit obsessive.

Something like:

It wouldn't be hard for me to write a blog post to inspire Mary Elle. Get insanely specific about who you're writing for to the point of absurdity, and get inspired to benefit that person's life.

82. Have an Affair

Many of the world's most successful creators had extra hobbies that had nothing to do with their main craft. Try drawing, playing music, or making pottery. Take time to express yourself creatively without writing. Creativity fuels you regardless of its source. Add some creative gasoline to your tank to use in your writing.

83. Create a Monster in Your Lab

If you've been writing for a while, you have a hefty list of unfinished drafts. Instead of discarding them for good, you can find inspiration by taking pieces of each unfinished post to build a "Frankenstein piece."

84. Don't Trust the Opinions of Losers

Fear of ridicule kills inspiration. If you're worried about what a reader will think of you, consider this question from the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius: "You want praise from people who kick themselves every 15 minutes, the approval of people who despise themselves?" People who don't even think highly of themselves don't have the right to hold a negative opinion about your work.

Get your inspiration back by seeing "trolls" for what they really are - people who hate their own lives so much they want to criticise what you do in yours.

85. Stop Telling Yourself You're a Writer

Stop only identifying with being a writer. If your identity is closely tied to being a writer, you'll take your failure in writing as cracks in your personal character. You write, yes, but you do lots of other things, too.

86. Turn Trials into Triumph

You know what's more inspiring than believing you can overcome obstacles? Actually overcoming them, because knowing you have the strength to do it inspires you to do it again.

Most writers fail because they avoid difficulty. Most don't grasp the hidden inspiration in defeat. When a team loses by one point in the championship, they work even harder the next season, because they know they're on the cusp of victory.

When a piece you write gets rejected, get inspired to prove the editor wrong. When your blog post or book falls flat on its face, get inspired to write ten times better the next time.

Real inspiration isn't warm, fuzzy, and cute. The truly inspired are gritty, tenacious, and walk directly into the flames of disappointment and setbacks.

87. Con Your Way to Success

Become an impostor. Impostor syndrome is the feeling of being a fake, phony, or fraud who doesn't deserve success. A great remedy for impostor syndrome is embracing the idea of being one. Write under your guise of falsehood. Realize nobody knows exactly what they're talking about, and give up your need for appearances. Fake it till you make it.

88. Appreciate the Fortunate Timing of Your Birth

Consider the fact it's ten times easier to become a successful writer than it used to be. A few decades ago, to get published you needed to throw your needle into the haystack of the publishing world and hope someone discovered you. Now you can publish your own books. With the click of a button, your words can potentially reach millions of people. Technology has empowered us all. I call this the excuse-free era because there are more opportunities than ever to find exposure.

89. Realize You've Already Put in "10,000 Hours"

Think of how much writing you've done in your life. From papers in school, to emails, to social media updates - you write all the time. When you focus on building a writing career, it's more of a focused effort, but it's writing just the same. Remember how much you effortlessly write in other areas of your life, and take some pressure off the writing you do for an audience.

90. Make a Mountain Out of a Molehill

Focus on doing one thing a little better each time you write. If you only get one percent better every day, you'll be 37 times better by the end of the year.

Growth in writing is exponential, not linear, which means your practice won't just make you better little by little. One day, after several weeks and months of getting better inch by inch, your skills will explode. You'll enter a higher plane of creativity and the words will come out of you as if possessed by a wordsmith demon who scorches the keyboard with its fingers.

91. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Making an investment in your writing inspires you to create because it shows you're serious. Being an "amateur," isn't always inspiring, but "turning pro" is.

How do you turn pro? You do the work, but you also treat your writing like a business instead of just a hobby. Making financial investments in your craft inspires you to live up to the image you create for yourself.

A telltale sign of someone who isn't serious about their writing is a lack of willingness to spend money. Invest in tools to grow your website. Invest in your writing education. Invest in tools to create high-quality books. The more you invest, the more you'll feel invested in your work.

92. Stop Robbing the World of Your Creativity

Think about your readers. What if the scientist who was meant to cure cancer decided medical school was too hard? She isn't only robbing herself, but the world. Your writing belongs to your readers. Your words can help educate, entertain, and inspire people. I once had a reader comment on a lull I had between blog posts. They were relying on my words to help their career. Your words matter, and we need them.

