As mentioned in my previous post, The Three Types of Writers, it can be difficult for writers to find inspiration, especially if they are pantsers or plantsers (if you don't know what those are, click the link above). Anyone can have trouble getting an idea in their heads to share with the world. However, the inspiration well doesn't remain full once you have an idea. As you keep dipping into it, you may find that you encounter an inspiration block where you aren't sure what to do next.
So, how can you get that inspiration well full again? Look around you. One of my college professors used to say that nothing bad happened to writers, and everything is inspiration.
Brainstorm/Mind Map
The best thing you can do before you start writing or once you hit a wall is to brainstorm ideas or mind map a little. You can do this at the beginning to help understand your character better or to help develop the plot of your story. Typically, once you've started writing, you have a general idea of scenes that need to happen or the general flow of the plot (at least the beginning and the end). So, the problem becomes how do you get your characters from point A to point B. Brainstorm all the ways possible (even if you think they are ridiculous). Then think about each of them and decide what works best.
Mind mapping is an exercise that I despise, but it does come in handy every now and again. I don't like to make the mind map web because I feel confined by space, so you can always just make a list of ideas. To mind map, set a timer and write down everything that comes to mind. If you are at the beginning of your story, you may end up with multiple plot points to you can weave into your story. If you only need one, save the list in case you run into this issue later.
Talk with Friends
This is where having a writing community can come in handy. If you have friends who are also writers, you can explain your issue to them and hopefully, they will have some ideas as to how you can solve your inspiration block. If not, collaborate with them. Maybe they are going through a similar situation and by helping them your creative juices will start to piece together a solution for your story. Two heads are always better than one when trying to solve a problem.
If you don't have a writing community, you can still talk with friends and family. Try other creatives if you know them. Even if you don't know any other creatives, people can be creative on their own, too. Anyone may have a solution to your story, especially if they have ever read any book in their life. Inspiration is all around us. Even a story they share about themselves or an experience they had may spark something that can inspire you.
Or invite a group of friends over and do something fun. Taking a break from a manuscript and coming back with fresh eyes can do wonders. If you need your inspiration well refilled, taking a break can be a great way to do so. Letting your mind do something it enjoys can do magic for your creativity.
Get Creative (Non-Writing)
Sometimes, it can help you to use your creative juices in another way. Even if you aren't Picasso or Mozart, you can still do art or create music to force your brain to work differently than it is used to. You can make it more fun by inviting friends and family over to participate in the endeavor.
During our January-term classes in college, they always had a night called, "Coffee and Canvases" where the entire campus would go to the student center, drink a warm beverage (like hot chocolate or coffee) and paint. So many of my friends made cute little canvases that became decor in their rooms. It's a fun way to challenge your creativity and possibly get inspired by what you or someone else paints.
Try Writing Prompts
There are so many places where you can find writing prompts (including this blog). Check social media for writing prompt pages, posts, or accounts. There are plenty to follow on whatever platform you like the best. If you aren't already, get an account on Quora, Reddit, or some other forum and look for a writing prompt there. If you don't like social media, a simple Google search for "writing prompts" should give you plenty of results to choose from. You can either write something else for a while or you could weave one of them into your story.
One-sentence generators (like this one) or one-sentence prompts are also great. At our bi-semester writing retreat in college, we always played a game where we were given five writing prompts to make a story. The catch was we were given one of them then a few minutes to write then immediately had to add the next one whether it fit or not. It was a great challenge for us, and some of my friends wanted to write short stories from one of the sentences.
If budget isn't an issue, there are plenty of "complete the story" books (like this) that can get the creative juices flowing as well.
Ask an Online Forum
If you don't have writing friends or a writing community, you can always check in with a writing community. For my first blog, I actually answered someone's question in a Reddit forum because it inspired me. If you just scroll through the forum, you may find an answer. However, if you want a more direct answer, ask your own question. People will reply to it and you may get feedback from people all over the world and from different backgrounds. If two heads are better than one, hundreds have to be even better.
Consume Media
Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to consume other media to get ideas. Read your favorite book and ask what would happen if the hero hadn't been able to solve the problem. Read something you don't typically and see how their world is different from the one you hope to create. Watch a movie and ask what would happen if something was slightly different (like Marvel's "What If...?" TV series). Watch a show and see how the characters solve a problem. What if they went about it differently?
Listen to Music
Much like movies, TV shows, and books, music can be a great source of inspiration. Queue up your favorite playlist or songs and listen to them while letting your mind wander. Maybe it will be the vibes the music is giving you or maybe it will be something that the singer says, but I bet a song will inspire you in some way.
Do Something Mindless
Sleep, do chores, go for a walk, or do something where you can let your mind wander and daydream. There is a reason why so many people say they have their best ideas in the shower. When you do something that doesn't take much mental effort, your brain will subconsciously wander. You never know when you'll wake up at three in the morning with the solution to your story. Any of this can help you come up with your next great idea.
Next time you find yourself stuck in an inspiration funk, try one of these tips to see if you can't muster up some inspiration to help move your story to the next scene. Getting from point A to point B can be difficult, but it isn't impossible to refill your inspiration well to begin pulling from it again.
Until Next Time,
Ally Mac
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