I started writing this blog post on a fast boat to Bali, ocean waves swelling and rolling out the window, sharing a pair of headphones with my guy. Lake Street Drive on the iPod.

No computer. No notebook. Just Rachael Price’s soulful voice, and my thoughts.

I was living my life. I was dancing in my seat. I was watching a majestic bird soar over the water, wondering what kind of bird it was and how long it could fly without resting.

I was writing—without a pen or paper.

Sometimes, that’s how the best writing gets done.

Here’s the thing all great writers know…

 

Writing is a frame of mind as much as an activity you sit down to do.

As you move through your everyday life, remember that your thoughts can be used in everything that you write: blog posts, sales letters, landing page copy, you name it.

Let these thoughts and ideas unfold. Follow them through to their logical conclusions. And when you can, write them down.

In her popular TED talk, Liz Gilbert talks about creative genius as an external force that can appear at the strangest and most inconvenient of times. She tells a story about the musician Tom Waits, who was driving along the freeway when a new song suddenly came to him. Waits looked up at the sky in exasperation: “Excuse me, can you not see that I’m driving? Do I look like I can write down a song right now?“

Should we all be so lucky.

But hey, I have my moments! During that two-hour boat ride to Bali I outlined two blog posts and one long-ish Facebook post. The arguments, the mood, and some of the exact words—done. The hard part, over.

When I finally pulled out my notebook (in a calm stretch of sea), all I had to do was jot it down.

Here are five places/times to listen for your creative muse:

1. In transit.

Although I’m no Tom Waits, some of my best daydreaming and scheming does happen when I’m in transit—whether I’m in a fast boat in the middle of an ocean or driving that long flat stretch of highway between Toronto and my parents’ farm. Sometimes I even use a voice recorder app to catch important sentences.

2. In conversation.

This is especially useful for new writers. Good writing sounds a lot like speech, so steal some great lines from your very own lips.* Don’t be afraid to pause mid-conversation because you’ve said something you might want to use for your blog or website. Jot it down in a notebook or on your phone (Evernote is great for this).

3. In mundane domestic moments.

I can’t tell you how many epiphanies I’ve had while cooking or showering. Since I work from home, these everyday tasks can happen in the middle of a work day and often serve as mini-breaks that replenish my creative reserves. They just might do the same for you, if you watch for it.

4. In motion.

It’s no coincidence that a lot of successful writers go for daily walks. Get the blood flowing, get the metabolism moving, take in the sights, sounds and smells. If walking isn’t your speed, run. Go to the gym. Let your body move and your mind drift.

5. While experiencing art.

Like begets like. I often feel inspired at art galleries and during theatrical performances. When I go to the Vancouver Art Gallery or the Art Gallery of Ontario, I always end up on one of the benches in the middle of the room, head down, pen flying.

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A bonus to all of this? If you learn to write anywhere and everywhere, you will never be bored again! Seriously!

But of course, it isn’t going to happen overnight. It will take a little time to strengthen the creative muscles you need make writing part of your everyday lived experience. Start with daydreaming. Start looking for stories in the world instead of at your desk.

And don’t forget to carry a notebook!