93. Pay Your Debt

Earlier we talked about the idea that your writing isn't for you, but for other people. This is true, but at the same time remind yourself that you owe yourself. Sure, writing can be a bit of a slog at times, but you owe it to yourself to push through the pain and see what's on the other side, especially if you've already invested time into your writing career. Don't let what you've done go to waste.

94. Harness the Curious Power of Envy

Have you ever been jealous of another writer for their accomplishments? You can use your envy as fuel to inspire yourself to improve. Oftentimes when I see someone else do something I want to do but haven't done, I turn my envy into curiosity. After seeing green for a bit, I think to myself, "How did they do it?" Then I trace their steps and reverse-engineer what they've done. I've used this strategy to get featured on popular blogs, come up with headlines for blog posts, and add more substance to my work. Don't just get jealous, get better.

95. Hit the Reset Button

I once wrote 15,000 words of a book and quit. I just wasn't feeling it. I struggled over the words over and over again, but the project just didn't seem like a good fit. I started over completely and wrote my second book. The experience of having a fresh start was inspiring because I was re-energized with new material. You don't want to fall into the perfectionist trap, but you can inspire yourself by carefully choosing when to start over.

96. Create Your Own Turning Point

In every book or movie, there's the moment where the unassuming protagonist takes the call to adventure. For most of her life, she'd been somewhat of a nobody, but opportunity arises, and she finally begins the chapter of her life that changes everything.

Will this moment happen in one instant for you? Maybe not. But you can embrace the idea of taking action and starting your journey today. Get inspired by the moment, or the idea that life is fleeting. Dig dip inside yourself and conjure up whatever energy is inside you and make today the day that's different.

97. Curate an Inspiration "Museum"

We come across inspiring material all the time, whether they're quotes, places we visit, pieces of art, or experiences we have. What if you created a place to document and store all of this inspiration, so you could use it later in your writing? This could be in a form of a journal or scrapbook where you collect inspiring ideas. You could keep track of things you've thought to yourself or heard from other people that inspire you. When your creative well runs dry, you can look to your journal for the jump-start you need.

98. Set a Finish Line

With the first book I wrote, I gave myself a specific deadline to publish it. I woke up every day, hammered away at the keyboard with reckless abandon, and looked forward to the last lap.

I relaxed a bit on writing the next book. I told myself I'd get it done without any pressure of a deadline. The result? I worked on it on and off instead of being consistent. I didn't get back into the swing of writing until I put a deadline on my work again.

Give yourself deadlines for your writing projects. They might seem arbitrary, but deadlines help you stay motivated to push through, and they make you treat your writing like a business instead of a hobby.

99. Boil it Down to This...

Each one of these points ties into the central message behind becoming a great writer. You have to write. Get inspired by your own deep love and need for putting words on the page. You're the best source of inspiration for yourself. You have the itch, the pull, the call. Use it.

Get Busy Writing, or Get Busy Dying

If you really have the itch to write, it'll never go away,

You have two options - get inspired and get to work, or let your anxiety and insecurities grow and fester.

I know what it feels like to get stuck between the feeling of knowing you have something important to say and wondering whether you're cut out for the task at hand.

It's been two years since I started, and I never imagined I'd be where I am today. The same can happen for you, but not without putting in the work day in and day out until you get what you want.

Remember, whether you write or not, the time will pass anyway.

You are cut out for it.

You can make all of your writing dreams come true.

You got this. Now go.

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99 Ways to Get Inspired to Write * Smart Blogger

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Ugh, it happened again. Another week or month has passed, and you've made zero progress on your writing goals. Deep down you know your writing is important, but you can't take consistent action. What's really going on here? The truth is, you don't feel inspired.

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What if writers could perform a magic trick to gain inspiration?

They might not be magic tricks, but many of the writers on this list have tried-and-true techniques.

This post lets you in on the secrets of how professional writers manufacture inspiration (hint: it's not just reading and taking a long walk).

When the gears of your brain get stuck, refer to this list and pick your 3 favorite techniques. Try them and leave a note in the comments about which one worked best for you.

50 Ways Famous Authors Get Writing Inspiration

When he's writing a novel, Haruki Murakami gets up every morning at 4 am, works for five or six hours, runs 10 kilometers or swims 1500 meters (or both), reads for the rest of the day, and then goes to bed promptly at 9 pm. He holds this routine for six months to a year, using this repetition as mesmerism to stay inspired. ("I mesmerize myself to reach a deeper state of mind.")

