Inspiration comes from everywhere, and the more variety we allow into our lives, the more exposure we have to possible sources of inspiration. Try this exercise on for size.

***

Go to a used CD store and pick up a CD you’ve never heard of before–the more obscure the better. Pick one from a genre you never–or hardly ever–listen to. Take the CD home, lock yourself in your room, and listen to it in its entirety, even if it’s the worst music you’ve ever heard.

After you’ve listened to the entire CD, pull out your journal, your notepad, or your computer, and just start writing. You may surprise yourself with the ideas that pop up.

I just sat down to work on my first draft (something I should be doing right now), and I ran a word count. Turns out I just passed 50,000 words yesterday, and I’m guessing I’ve got about 30,000 left to go.

I’m still trying to figure out how to get from where I am to where I need to be for the ending, and . . . wouldn’t you know it . . . I think I just figured it out as I was typing this sentence.

Inspiration comes at the oddest times. I’d better write this down before I lose it!