This is a good topic! I often have trouble with this too. A lot of times I find that music will jump start me. Any kind of music - new age to industrial rock. Though usually it is a type of music that goes with the tone of my story that helps me best.

I like listening to movie soundtracks. The mood of the music puts me in a great state of mind to create. I also think drinking coffee sparks my imagination -- maybe it's the ritual or the caffeine, I don't know which. Allowing yourself to be spontaneous with your thoughts is important as well.

Usually, I have an idea in mind already when I go to write as I don't take most deadline tasks for freelance writing. If I do an assigned task, it is usually one that gives me a topic to focus on and has a few days before it's due. Distractions are what take away most from me being able to be creative. If I am tired of one hobby I usually move on to another to keep from being bored, which usually helps me clear my mind of the other task for a while. I have used brainstorming or freewriting with college and school tasks, but most of the time I don't need that for topics I choose--a few sentences may come to me right of the bat. I may get stuck for a moment. I wait for a while to see if something will come to me and then do something else. If I do the other task for a while, usually something more will come to me and I write more.

I like to look around my room for inspiration because most of the stuff that I have I am interested in. Most of the stuff I have is bright colors and usually that leads to me being more creative with many different types of colors.

It depends on what I'm doing, but the general thing that has helped me across all situations is to stop trying so hard. If I get stuck at writing, I'll go to the gym and clear my mind. If I have some other creative task and get stuck, I'll stop what I'm doing and go read a book. It helps me to sleep on it for a day or so and that usually breaks the logjam. Good luck!

I usually try to relax and listen to music, or watch a comedy movie. I also like to read sci-fi, fantasy novels, and feel that reading other peoples creativity brings out your own.

I find that there are certain friends that when I'm around I just great really created, they're like my muses. I know it's everyone, but I can tell. What's funny is that it's not anyone specific, just certain people. Sometimes smells can really do alot to get the mind and ideas going.

usual go for a walk around the city.. sometimes its as easy as reading a book or listening to music.. or looking at old magazines

I try to do a number of things. Something physical is often helpful, like taking a walk or exercising. Another idea is to do something you really enjoy, which for me would be to go ballroom dancing (my hobby)- my mind is always clearer afterwards. I also do free writing (that is so helpful because I can often clear up the blocks after I get rid of the extra baggage on my mind. I would also recommend a good movie or even read, just to change focus. I like the picture idea. I will try that.

I think inspiration can come from a number of places. I try to look at similar projects to what I am trying to create. Another thing I do is talk to even more creative people. They often times stimulate my ideas.

I, too, get inspired by pictures. I like to look through arty-photographer magazines like JPG to get ideas for stories. Also, there are some cool writer-prompt books out there that help me when I get stumped for ideas. Also, I've noticed that I tend to get ideas when I go to a busy coffee shop/bookstore and just sit, listening to the chatter of people around me. I've heard some interesting things!

Sometimes it's so hard to get through a dry spell! I'm a knitter, and I love to knit, and I frequently sell pieces of knitting, but sometimes it's so hard to find the want to knit when I actually need to! I often find that starting a small project that's easy to finish, helps inspire me to finish the larger, more daunting projects, and get back into my art completely.

I try looking through magazines or going for a walk to clear my head. Often if I try to be creative it doesn't work. I have to wait until it comes to me.