Step out of your comfort zone and have fun with your writing.

Learn to change your habits. Write something new and different from your normal genre.
Start with little changes in your regular stories. If you write in third person, try the same story in first person. Play different music when you write to change the atmosphere.

Step outside of the box.
You don’t have to do anything dramatic like writing erotica if you’re used to writing children’s books, but try fantasy. If you write fiction, try non-fiction, maybe a newspaper article or even a letter to the editor. If you write mysteries, try a love story. Take a stab at writing humor or conger up a story about werewolves. This can help you step out of your comfort zone with new ideas and concepts.

Imagination is a wonderful thing.
When you’re stuck in a rut, you are not tapping into your imagination. Imagination is a great source of energy and knowledge.  Dream. Dare to be a kid again and let your mind wander. Your imagination can lead you to write an adventurous story.

Change your character’s names and situations
Be open to creating new and maybe peculiar characters. Give them names that your reader with remember. The more you experiment with change in your writing, the more interesting your stories will become. Change can sometimes add depth to your writing and it keeps you from becoming stale and dull.

Help is always available
Join a critique group or a writer’s group. I have never met a writer who wasn’t open to helping me brainstorm when I’m temporarily brain dead. A different perspective can help alleviate stress in new situations that you may choose to write.

You can write.
Think positive when you sit down at your computer to punch out that first page. Everything begins with your thoughts and your feelings. That becomes apparent when you put it down on paper. Writers have heard this many times. Write first, edit later. Get your thoughts down on paper.

Lastly, love what you do. I know that sounds trite, but if writing is not enjoyable, it will show up in your finished manuscript. A good attitude is important to you and your reader.

Keep writing. Joyce