As we all know, writing is about creativity-the creation of a story or words, amalgamating them together into something that touches the heart or that explains what is going on.

There is so much creativity around us that sometimes we don’t even recognize it’s there. We just shut it off as day to day ‘normal’ stuff. When, essentially, we should be tapping into this and recognizing its potential.

Certainly, nothing is new under the sun, but the way you write it down, the way you articulate it and put your passion into it will make all the difference in the world.

One thing you can do to get the creativity going is by taking a quiet moment to yourself. Your inner voice (not the ego) is telling you something in which you may not be listening. Quieting everything down around you will give you a chance to hear the creative voice.

Another thing you can try is listening to music. Preferably instrumental, but if you prefer vocals then give that a shot. Music triggers something in us. Sometimes we don’t know exactly what it is but we experience something on a new level. Try this-as you are listening to the music (or shortly after, if you prefer) write down whatever is on you mind-be it a story, a memory or just thoughts. This is a creative moment waiting to be released.

One more thing you can do to help unleash your creativity is go to a playground, a quiet one when kids are in school. Get on the swings and swing. It’s amazing how exhilarated you feel as you fly high above the sky. Yell out to the world, “I can see my house from here!”

If swinging makes you ill, try the slide or the monkey bars. The whole point is to get into the mode of opening up like a kid again. Children are completely creative-it’s not until adulthood that we start to not give ourselves permission to open up.

Take time to get your creativity flowing. It doesn’t take much-it only takes a dash of thinking differently.

Tamara Hanson, B.A. Psych., has been a writer for more than 12 years. With one self-published young adult novel (Dream Weavers), two other novels awaiting publication and over 20 articles published throughout various magazines, she has firmly rooted herself in the writing community. Her desire is to inspire and ignite the creative writing spark in adults and children alike. Visit her at http://www.thewritersmentor.ca or http://members.shaw.ca/tamara.hanson