2. Ransom Riggs
Inspirational Activity: Start a collection

Ransom Riggs first started collecting old photographs as a kid because he loved photography, but he couldn't afford prints of his own. Soon, he noticed a pattern in the photos he was collecting ("Edward Gorey-esque Victorian creepiness," he calls it) which sparked an idea for a book (not necessarily fiction) about the photographs. His editor at the time suggested he make it fiction (which he had never written before), and thus was born Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

Daniel Handler gets most of his ideas, he says, by noticing everyday things and considering them in a different way. He says, "I'll have some idea or see something or an event will strike me in a certain way. I'll string it along immediately and think of where it could lead and where it could go. I think of a story."

4. James Salter
Inspirational Activity: Travel

During his tour with the army air force in WWII, James Salter kept a notebook before he ever knew he wanted to be a writer. Later, he revisited it to write his first book, The Hunters.

Of course, you don't have to join the military to get inspiration for writing, and now that he has retired from active duty, Salter travels frequently and uses the way it helps him "[look] at life in a different way" to get inspiration. "There is no situation like the open road," he says, "and seeing things completely afresh."

Marilynne Robinson's inspiration for Housekeeping came from a series of metaphors she randomly wrote during her Ph.D. After her dissertation, she "read through the stack of metaphors and they converged in a way I hadn't expected."

Alternative:
Read something you hate

8. Cormac McCarthy
Inspirational Activity: Talk to people

This one might be a little obvious, but take it one step farther: Pay close attention to your conversations, even remembering specific things the other person said. Cormac McCarthy used specific conversations with his son as inspiration for The Road. In fact, some dialogue in the book is word-for-word what his son and he said ("Papa, what would you do if I died?" / "I'd want to die, too").

Tobias Wolff had no plans to write a memoir before starting This Boy's Life, but he kept so many notes about his childhood, moving around with his mother, that eventually the notes became an idea and that idea "chose" him, all he had to do was write it.

10. Denis Johnson
Inspirational Activity: Take notes about random things

The first step of Denis Johnson's writing process is to take scattered notes with only the intention of taking notes. Later, he'll revisit them with the intention of writing a book, as he did before writing Tree of Smoke (2007). The idea for that book came to him (he has no idea why) from reading over those random notes, some even as far back as 1982.

Chuck Palahniuk writes about more shocking stuff than many people will ever experience; this comes from a need to turn awful personal events into less awful, less personal things. Basically, Palahniuk says he channels "dreadful, horrible things in [his] life that [he] cannot resolve" into writing.

If you've wanted to publish a book for as long as you can remember, I can help.

I'm John Matthew Fox, founder of Bookfox, and I help writers improve their books so they can find their dream publisher.
Learn more about my novel editing ...

Inspirational Activity:
12. Throw away your book and start again Michael Chabon

For Lauren Groff, "the most important element of writing is the selection of the subject matter." In writing, she had to find "a topic that was dear enough to me that I would do the work and spend the time that's necessary to get to the end of a final draft," which is how she decided to write a love letter to her hometown of Cooperstown, NY in the form of a novel called The Monsters of Templeton.

When the idea came to Groff, she was lonely, living in CA, and missing her hometown. Thus, she decided to channel that longing into writing: "The book was born out of homesickness and a desire to create a loving, warm world around me."

15. Nicholson Baker
Inspirational Activity: Set deadlines

Nicholson Baker set a mental deadline for himself to finish writing a novel: Age 30. When he didn't meet this goal, he became inspired to write The Mezzanine by quitting his job and spending every day writing "as hard as I've ever written" for 6 months.

Rachel Kushner takes a different look at writing than most: She doesn't believe inspiration to be "locked up" inside a writer and in need of "the right 'serious' (brooding) moment to get released." Instead, she says you must take a big look at the world and recognize that in so many ways, it speaks to you daily. The way to come about this, she argues, isn't always solitude-"even if you're alone when it happens."

After high school, Paul Rome moved to New York City, which he says "[awakened] my senses" and "[stirred] up all these feelings that were inside of me." Then, he projected himself onto his character for We All Sleep in the Same Room because of his anxieties about growing up and living in New York after graduating NYU.

