Years ago, I spent six wonderful days at the International Kite Festival in Long Beach, Washington. I still remember sitting on a driftwood log, watching the waves roll in with a pen and notebook on my knee, feeling lucky to be in a setting that seemed tailor-made to breathe new life into my writing muse.
That trip taught me something important: even when you write consistently and professionally, there’s a difference between getting words down and feeling creatively alive. One isn’t better than the other—they both matter—but those moments of deep inspiration are worth chasing when they come. And they can come more often, if you know how to feed the fire. Here are a few ways I’ve found to invite more of those moments.
Daydream While Writing
Staring into space might look like slacking off in most jobs, but for a writer, it’s as essential as deep breathing during a workout. When I’m writing, I give myself permission to pause and let my mind wander—it’s often where the best ideas come from. It helps to be in a setting that relaxes and inspires me, too. Watching the waves crash on the beach that week wasn’t just a peaceful moment; it was a productive one, in the best possible way.
Try New Things
We all have a comfort zone we’d rather not leave—but it’s outside that space where stories happen. Most plots revolve around characters doing things that are uncomfortable, unfamiliar, or downright scary. As writers, we owe it to ourselves to do a little of that too. Try something new, take a small risk, and pay attention to how it makes you feel. On that beach trip, I went horseback riding for the first time in over a decade. I was nervous at first, but I ended up having a blast—and walked away with all kinds of story ideas (some horse-related, some not). I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Celebrate Your Moments of Inspiration
One of the best moments on that trip was realizing I’d more than doubled my writing goal for the week. I couldn’t wait to share it with my family and online followers. Celebrating those moments helps validate our efforts and reminds us why we do what we do. Just make sure you’re sharing with people who’ll actually get it—and cheer you on.
Write What You Want To
I usually have multiple projects going at once, and I used to feel like I had to divide my time equally among them. But while it’s good to keep everything moving forward, there’s no need to punish yourself for leaning into the one you’re most excited about. That’s why I tweaked my routine. I still work on my “next in line” project each morning, but in the evenings, I write whatever I feel like writing. It’s made a big difference in my weekly output—and in how much I enjoy the process. If you’re juggling multiple stories, I highly recommend giving it a try.
I’ve said before that writers who only write when they’re inspired will never be authors, and I still think that’s true. But I also think the same can be said of writers that are never inspired. A successful writer is someone who writes even when they don’t want to, and writes even more when they do.
