5 Easy Ways To Get Your Creative Juices Going

Writing an article doesn't just mean putting random thoughts into words then typing and writing it. You need to put your thoughts down in a cohesive and creative manner in order to capture the interest and imagination of your readers and get them to keep reading. You need to capture their attention and pique their curiosity.

The main ingredient to cooking up an article is a large dose of creativity. While creativity may come naturally to some people, many writers may have difficulty getting those first words down on paper (on computer, whichever manner you choose.) Many writers have literally torn their hair out when they get writers block and just can’t seem to get their creative juices flowing.

Changing words into images in the readers mind is an art. A clear and crisp depiction requires a certain flair that only creativity can provide. Similes and metaphors help a lot, but the way an article weaves the words into sentences and then paragraphs is what develops the essence of the article.

So just what do you have to do when nothing comes to mind? There is no surefire ways to get the perfect ideas but there are many ways to get your creative juices flowing. No one can guarantee you of having the perfect mindset but many methods may aid you in achieving that state of mind.

1) Keep a diary or a journal with you at all times.
Ideas can be triggered by anything you may hear, see, or smell. Your senses are your radar in finding good ideas. Write all of them into a journal and keep it with you for future reference. You may also write down anything that you have read or heard, someone’s ideas could be used to develop your own ideas. Remember that ideas and creativity can come from anywhere; it’s the development of the idea that makes it unique.

2) Relax and take time to sort things out.
A jumbled mind cannot create any space for new ideas. You need to have a clear or calm mind in order to generate your creativity. Get rid of all obstacles that can be a hindrance to your creativity. If you are bothered by something, you cannot force your mind to stay focused. Try to relax and think about your experiences and interactions with others. Your experiences are what shape your mindset and opinions, which could be reflected in your writing. Find out what triggers your emotions. Discover what inspires you and what ticks you off and use these emotions to help you in expressing yourself and your ideas.

3) Create a working place that can inspire your creativity.
Your work place can be a hindrance if it doesn’t make you feel happy or relaxed. Creativity comes from your state of mind and a messed up workplace that causes distraction won’t be conducive to writing. Surround your working place with objects that makes you happy and relaxed. Put up pictures, or scents, objects that inspire, or anything that can get your creativity cranking. A clean and well organized workplace also rids your mind of distractions and unwanted hindrances. With a good work place, you can write in peace and never notice the passage of time.

4) Set the mood.
There are many ways to set the mood. Some writers have been known to use a little sip of wine to relax and stir up the imagination. (Notice I said 'a little'.) Some like soft mood music while others prefer something a little more raucous to get their imagination working. There are those who let the lighting of the environment create the mood, and still others who enjoy walks or enjoying nature.

5) Go on a getaway and just do something unlike crazy.
Letting yourself go and have fun produces adrenaline that can make your imagination go wild. Take an adventure or even a nature hike. Whatever it is that is different from your daily routine might be what you need to get out of your rut. Whatever it is that strikes your fancy, your subconscious will make use of that experience and get your imagination working overtime.

How to Create an Outline for Your Article

We've done it through junior high, it expanded on it through high school and continued on into college. No matter how many times a person has done it, writing articles can be a task many of us prefer to avoid. Now at a time when writing articles is necessary for your work, facing the job at hand can be a daunting task.

While there are a great number of people who do not have a problem writing, others would rather walk on piping hot coals than do some article writing. What sets these two opposing factions apart from each other is the level of preparedness that each group possesses.

One tool that can help you write that article you are avoiding is to start by creating an outline. Creating an outline for all your articles gives you a starting point. You have an idea of what to do first and can make a plan for your succeeding steps. This helps make the job easier and faster.

An outline can act as the design or blueprint for your article. This will guide you in creating the introduction, body and conclusion of your article. The outline is where you write down your ideas and sentences that you feel will look good in your article and provide a focal point that will help make your article creative, interesting and appealing to a reader.

A carefully planned and prepared project will ensure a worry free procedure that can help you to virtually breeze through writing an article in no time at all.

Do some brainstorming and jot down your ideas. Think of some ways to attract the interest of your reader. Designate a time frame for your finished product. By this point, you should have completed all the research about your subject and have all your information jotted down. Review and reread your ideas and notes so that you have sufficient familiarity with your topic so that what you write is not stilted or copied.

Write a short introduction that will entice your reader. It doesn't have to be long, just enough to grab their attention and draw them into reading the rest of  your article. The next step is to figure out your sub topic and sub titles. These are the frames or skeleton of your article, now its time to 'flesh' it out. Write an introductory sentence for each topic and sub topic that you can use to connect them and allow them to 'flow'. (Flow is a very important component to an article as this ensures that one sentence leads to another.) These sentences will form the body of your article.

Once you have your outline you are ready for your first draft. This may take more than one attempt but remember that it is called a draft for a reason. This is where you figure out what you want to say and how you want it to read. Always refer to your outline so that you stay on track. It's easy to get caught up and lose track of what you wanted to say in the beginning. One you start writing, you will find that it is easy to add tips and points that bolster your initial idea.

When you have completed this step, you will need to write a short conclusion for your article to sum up everything you have written. It's great to have an article that is chock full of information, but you don't want to leave your readers in the lurch. A conclusion provides a place to reiterate your initial points, pros and cons, reason for buying etc.

By using this method, article writing won't seem like such a daunting task. Having a starting point makes it easier to say what you want, and by planning your project, you will be able to write an interesting article that makes sense from beginning to end.