While thinking of new ideas, Ann Patchett, instead of looking for "good" inspiration and overlooking the "bad," considers everything and then weeds out what she can't use. She allegorizes this using the image of a faucet: "The only way to get clean water is to force a small ocean through the tap. Most of us are full up with bad stories, boring stories, self-indulgent stories, searing works of unendurable melodrama. We must get all of them out of our system in order to find the good stories that may or may not exist in the freshwater underneath."

Jose Saramago's novel Death at Intervals was inspired by the question, "What would happen if death took a holiday?" To get inspiration, he makes note of interesting questions, quotes, and people with whom he converses.

while researching the main character of his novel When writing a novel, Herman Koch tries to get as close to his characters as possible. Once, Summer House with Swimming Pool (who is a doctor),he made an appointment with his own doctor specifically to make note of his presence in the office.

When in a rut, Koch takes Hemingway's famous advice: "Write drunk, edit sober." The first time Koch did this, he reread what he had written and allegedly thought "This is so good - I'm never able to write this well!" He got his idea for The Dinner, his breakthrough novel, "after having had a few beers on Christmas eve."

Eileen Myles says she likes the idea of "writing a poem I could have written thirty years ago" and keeping the momentum going so that inspiration, from however long ago, never truly dies. ("When you're in a collective, social situation where you're always trying to imagine how to join into the social situation and then something crosses your mind-it took me years to realize that I should just say that thing. I think writing is so similar. Writing is improvisational.") And, as the polar opposite to Herman Koch, Myles gave up drinking in part because she claims it was killing her inspiration and her writing at large.

Bill Clegg's inspiration for his novel Did You Ever Have a Family came while he was writing his memoir and started taking a harder look at his hometown. He says, "I just really started looking at this place where I grew up with different eyes and I became interested in it, and during that time I felt this compulsion to write down stuff that would come to me about the place."

After that, you've just got to dive into the writing: "Then at one point, I just wrote these three words, 'she will go,' and I didn't know who she was and I didn't know where she was going. From that point forward, it just bloomed as fiction. It sprung up in the middle of writing the memoir and gathered a life of its own. I didn't name it as fiction first-I kind of backed into it."

When a dentist told Ben Lerner he had to have a tooth pulled immediately because it was infected, he pictured himself telling his friend about the experience-"then as I inhaled the delicious N20 I had the sensation that I was already telling Yarrow-that I'd floated away from the office back into his presence" and it became inspiration for his writing. In fact, inspiration like this appears throughout his novel 10:04. ("I'm aware of narrating certain experiences as they happen or obliterating those experiences with narrative and then those stories-not the experiences themselves-might become material for art.")

B. J. Novak was inspired to write a short story titled "A Good Problem to Have" (which appears in his bestselling collection One More Thing) because he was curious about "the hypothetical publishing rights of an author of a classic textbook problem," who writes them, and if they seek compensation.

Like Willie Nelson, who once answered "Where do you get your ideas from?" with "The air is full of tunes, I just reach up and pick one," Ursula K. Le Guin believes that inspiration is everywhere. Everyone makes up their own stories about the world ("People who can't make the world into a story, go mad"), so writers, while they are writing, just have to wait for one of these stories to find them-or seek it out themselves.

27. David Mitchell
Inspirational Activity: Explore extended metaphors

David Mitchell structured Cloud Atlas after an idea he had had since age 18 or 19, asking himself, "What would it actually look like if a mirror were placed at the end of the book, and you continued into a second half that took you back to the beginning?" When he hadn't yet written out the idea by his third novel, he finally decided it was time.

Khaled Hosseini saw a news story on TV in spring of 1999 about the Taliban, which discussed the rules the Taliban had put on Afghan people. At one point, it mentioned that they had banned flying kites, which Hosseini had done many times as a boy in Kabul, so he sat down and wrote a 25-page short story, and left it for two years. Later, he found it in his garage in 2001 and turned it into The Kite Runner.

Junot Diaz keeps a folder of any inspirational thing he encounters (ex. a black and white picture of his father in a fascist uniform, newspaper clippings, notebooks from the writing processes of his prevous books, mementos from previous points in his life, etc.). The picture of his father was Diaz's main inspiration for The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.

