by Katherine Reay, @Katherine_Reay

Spring is here! We had a little snow last month (in May), but I’m thinking we turned the final corner and spring won’t disappear again — after all, we’re at summer really. But in Chicago, we often skip right over spring. I’m trying to give it a few days.

So now is as good a time as any to shake off the cold grey of winter, the winds of cool spring, and find some fresh newness within our writing. Here are a few of my favorite ideas…

1. Head outside. Nothing clears the head like a good long walk. If you’ve got woods or water, all the better. My mind clears on walks and new ideas bubble up without being summoned – that’s the best. So take a deep breath, get outside and let the creative juices flow.
2. Work in your garden – or a garden. It doesn’t need to be large; the small patch by my front door always needs a little attention. Digging around in dirt, planting new plants, vegetables and flowers is soothing and stimulating.
3. Brainstorm. Whether you are at the beginning of a new story or deep into one, take a moment and ask a few What if questions. What if the character didn’t open that door? Didn’t find that clue? What if that scene was set somewhere else? Sometimes giving ourselves permission to imagine something new, even if it’s just a sentence, can enliven our stories.
4. Read. This is an always thing, but now you can do it outside. As life springs and greens around you, keep your ideas fresh by reading lots. Pick a new genre or read what your favorite authors are doing these days in terms of story, voice and set up.
5. Write Daily. Just like a plant needs water and sun daily, write a little each day too — and in a variety of places — to get the most growth in your writing journey. Journal. Letters. Blogs. Articles. Your novel. All these different types of writing will pull something new from you and build your skills.

I hope these tips help. Enjoy the end of spring and the beginning of summer and, as always, have fun!

The Printed Letter Bookshop

Love, friendship, and family find a home at the Printed Letter Bookshop.

Katherine Reay is the national bestselling and award-winning author of Dear Mr. Knightley, Lizzy & Jane, The Bronte Plot, A Portrait of Emily Price, and The Austen Escape. Her next novel, The Printed Letter Bookshop, will release May 2019. All Katherine’s novels are contemporary stories with a bit of classical flair. Her first nonfiction work will release December 2019. Katherine holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University, and is a wife, mother, former marketer, and avid chocolate consumer. After living all across the country and a few stops in Europe, Katherine now happily resides outside Chicago, IL. You can meet her at www.katherinereay.com or on Facebook: KatherineReayBooks, Twitter: @katherine_reay or Instagram: @katherinereay.