[stephwills]

+1 on the notebook. You never know when the muse will speak. I usually get ideas while I'm in the shower ... and hope I hang on to them until I can get to a notebook or recorder. I had the greatest bass line come to me today while I was walking into the office and immediately lost it. :(

Read and listen. Listen to others (eavesdrop if you have to) and listen to your inner voice. That muse is an unpredictable lady. She'll drop something in your lap when you're least prepared. But if you're not listening, you'll never hear it.

I've been reading an awesome book for inspiration. I mainly focus on Texas/Red Dirt music and stumbled across an awesome book, Texas Cowboys: Memories of the Early Days. During the 30's and 40's, the WPA Writers Project sent unemployed writers to West Texas to interview older people who pioneered the frontier and get first hand accounts of the people who gave rise to the cowboy legend. It's fantastic reading and stuffed with inspiration.

But above all, have fun with it. Write what makes you happy and be happy with what you write.

Good luck!