Alternative:
Research medical conditions

Since he was a kid, Jeffery Eugenedies had always been interested in the Roman character of Tiresias, who had lived as both a man and a woman. He was particularly struck by a comment Tiresias made when asked which sex had a better time in bed-"If the pleasures of love be as ten, then three times three belongs to woman. The rest belongs to man."

At 15, Eugenedies believed writers should be able to tell stories from both sexes' perspectives, so to have a narrator which achieved both at the same time might give him "a measure of that longed-for omniscience." He was further inspired by Foucault's Herculine Barbin: Memoir of a 19th Century French Hermaphrodite but believed it to be "melodramatic and sentimental," so he wanted to try to tell the story a different way. Also, Eugenedies wanted to write about a real person (not a fanciful, mythological creation, like Woolf), so he spent a lot of time in Columbia's medical library, where he stumbled upon "5-alpha-reductase deficiency syndrome." This is the disorder he eventually used as the medical basis for his narrator's struggle.

31. Mark Haddon
Inspirational Activity: Take a normal situation and make it not normal

Mark Haddon became inspired by Jane Austen for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime because she wrote about boring people's normal lives. He decided he wanted "to take a life that seemed horribly constrained, to write about it in the kind of book that the hero would read - a murder mystery - and hopefully show that if you viewed this life with sufficient imagination it would seem infinite."

For Room, Emma Donoghue was inspired partially by Cormac McCarthy's The Road, because she "wanted to see what a mother-child modern myth would look like, because his father-child one was so powerful." She also uses other writing to help set her characters/plot-Samuel Richardson's Clarissa was Donoghue's inspiration on describing suffering, and John Fowles' The Collector for the perspective of the captor.

Jennifer Egan got inspired to write A Visit From the Goon Squad because she found a wallet exposed in a woman's handbag in a hotel bathroom and was afraid someone would steal it. She started thinking about who would steal it and why, so when she came up with some answers, she wrote it.

Jon McGregor was originally inspired to write Even the Dogs because of a story he heard in 2003 about a man dying alone in his flat; however, he was more "inspired by how run-of-the-mill it was, rather than how shocking." He shoved it away until 2007 because it felt like he was "shaping up to write a novel about heroin, homelessness, and dead bodies."

Then, he decided to embrace the "run-of-the-mill": "The more I found out about the lives of people experiencing addiction, or living on the margins in some way, the more interested I became in the complexity of that experience."

35. Donna Tartt
Inspirational Activity: Visit yard sales

When Donna Tartt decided she wanted to write a novel about art, she started honing in on art everywhere she went. In 2003 she saw a copy of "The Goldfinch" (the painting) at a house sale, and she thought it was the perfect piece of art to appeal to a child-thus was born The Goldfinch, in which a boy carries the painting around in his backpack.

Madeline Miller first read The Iliad with her mom when she was five years old, and as she grew up she kept returning to the passage where Achilles reacts to losing Patroclus. Because he doesn't appear much in The Iliad, Miller wanted to know what exactly Patroclus meant to Achilles and why Achilles mourned so fiercely for him.

Researching every thing about Patroclus she could find only reaffirmed her hunch that he may have meant more to Achilles than is explicitly stated: "I think there have been many people who have taken them as close companions, but looking at the way Achilles mourns, how incredibly deeply and sensually-holding the dead body all night, wanting their ashes put together-that seems to say something beyond [friendship] to me."

While translating Proust-and spending every day, from 10 am to 3 pm, slaving over the translations-Lydia Davis wrote her shortest story to date: "I loved constructing those sentences, but I think I also needed to resist [Proust's writing] a little bit by writing very, very short things. Just a title and two or three lines."

38. Annie Proulx
Inspirational Activity: Research other occupations

To write her book That Old Ace in the Hole, Annie Proulx called up some men who repair windmills in the Texas panhandle, because she had noticed that windmills through that area were being largely replaced by diesel pumps. She would ask them where they were going to be working the next day and if she could tag along. "Usually they're pretty forthcoming and willing and maybe even eager to share the difficulties and strains of their trade."

39. Ian McEwan
Inspirational Activity: Really listen to your parents'/grandparents' stories

Ian McEwan recalls that, "'Stop me if I've told you this before,' was a sentence my father never uttered." His father would repeatedly tell McEwan stories about WWII-having his legs "shot up," staying in a Liverpool hospital as a burn victim-and eventually, these stories all came together in Atonement, which McEwan calls, "my father's stories."

