The Whimsical Muse

Book excerpt: We need reasons to write. Specific, tangible reasons give creativity a chance against a blustering, attention-grabbing world. The Whimsical Muse provides eighty-four concrete reasons to write. Eighty-four exercises that you can begin right now. They require no planning or preparation. Just open the book and go. In under a minute, your creative juices will be flowing. All of the prompts here can be adapted to suit the moment. Each one has two parts: "Quick" and "Lingering." If you are really strapped for time, opt for a "Quick" activity that can be done in a matter of minutes. Don't be surprised if your energy and your spirits lift as you start working. It turns out that getting words on the page ignites our gusto and fearlessness. And I predict it won't take long for you to see your imagination for the remarkable resource it is. Remember: the more you use your imagination, the more imagination you'll have, and the more you'll write.