Thread by @Joannechocolat

People keep asking me for this one. Let's do it today. Follow #TenWaysToGetBackYourMojo to collect them all!

https://twitter.com/MirandaJames57/status/1436339451244863497

1. The muse. Inspiration. Mojo. Doesn't matter what you call it, we all know what it's like. Sometimes the Muse just doesn't turn up. And Covid, lockdown, social media and current events aren't helping. So - how to get back in the zone? #TenWaysToGetBackYourMojo

2. First of all, don't panic. Just because you've lost your mojo doesn't mean you're broken. But if you've been struggling vainly for months, it might be a mental health issue. If so, get professional help and practice self-care. The work can wait. #TenWaysToGetBackYourMojo

3. No-one is at their best if they are worrying about money. But there may be resources to help you. The @Soc_of_Authors has a number of grants for authors, plus there's the Contingency Fund, for authors in financial distress. #TenWaysToGetBackYourMojo

4. Social media can seem like a window onto the world if you're locked down and struggling. We tend to forget that it can also be very stressful. Try a social media detox to help get you back into the zone. You may find it surprisingly helpful. #TenWaysToGetBackYourMojo

5. Don't put yourself under pressure to write. Instead, try to reconnect with what made you want to write in the first place. Was it comics, fanfic, a certain genre of writing? Re-read the books you loved as a child, and try to recapture the joy of them. #TenWaysToGetBackYourMojo

6. Take exercise whenever you can. Most authors forget to do this, but gentle daily exercise helps you relax and think more clearly. Remember, ideas don't need a desk or a computer screen to come into existence. #TenWaysToGetBackYourMojo

7. To create art, you have to consume art. Take the opportunity to read, to watch movies and plays, look at paintings, listen to music. Note down how these things make you feel. #TenWaysToGetBackYourMojo

8. Maybe you're feeling isolated. If so, talk to other people. Pick up the phone, or FaceTime that friend you've been meaning to contact. Writing is a conversation between the writer and the reader. You need that connection in your life, too. #TenWaysToGetBackYourMojo

9. Set yourself small, achievable targets. If working on a whole book seems like too much at the moment, then set yourself a shorter task; a 100-word daily prompt; a piece of flash fiction; a poem. Creativity starts small, and builds up with practice. #TenWaysToGetBackYourMojo

10. Most of all, be kind to yourself. Eat healthy, delicious food. Go outside. Talk to friends. Do the things you love. Writing needs joy to flourish, just as plants need sunlight. And if it takes time, so be it. Your work can wait. You matter more. #TenWaysToGetBackYourMojo

If you enjoy these occasional threads, you might like my book, TEN THINGS ABOUT WRITING... amazon.co.uk/Ten-Things-Abo…