How do you motivate yourself to write?

What do you do when you’re out of ideas?

How do you keep going when inspiration has dried up?

Making a schedule, having a deadline, setting goals for yourself – those can all be great ways to “stay regular” with writing.

But that can result in flat, “obligatory” writing.” Without one key element, those things will feel like a drag.

This is the key:

To be in a perpetual state of receptivity and curiosity.

To stay open to new ideas, and open to processing old ones in new ways.

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I think of it like compost.

A compost pile is a vibrant ecosystem of living organisms. Mine continues to amaze me, because I add the rind of an entire watermelon every two weeks or so – yet the pile never gets bigger. The rinds disappear within a few days.

Similarly, when our minds are rich ecosystems of hungry ideas, we can “process” new information quickly, detect patterns, astonish ourselves with new discoveries.

When our minds our receptive, ideas are everywhere.

On the street, in the park, at the cafe, on the elevator. In my memories from high school and my memories from last weekend.

A random anecdote a friend tells me suddenly makes great food (ha!) for thought. A minor inconvenience (like needing daily PT for my knee) becomes a wealth of wisdom and story.

Of course, compost only works if you add living things. Similarly, our minds stay active and healthy when we feed it living ideas, living stories. Vegetables, not fast food.

It all comes from the conscious choice to be a willing recipient. An active listener to the universe.

I’m letting compost do its job (this is both literal and figurative): facilitate growth.

I’m allowing for the natural process of life and creativity to run its course.

All I do is create the conditions. I put orange peels and fig stems and tea leaves in the pile. I remain curious.

I’m Kimberly, and I’m a ghostwriter and book coach who specializes in novels and memoirs with themes of relationships, mental health, and spirituality.

If you could use some structure, guidance, and support as you write your book, or someone to do the actual writing, send me a message.