Go On A Trip
(Or in this economy this habit might simply read, “Get Out of The House Once in a While”)
There’s nothing quite like traveling to a new location to get your creating juices flowing. Changing the scenery helps pull you out of any rut you might be in. It also opens your eyes to new experiences. And it can help you put yourself in your character’s shoes.
Think of how going to an ancient castle in Ireland can improve your descriptions of it. You’ll also have a better idea about the atmosphere in different places which can help create a vivid experience for your reader. It doesn’t matter if you go to the corner coffee shop, a local park, or an exotic location – getting out of the house, and away from your 9-5 job, broadens your horizons and improves your writing ability.
I’m writing a book about a woman that is led by circumstance to become a ghost hunter. To experience what she is experiencing, I’m heading out to join a local ghost hunting group for a weekend trip. Not exotic. Not expensive by any means but it is sure to be a memorable experience I can use in my writing for years. Heck, just being able to tap into that tangible fear I’m bound to experience in the middle of the night alone in a haunted room will pay off.