It’s been a slow writing week for me which means I’ve read as much as I possibly can.  I have a new eBook which took a novel to get used to but is now an essential part of my writing toolkit.  Stephen King talks about writing toolkits in his wonderful memoir On Writing (which I recommend to every emerging writer).  It’s something I keep in mind when I get a new tool like an eReader.  Every writer needs to read books and so a Kobo (or whatever) gives me an easy way to read a book everyday whilst I’m travelling.  So far this week, I’ve been to Minneapolis, Kansas City, Chigaco, Miami and I’m now in Austin.  It’s impossible to write when moving around so much, but it is possible to read heaps.  And because reading helps me think about the book I’m going to start working on next then I’ll happily add my Kobo to my toolkit.

There are other crucial tools for writers – vocabulary, grammar, storyline, characters, style, voice – but making time for reading is the best way to inspire your work.  An eReader is as well designed as a book made of paper but it is a useful tool.  One I’m glad to have.

I’ve just finished reading The Everafter by Amy Huntley . The main character, Madison, is dead and she finds her way back to her life through the objects she lost when she was alive. It’s a romance, a mystery and a thoughtful book about letting go.

What objects make you reflect on your life?  Could you chose one object and write about the memory you have because of it?  Where does it come from?  What does it make you feel?  Can you write the memory down using all your senses, like Amy Huntley does, to really bring that moment back to life?

Publishers have magical rooms that are filled with books and if you ask really nicely, sometimes they gift you one or two. I was lucky enough to be in New York this week and I wandered in to visit the marvelous folk at HarperCollins who gave me Tangled by Carolyn Mackler and Gorgeous by Rachel Vail Both are fun and feisty and fabulous. And completely inspiring for those of us who write.

So, to do some fun, feisty and fabulous writing tonight, I want you to imagine the incredible. What if you could fly? Or if a dog ruled the world? Or if you could change into anything you wanted to be? Or if babies could tell you what they thought? Or if you were in love with a photograph? Imagine the fabulous and then write twenty sentences. Don’t stop until you’ve got twenty down. If you can’t imagine something of your own, use one of my ideas above. Ideas are supposed to be inspiring and are often made much better if they’re shared.

Have fun.