You pick up your pen and stare at the blank looseleaf. It’s laughing at you, mocking your ignorance. Not a single trickle of an idea flows into the crevices of your mind. You angrily rip up the white paper, letting out a low snarl. Don’t you just hate it when that happens? Here are a few ideas to shake loose that cork and start writing again.

Take a List with You

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Sometimes, the smallest things can trigger an outpour of words. That was how I got my idea for Quicksilver.

Go Undercover

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If you’re writing for children or teens, you can enter a popular site (like Neopets, Facebook, or Xanga) and create an account.

Observe

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Sometimes, things are right under your nose, and you just need to realize it. What about the rising gas costs? Or the wilting flower you keep forgetting to water? How about that annoying orange dust residue that’s left on your fingers after eating cheese curls? They can all be symbolic, and may result in very creative outcomes.

Surf the Net

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Try roaming the internet. Google is your friend. Try typing ‘hd wallpaper’ in its image search and see what shows up. From there, keep on going. Once, I spent almost an hour looking at one picture after another. I started by looking for planets, and I ended up reading an ad for Sea Monkeys. Quite the experience, I may say. Also, try Youtube. Never know what you’ll see there.

Perspective

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Embarrassing tumble in front of someone important? Didn’t notice that stain until it was too late? Instead of seeing the glass completely emptied, change your “glasses”. Who would know how it felt like to do what you did? That’s what makes your writing special.

Well, if All Else Fails…

I’ve compiled some images.