You know those moments when an idea comes fully formed? It's like it drops out of the sky, and once you begin writing, the momentum carries you forward.

They can feel few and far between, can't they? But the truth is, you can increase the chances of it happening.

I recently chatted with a writer who just experienced one of those moments. In three days, she wrote five chapters, and she seemed amazed. 

The truth is, she was ripe for a moment like this, and here's why:

• Instead of sitting down to write a particular story, she sat down and wrote whatever her curiosity brought to mind
• When she thought of a character who intrigued her, she wrote about that person
• At no time did she force her writing to take a particular shape
• She made a point of showing up (sitting down at her desk) but didn't force it (when she needed to putz for a bit before writing, she did).

She combined a determined commitment and optimism with a gentle and compassionate approach, which meant that she was open to ideas and ready to act when they arrived.

This is the part of the writing process that gets so often overlooked: allowing yourself to be in the right place at the right time. 

There are many ways to get there. Practicing with writing that "doesn't matter" so you can ease the pressure and see what happens when you follow the flow. Making the time and space to sit down to write. Calming the "shoulds" and paying attention to your curiosity.  That's why I incorporated these elements into the Inspired Writers Studio, to help you be in the right place when your moment arrives.

As this writer told me, she was able to act on the idea because she had stayed immersed in the writing process. There was no inertia to overcome.

How do you put yourself in the path of inspiration? Let me know in the comments.

P.S. Ready for a writing breakthrough? Break free from writing rules that don't work and find your way with my FREE three-part series: Inside the Writers Mind. The first insight (and writing prompt) could be yours today.