Finding Writing Inspiration

The majority of the viewers of this article are probably either on writer’s block or really in the mood to write but not sure of what to write (which technically is a writer’s block except that you haven’t started in the first place).  But here’s another one of those articles with interesting ways to get out of writer’s block.

1.  Wait.  This really shouldn’t be the first suggestion; it should be the last, but it has a better chance than the rest of the suggestions.  Give your mind a break.  Dealing with reality is enough for some, and as a writer, having two universes (or even more for the writer who starts and never finishes) is more than enough.  Some writer’s blocks goes on for over two years, but in the meantime, chances are that better writing skills are developed so that you can re-edit and critique your own work.  True, you might forget where you were going in the first place, but that leaves another chance at another better plot.  And besides, if you’re afraid you’re going to forget your plans for the story, that’s what Post-it notes are for…or write notes along the margin of the paper…or type it on a separate sheet.  Just anything to help you remind yourself of where you left off.
2. Look in the dictionary.  Yes, open a random page of the dictionary and write down whatever words you like on that page.  Sometimes these words become good succinct titles.  Or, you can even create a challenge for yourself, and find a bunch  of random words and make a song utilizing each.  I myself got published into a magazine from these random writings.  My words were traffic light, pineapple, and thunderclouds.  I was quite happy with it too.  Sometimes your best work is when it’s “forced” as an assignment, since it forces your brain to take leaps that it has never taken before, make new connections that only your imagination could contain.
3. Look into your writer’s journal (assuming you have one).  Realize that every idea you get is valuable. Whenever you get an idea you like, just write it down somewhere.  The idea doesn’t have to relate to anything you’re writing, but it can serve as starting points for other works.  Even a good title should be written down.  And who cares whether the ideas are good or not?  It’s your journal, or Post-it notes, or whatever.  (Though I have to say keeping ideas on Post-it notes is troublesome.  I lost my whole outline of a novel on that…)  But in any case, if you do have one, good for you!  Skim through the pages of that and play around with ideas that you have.
4. Put on some music.  Inspiration through another medium is immediately approved.  When trying to get ideas from music, interpret the lyrics in maybe a different way you normally do.  Try to plant yourself in the point of view of the singer.  Empathize…and create a character of that nature.  Or, just sit, and listen to music until something that you see sparks your imagination.
5. Look up images on Google.  Yes, while the internet is there, use it! Find photographs or images that stir you, or have the ability to transport you to another place or whatever other corny expressions I can use here.  If you’re looking at a photograph of a tree, think, what has that tree experienced in all its life or what things live in that tree?  Or how does that tree symbolize something in a person’s life?  If it’s a sandcastle, like about who made it and why they chose t put a twig standing out from the top of it, about the kid who wants to destroy it, or of the wave that eventually eats it up on high tide, or maybe even the crab that lost its home for it.  Hell, I can go on forever, you get the point.
6. Look up over creative writing sites.  This came later because obviously you knew to do that, searching up articles on the internet.  But keep researching.  Lots of name generators, prompt generators, and more suggestions, prompt generators, and more suggestions come up on the internet.  This article is just one other source.
7. Find a buddy and chat with him or her.  Yes, go socialize and have a life again rather than be stuck with a pen in your hand that is itching to write but not sure what to write.  Have a party, relax your mind, talk about personal experiences that might trigger inspiration.  Be existentialist for a while, just talk.  But ever better…find a writer buddy who you can discuss your writing, of ir you don’t want to upfront talk about your writing, ask for suggestions.  Better yet, play all those fun inspirational games with them!  Besides, many novels are collaborative works; try a letter-based story, or ever write a chapter each.  This makes for the best plot twists and turns, and a very interesting work.  If you get writer’s block, you have another mind to lean on.
8. Read a book.  Accomplished authors always leave a mark on the reader, whether consciously known or not.  Enjoy the text of another while you attempt to make your own.  I promise you, you’ll find something that you like, a style or an interpretation of an event you like.  And it doesn’t even have to be a book.  It could be a TV show, a play, a soap opera…anything!
9. Rant.  Some people find it helpful to write out their own thoughts for pages and pages until they grow tired of their own egoism.  I personally don’t like to just write randomly, but it’s fun to see where your mind, or how your mind jumps from one thing to another so quickly that your hand can’t even keep up with it.  The brain is so amazing with all its unique connections that individualize each person, shaped by biologically, environmental, and behavioral factors.  Obviously you can see that I am ranting, and that I am obsessed with psychology and the workings of the brain.
10. Edit.  When worst comes to worst.  Look back at what older things you have written.  Change it, find an alternative ending.  Chances are, since the last time you write it, you’ve become a better writer, so you may change your story all together.  Maybe add more complexity into the plot.  Fix a word you don’t like, replace one sentence with the other, cut out or add in a whole section.  Rather than starting entirely from scratch, work from what’s already done, because there’s a fine line between editing and creating.

I decided to stop at the number ten because it makes it kind of even.  Also, it gives realization to the fact that you can be inspired infinite amounts of ways that I can’t list, even without a long long ass explanation after it.

But, I’ve added a list of words to start the inspiration that I suggested so you can get a headstart!

Word List: tomato, biker, dog tag, lightening, chalkboard, traffic cone, cane

(Eh, that’s a hard bunch isn’t it?  And I didn’t even add any adjectives yet!  Remember the words can be used any way they need to be!  Have fun and keep writing!)