Sit in a coffee shop and eavesdrop.
Nobody admits it but we all have done it.
GiphyNow, obviously, this doesn't have to be a coffee shop. It can be the grocery store (which, in my town, just happens to be one and the same), the local gas station, your hair salon, whatever! The point is to get out of your own head and into the heads of others. It's easy to slip into one-dimensional writing by living in our own world. We're writers, that's what we do! But we need to be diligent to remember that we are tasked with connecting the barest parts of the world to ourselves. For example, we can't just write about the magical unicorns that bop through our minds throughout the day. We must acknowledge the plight of the overworked mother, the emotionally scarred child or the cute little lady hobbling through the grocery store. What are their stories and why do they matter? Listen to what others say and actually hear what they are saying. (Just don't get arrested in the process)
Eat something weird before bed.
Be daring! Eat that Cajun-spiced calamari!
GiphyI've noticed that some of my best ideas/inspiration come during the night, particularly after eating something out of the ordinary for dinner. This doesn't work for everyone, but it's worth a shot. We've all heard the writing hack "keep a notebook by your bed to write down random ideas." Take it a step further and push your body and mind. The best part of this hack is you get to use the excuse of personal growth to try new foods! Spicy foods tend to yield the greatest result in this process. Anything from Mexican salsas or Middle-eastern cuisines can prove useful. I warn you to keep in mind that, even if you do succeed in having vivid dreams, have of it won't be workable material. If anything, you might wake up a bit unsettled. Don't fret, it can take time.
Use music to set the mood for a writing session.
Go wild!
GiphyThe key to this particular hack is to use music that you may not necessarily enjoy on a personal level. Pick a genre that matches the tone of the scene (or topic) you want to write. This may take some getting used to. For example, I'm not a fan of punk rock/metal vibes at all, but I will listen to it whilst I write a particularly "angsty" scene between characters. As artists, I think we need to challenge ourselves to use all mediums available to us. These mediums will work for us as inspiration, drive, as the possibility of betterment. Keep in mind this may not work for everyone! Some people need soothing music in order to properly focus and others might hate a particular type of music so much that they can't even write. Feel it out and choose what works best for you!
20 Lessons I Learned Before I Turned 20
I have learned so much over these past 20 years, but I still have a long way to go.
Let's face it, turning 20 is a weird thing. You can drive at 16, you are a legal adult at 18 and you can drink at 21, so in the grand scheme of things, 20 is an insignificant age. However, when you turn 20, and that suffix of "teen" is no longer behind your age, it hits you. You're not a kid anymore. When you make mistakes at 20, people don't defend you anymore by saying, "Oh she's just young, she doesn't know any better." When you're 20, you are expected to have your shit together because you should have accumulated a vast amount of knowledge over these past 20 years, and let me tell you, that fucking sucks. But this is not a post of regret, this is a post of reflection. So please enjoy 20 years of lessons that I had no idea I was learning.
1. It's ok to make mistakes.
Hannah Montana said it best, "nobody's perfect." You're going to mess up so much in life, but you would never grow if you didn't make a mistake here and there.
2. Sometimes, you're going to be in the right, but when you are in the wrong, don't try to hide it or fight to prove your point. Just own that you were wrong and move on.
Being right 100% of the time is not only not natural, but not healthy. No one knows everything.
3. You have to fight for what you want, nothing is handed to you.
Working hard will get you so much further in life, so don't just sit around expecting good things to come your way.
4. Appreciate every day you have, whether good or bad.
You are still alive, you are still breathing. Those two things in and of themselves are the greatest blessings.
5. In bad situations, it's all about how you react.
You can make the best out of every situation, and nothing is ever past the point of fixing.
6. There's no weakness in asking for help.
If you try to take care of everything yourself, you will wind up exhausted and probably worse off then you were before. Asking for help is actually one the smartest and strongest things you can do.
7. Always be open to listening to other perspectives. Who knows, you could maybe learn something from them.
Every person you meet is going to have different experiences from you, so they must likely won't agree with you on everything. But just because they may not side with your point, doesn't mean you shouldn't listen to them.
8. When you are happy, don't look for reasons why you shouldn't be. Just be happy.
Don't keep looking for something bad coming around the corner, just enjoy being happy. Being comfortable in your happiness is one of the hardest things to do (trust me, I know), but it is so worth it in the end.
9. Take advice from those older than you, they do know a few things.
Whether it's your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, professors, or an old dude on the street, they have lived a lot more life than you, so they definitely have learned a few more lessons.
10. Life will throw curveballs at you, don't try to dodge them.
Curveballs and obstacles are a natural part of life, so don't try to dodge them, just handle them as they come at you.
11. Find something to be thankful for everyday.
Whether it is something trivial or major, there is always something out there to be thankful for.
12. If someone isn't treating you the way you deserve to be treated, leave them behind.
The sooner your recognize that you are being treated like shit, the sooner you can change things. Don't settle with being treated poorly, no one deserves that.
13. There is such a thing as luck, but it's not a given.
Luck comes to those deserving of it, so, basically, don't be an asshole.
14. Don't try to look like everybody else. Relish in what makes you unique.
If everybody looked and acted exactly the same, the world would be a pretty boring place. There's only one you in the world, so be awesome.
15. Having a few close friends is much better than having a lot of fake ones.
Your close friends will be there for you no matter what, so it is so essential to have those people who you know you could come to anytime, any day, anywhere.
16. Don't go looking for love, it will find you.
The age old saying, "Love will come when you least expect it" is so unbelievably true, so don't try to force it. If it's meant to be, it will be.
17. Do what you love, love what you do.
Find a job that makes you hop out of bed every morning, eager to face what the day will bring. You will be a whole lot happier in the long run.
18. Don't waste your time trying to get people to like you. The people who do like you will show it.
When you find people who truly love you for who you are, it all comes easily.
19. Trust your gut. You know when things are right and when they are wrong.
Intuition is a very powerful thing, so harness it. At the end of the day, no one knows you better than you know yourself.
20. I still have a lot to learn.
I cannot wait to see what more lessons the rest of my life will hold. Bring it on baby!