I'm a fellow historian, so this question is a bit more "shop talk" than most. I've hit a rut the past year in my research and writing and am looking for advice at getting out of a historian's version of "writer's block."
For one, I stopped school when I earned my M.A. I have a broad interest in very many areas of history and found it impossible to focus on just one area for so long.
I've always focused on American history, specifically the Civil War and the era from 1898-1920ish. But I'm finding it increasingly difficult to find fresh angles to write about. Every time I start a project I wind up finding books and articles that are doing exactly what I planned to do.
Have I just lost my history muse/mojo? Or does anyone out there know any tricks for kickstarting the inquisitive juices?
You haven't lost your mojo, it just takes time to think of an idea and get it back. I felt the same way after not doing any historical studies for a year. You just need to do two things. Pick your favorite topic and then read a good collect of essays in an monograph about that topic. This is what I did for the Ancient Greek economy during the Archaic Period and now I am writing a thesis on how the Phoenicians built Western Greek culture in the Mediterranean through commerce.
So just pick a topic, read a book, and think about it. It will take some time for a good idea to soak in and develop, so just give it time and don't rush it. Also I am a big Sherman/March to the Sea guy/total war guy so you can bounce Civil War ideas off me if you want. All you have to do is message me.