Here's how I handle lack of inspiration

1. I start writing. No. Seriously. Sound stupid? It's not. I tend to get interesting ideas if I start writing whatever wafts into my head, even if I'm destined to delete it all after the real 'fall flat on my face idea' hits me over the head like a hammer. (If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning ... I'd hammer in the evening ...)

2. I think. I think about that 'fall flat on my face idea' through the washing, the cooking, the cleaning, the shower, the reality TV show I really wanted to watch but can't concentrate on anymore because I'm thinking too much.

3. I read. I read and read and read some more because reading other people's books helps me to learn. I try not to read books by the same author or genre in a row either. I want to see different skills and imaginations at work and how different authors have utilized the fiction writing skills I've learned and utilized myself.

4. I phase out of conversations. (caution: this is not a tip; this is a habit I need to try to stop) I immerse myself in a deep conversation with my fiance and find I haven't heard a word, and have to ask him to repeat himself, which then causes an argument, and therefore gives me juicy dialogue for my protagonist and her horrible husband, boyfriend, bff, or boss.

5. I take notes. I take notes even if it is no where near a 'whole' note. It could be a word, a feeling, an expression, a funny sentence I heard someone say in the street, a spelling error on a Greek tavern menu that cracks me up, for eg. 'rubbit with onions'. You never know, maybe it'll link to the 'fall flat on my face idea' in some shape or form.

6. I blog. And then I delete my post because I realise what I'm writing is a really great 'falling off my seat idea', and I should use it in my book. And then I post something like this instead, because I have suddenly become inspired.

From no inspiration to lots of it. That's how I do it. How do you handle it?