On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

In her book, Writing with Quiet Hands, Paula Munier offers the following tips on firing up our brains:

KEEP IT REAL

The subconscious mind cannot distinguish between reality and visualization. So when you visualize yourself sitting down to write every afternoon at 3 P.M. or pounding out ten pages every night or plotting a thriller with more twists and turns than Hitchcock, your subconscious believes you–so make your visualizations as true to life as possible.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Your brain can focus best on only one habit at a time. So if you are focused on summoning the muse–that is, acquiring the creativity habit–don’t try to lose weight or quit smoking or take up running at the same time. Give yourself two weeks to six months to establish your connection with the muse before devoting attention to other habits.

KEEP IT POSITIVE

The subconscious mind cannot process negation, so be sure that when you sweet-talk your muse, you use positive statements: “I am an imaginative writer,” (rather than “I am not a boring writer”).