Write as if you are blind.

Hopefully, most of you are already using this technique, but if you aren't, try it. We writers have a tendency to get locked into our patterns when creating a new world. Whether we write historical or Science Fiction, we know what is expected and face standards set unrealistically high.

I usually keep my dictionary and thesaurus close to my desk along with numerous other word research-type books. But if I were to write as if I could not see the color of a tree or the sky, how would I describe a tree or the sky?

Go outside and find a spot to sit. Close your eyes and listen, really listen, to what is happening around you. Smell the air and earth. Has is rained recently? What fragrance do you detect first? Has the neighbor's dog been visiting your yard, or are the roses of the lady-on-the-corner's house enticing you to come visit?

Is the air heavy with humidity making you feel as though you are swimming through the atmosphere? My point is take the time to break out of the ruts you've set for yourself. Sit and plug your ears to experience the world as though deaf. We are blessed with so many senses, yet, we rely on only one or two.

I've been fortunate that when I write, it runs as a movie in my mind. Many of my readers tell me they feel the same way. For that, I'm VERY grateful.

Sable Angel