Goodreads asked Neil Pasricha:

How do you get inspired to write?

Neil Pasricha First off, it's not easy! I want to say that up front. I think I do three things:

1) Prioritize "The Feeling" - On those occasional moments I feel a tiny fluttery itch to write... I drop everything and do it. Like, I make sure nothing's burning on the stove, and grab my laptop, and head straight for a coffee shop with a seat staring out the window, and I just go. I know if I don't the feeling will go away. And I'm not saying the feeling comes always or often! But if I prioritize it, then it's like I'm obeying it. I respect it.

2) Notes everywhere - I started following this great notecard system I learned from author Ryan Holiday (link below) and it's been really helpful. Now I keep tiny blank cue cards in my wallet, in the console in my car, on my bedside table, everywhere. When I have an idea, I have no excuse not to write it down. Over time these tiny notes evolve into larger ideas or concepts that I can flip through later when I'm looking for inspiration. Like, I'll write down a song lyric or quote I like, and six months after that will link to a note I've written summarizing a New York Times article. And suddenly I'll want to write about that.

3) Set an easy goal - When I was writing The Happiness Equation I would set my alarm for 5am ever morning and say "I want to write 250 crappy words before I go to work." There didn't have to be many words! And they didn't have to be good words! And by doing that I'd usually feel good about overachieving.

Finally, I'd recommend Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott as a great book to read on this topic, and here's the link to the notecard system I mentioned:

http://ryanholiday.net/the-notecard-s...

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