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Need that inspiration to write? Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing again.
Steps
- Never wait for an idea to strike you. This is usually a waste of time. Instead, try some fun writing exercises which keep your brain working, thinking, making connections, and so on.
- Listen to people talk. In other words, eavesdrop. Listening in on a conversation you know nothing about can give you a great idea. You can make up ideas about what happened before, and what is going to happen.
- Play Spark the Image. This is an easy game. To play, start off with any word or object of your choosing. Envision your object, and try to think of the first thing that pops into your head that associates with your object. Do the same for the next word/object that you think of. For example, you might run through the following: yellow -> duck -> goose -> Mother Goose -> rhymes -> poetry -> Edgar Alan Poe -> Alan, your cousin -> your other cousin -> your family -> family dinner -> childhood, and so on. Use this as a quick warm-up.
- Freewrite! Pick a subject and keep writing about it for two minutes. Write as fast as you can and do not stop for anything, even punctuation, grammar, spelling, etc. Review your work as you're bound to find something! Even if you don't pick a subject first and start out with how boring your day was, you'll get yourself warmed up and writing, and you might just let your mind wander to something that turns out useful.
- Make a "What if..." list. Give yourself a scenario of about ten different problems that you might run into. Try to write up to three pages, focusing on adding at least two of these situations into the piece.
- Return to saved things! Read the story that you wrote in first grade about the time you lost your mitten. Read all the writings you saved. When you go back to it, you might find something inspiring.
- Have an open-minded spirit! When you have an idea, try to stick with it. If it turns out it's worthless, as least you tried.
- Play the "Name Their Story" game. This is also easy to do. Observe a stranger somewhere, such as at the mall or in a bus station and tell (imagine) his or her story using whatever clues you choose. It might be based on clothing, general demeanor, hair color, or the types books of the person is carrying under his or her arms. Whatever the outcome, it can spark some surprising observations and get your writing flowing. You can do this with an object, too. Find an item that attracts your attention and imagine where it might have been.
- Think of issues that you feel are important. These are easier to write about because you will probably know more about them than other things.
- Get outside. Go to the nearest park, and bring your notebook and pencil. Eavesdrop on others and observe persons' actions. Take notes. When you get home, write about what you say, using your notes.
- Think of something you are passionate about.
Tips
- Most stories start with a good character - make a couple and put them together into the same story.
- Work on dialog, an area that most writers struggle with. It can often help your writing become much more realistic.
- Keep a voice recorder handy. Record your thoughts in the most possible words to best describe the tone or color of the idea. Later, listen to and revise your flow of your words to best express this tone/color, so that a third person would be able to comprehend it easily.
- Carry around a small pocket notebook to jot down ideas, characters, opening sentences, or anything at all that makes you think, "Hey, that's pretty cool!"
- To be a writer, you must be a reader first. Love reading!
- People watch! Go to an area that you're fond of (airport, mall, or just in school or work) and watch the people around you. Don't make judgments, but attempt to look into their past. This is very useful for character development.
- Keep a notebook or a few index cards handy. Your mind may be better at creativity and free associating when you're doing something else, like walking somewhere. Be ready to grab those ideas as they wander past.
- You can use your cellphone to make tiny notes, observations etc about people, places and objects if you are unable to carry a notebook with you.
Warnings
- Never plagiarize another person's writing. This can lead to legal issues and will also destroy your reputation as a writer of any caliber.
- Typing and/or writing can lead to Repetitive Stress Injuries [RSIs] or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome [CTS].
- Too much writing can cause damage to fingers. Write in moderation.
Related wikiHows
- How to Freewrite
- How to Brainstorm
- How to Write a Script
- How to Write Non Fiction
- How to Write a Speech
- How to Write a Children's Book
- How to Write a Poem
- How to Be a Good Writer
- How to Write Historical Fiction
Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Get Inspired to Write. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
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