Sometimes writing is like trying to draw water up from a bone-dry well.  You keep pulling but get only an empty bucket.  You’ve run dry on ideas.  You stare at the empty screen with as blank a mind. 

In the country, a ‘water witch’ or dowser uses a divining rod to source water. (For real. They still do this in the year 2008!)  Sadly, there isn’t a ‘divining rod’ for writing or creativity.  The best thing to do?   In no particular order, here are my best tips for finding the ‘water’ in your creative well:

·         Read good writing – a book, a magazine, the newspaper, blogs.  I personally like Mental Floss, TED, Wired, and other sites or magazines with multiple points of entry to get me thinking in new ways.  Today, I stumbled on this very entertaining blog, and there are many others out there with a unique point of view:  http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/blowing-off-steam  

·         Engage in an ‘antiwriting activity’ – rollerskating. Painting. Dancing. Modeling with clay. Playing a game with kids. Doing a crossword puzzle.  Exercising.

·         Call someone – particularly someone entertaining — who always has something unique and interesting to say (see the MargaretandHelen blog mentioned above!)

·         Listen to music. Music you wouldn’t ordinarily listen to but that sounds appealing.  Go to itunes and check out the new releases or world music.

·         Write something completely different from what you are trying to write.  Write your grocery list.  Write instructions on how to make perfect spaghetti.  Write a list of the top 10 books on your list for this year. Write a Christmas gift list.  Get the pen (or fingers) moving and you might just find yourself back on track.

Got any tips of your own to add?  I’d love to hear them.