40. Miranda July
Inspirational Activity: Take long car rides

Miranda July's idea for The First Bad Man came to her "pretty fully-formed" on a car ride. She says the basic plot and two main characters appeared "in a flash!" and she wrote it down hastily, trying to get all the information down. Secondary characters and everything else came while she was writing.

Judy Blume, a self-proclaimed "people person," has enough imagination to take in details while people-watching and come up with what's missing. She says, "Ideas come from everywhere-they come from what you see and hear and imagine. My husband says I have too much imagination, but I don't think a writer can have too much imagination!"

When John Darnielle, a member of the band "Mountain Goats," started writing Wolf in White Van, he wrote one scene about teenagers smoking and then got stuck. "I had the title already, because I really liked that title, but I wasn't sure what I was going to do."

So instead of trying to build plot, he decided to start getting to know his main character: "I started asking myself questions like improvisational comedians do, like what does he do for a living? What does he wear? Who are his friends? How does he make any money? What does he wish he was? All those sorts of things. That performative element is how I wrote the book, by asking myself questions about what happens then? What if this happens, then what?"

44. Joshua Ferris
Inspirational Activity: Put one project on hold and work on something else

Two-hundred and fifty pages into writing what would become Then We Came to the End, Joshua Ferris decided they were "wanting." Not knowing what else to do, he decided to let it rest for a little while. He says, "I put them away and eventually gave myself over to a very different manuscript."

Instead of stopping a project for another project, sometimes you should maybe just stop a project for nothing. That's what Rick Moody does, when he gets an idea and gets stuck: "You know, in 'Purple America' I knew it would start with the bath, and then I just had no idea where it was going next. You know, sometimes I had to stop for a month because I just had no idea what the next bit of story was going to be."

46. Geraldine Brooks
Inspirational Activity: Walk in graveyards

One of Geraldine Brooks' pieces of advice to writers is, "Don't be afraid to see dead people." In fact, the idea for her first book, Year of Wonders, came from her "habit of communicating with the dead." She was in a graveyard in the "plague village" of Eyam when she noticed one of the gravestones had been carved, chipped away, and carved again, as if the first spelling of the name was wrong.

Inspirational Activity: Embellish your own life

Raymond Carver believes, like many writers, that all writing is autobiographical. "You're told time and again when you're young to write about what you know, and what do you know better than your own secrets?" He mentions to not take this totally literally, of course, but just to the extent that an inkling of whatever you're writing is drawn from your own life. "A little autobiography and a lot of imagination are best."

48. Melanie Banjamin
Inspirational Activity: Go to an art exhibit

Although she was not a big fan of Lewis Carrol's Alice in Wonderland, Melanie Benjamin was inspired to write a book about Alice Liddell called Alice I Have Been after seeing an exhibit of Lewis Carrol's photography at the Art Institute of Chicago. "One photograph in particular captured my fancy; it was of a girl clad in rags, staring at the camera with a very frank-very adult-gaze," she says. She did not write the book then, but did so years later when she mentioned the photographs to a friend and was urged to explore them through writing.

Inspirational Activity: 49. Richard Matheson
Create an evil character out of the mundane

Richard Matheson dabbles enough in the sci-fi genre to know how to write a very human, very non-supernatural evil. For his short story and screenplay "The Distributor," Matheson aimed to explore evil in "such a banal everyday way. Nothing supernatural or mysterious about it. The protagonist just methodically demolishing the neighborhood."

50. Gabriel García Márquez
Inspirational Activity: Take a different look at disease

For One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez decided on a plague to burden his characters. He had always been invested in the study of plagues, specifically those of the Medieval times. Daniel Defoe's book Journal of the Plague Year about the Black Plague was highly inspirational for Márquez, and eventually he decided on an "insomnia plague" for One Hundred Years because it is the opposite of sleeping sickness.

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How 50 Famous Authors Find Writing Inspiration - Bookfox

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What if writers could perform a magic trick to gain inspiration? They might not be magic tricks, but many of the writers on this list have tried-and-true techniques. This post lets you in on the secrets of how professional writers manufacture inspiration (hint: it's not just reading and taking a long walk).