After writing the first post, I realized I'd forgotten one of my favourite "hooks" to get me writing like mad.

SMALL STUFF!

For example, I found pen-making parts in the Lee Valley catalogue (which I highly recommend for both research and inspiration).

It led to this:

**
The body was beechwood, smooth and bronzed with age, of perfect balance. Silver girdled it, worn plain and tarnished, quickly warm to Maleonarial’s fingertips. The pen had been an extravagant gift, from a father with neither coin to spare nor generous nature until a son proved of marketable talent. He remembered how the silver had glittered in his hand, that long ago day, like some cheap gaud on a whore. He’d done his utmost not to use the thing in front of classmates or masters. Such a garish object demeaned the lofty position of mage scribe-to-be.
Had he ever been so young?
The new nib was old. Bone, weathered wood-bronze, carved silver-smooth. Simple, like the now-plain band, but with remembered complexity and purpose. He’d found the piece on his wanderings, tucked among reeds by a busy, impervious stream. A deer once.
Or a man.
**
This? Led to an entire magic system and became "Intended Words" my first fantasy novella, published by Baen Magazine. And that?
Led to GOSSAMER MAGE, to be published by DAW Books once I'm done the next few projects.

See? Small stuff. I highly recommend it.