Find your muse. Many great artists claim to have someone in their lives that inspire them to create their art. For writers – even those writers who do not compose fiction and poetry – having a person or thing that sparks their creativity can be a real boost to their productivity. Aspiring writers can choose a favorite author and scroll a quote from the author across their computers as a screensaver. Parents can use photos of their children taped to their work area to inspire them to forge on ahead. Any inspiring person or thing, whether it is a travel brochure from a tropical island where you plan on vacationing when you make it big as a writer or a necklace from your Great Aunt who you admire greatly, can be your muse. The important thing is to have some sort of inspirational symbol that can help you keep writing even when you feel as though there is not one creative juice left flowing in your body. Figure out what inspires you to write, and then get a visual reminder of that person or thing to place prominently in your work area. When writer's block hits, or you are just a little tired of writing, your muse may be able to give you the little burst of energy you
need.

Find a great location. Sure, you may have a nice desk at your house that has always suited you just fine for when you are writing. If you have a laptop computer, however, you should realize that you can take your writing just about anywhere you can think of. Sometimes, getting away from your desk and sitting somewhere a bit more inspirational can up your energy level exponentially. Take, for instance, sitting in a comfy recliner or at the kitchen table where there is a great view out the window. You will want to have your desk as your proverbial home base, but there is something great about working at a different location. Consider taking your "show on the road" by packing up and heading to a local coffee shop or library. Most appropriate writing locations feature wireless internet access, so if your computer is set up for it you can do all sorts of work away from your home. You may find that you actually prefer doing some of your writing away from your home because the change of scenery inspires you. At the very least, you can get a nice cup of coffee while you work, and caffeine can be a great inspiration too.

Tip: I absolutely love heading to a local coffee house to do some writing every so often. I usually write from my desk at home, and going to a different location really inspires me and makes me feel much more creative. I usually get a lot more writing done when I take my laptop to the café and sip on some coffee while I write. The fact that I am not responsible for the kids during this time either (their dad stays home with them while I go write at the coffee house) helps me to stay focused and on task. If you haven't found a nice local place to get away to once in a while, you should truly make it a priority.