Staying The Course

In my relatively short time as a "serious writer" I have learned a few things, forgotten some others, and mucked my way through numerous rejections and a few golden acceptances. Each step in the writing process has been educational and exciting. But I am a year in at this point, and I have found myself in a bit of a rut.

As summer approaches, so does the busy time of year for me-- the time when both my daughters start softball for the summer, get ready for summer camp adventures, SAT's (for my older daughter), open up the seasonal campsite, mow the lawn, do my gardening *takes a deep breath*  This is just the stuff I know about as it is on my schedule. Incidentals -- well I just squeeze em in when and wherever I can.

I have managed to schedule myself fairly well with respect to my blogging on a regular schedule and staying up to date on social networking efforts. I have also made a concerted effort to read more. (As a single parent trying to find time to write, adding this one has been particularly difficult -- who has the time?)

What has fallen off for me over the past month or so, is my writing time. Each day that goes by that I haven't taken the laptop out to write some words is a day that I go to bed feeling I have wasted. I need my FT job, but it too gets in the way of my writing -- the thing I want to be doing with myself.

When I get this way, there are a few tried and true methods I have used to get past them.

1. Take a walk -- I realize time walking is not time writing. However I get some of my best ideas while walking and thinking.

2. Listen to music -- The greatest of inspirers (is that even a word) for me. Both of my recent acceptances have been stories conjured during a session of tunage (and family stresses tuneout).

3. Read a book -- Now I know I mentioned above that I barely had time for this.  However, I have noticed that in doing this, even for an hour a day, I have opened up some creative veins I had thought long dry. I guess I am one that is inspired by others. Either that or I read stuff and realize that I can do just as well.  Either way, it helps spark the synapses enough to get me itching to write something.

What are some of the things you all do to get the creative juices flowing? Do you have a set writing routine that gets you "in the mood"?