What gives your muse a charge?

The thing about any creative endeavor--say, like writing--is that you can't just keep pouring forth without pausing to refill bucket. Recharge the batteries. Feed the frickin' muse.

Face it. If you don't put something in occasionally, you're not going to have anything to take out when you need it. You might be able to keep spinning your wheels...

...but the view is going to get monotonous.

Okay, I could drag out some more metaphors, but you get the idea, right? If you don't lubricate the gears (<--okay, I had to toss in one more) with some mental leisure oil (oooh, that sounds kind of kinky, doesn't it?), pushing those creative pedals is going to be a lot harder (heh, I said "harder") than it needs to be.

With writing, as with anything, it's good to work hard, but it's better to work smart.

Reading that trashy book just for fun, watching that stupid TV show, soaking until you're pruney in the bubble bath, laying on the couch and staring at the water spot on the ceiling while fantasizing about...*cough* whatever it is you fantasize about...

...these are all things that can ultimately make you more productive, people! Don't neglect them.

If it helps assuage your guilt, think of it as carbo-loading before a marathon. Eating pasta by the plateful might be unwise most of the time, but sometimes it's just what you need to achieve your goal. 

So, what are you feeding your muse today? :)