Over the past couple weeks, I’ve had the worst case of writer’s block. Now don’t get me wrong. I have pages and pages of ideas, topics and prompts that I’ve collected over the past several months, maybe even years, but nothing is really making me excited right now. And no matter how many ideas I come across on Pinterest, nothing is clicking. Has this ever happened to you? Surely I’m not the only one.
Ironically, somewhere in the midst of the ideas I have written down, I had made a list of things to do when you just can’t seem to find something worth writing about. So to cure my writer’s block, I’m about to write about writer’s block. Let’s do this.
1. Go for a walk.
Especially now that it’s finally starting to feel like fall (and by that I mean it’s not 90 degrees outside anymore), walks are a great way to get some inspiration. If anything, this gets you alone with your thoughts and gives you some quiet space to think. So whether one of those thoughts becomes a writing idea, or if all that happens is you get a chance to clear your head, going on a walk is a great way to get the writing wheels turning again.
2. Read
I’m not talking about reading for school. This is where you read something you actually enjoy. Whether it’s a book, a poem, a blog post or even your own writing, reading can be a huge help in sparking new ideas. I have a few bloggers (Grace Valentine and Stephanie May Wilson) who are my go-to’s whenever I’m having trouble brainstorming, and they never fail to give me some much-needed inspiration.
3. Listen to music.
Music is a great way to get writing ideas, especially if you’re feeling nostalgic. Oftentimes I have songs or playlists that remind me of certain events, people or a period of my life, so if a certain memory rises to the surface, I try to use it as my hook or intro to whatever I’m writing about.
4. Keep a running list of ideas!
Like I said before, I have pages upon pages of writing ideas for the days when I’m feeling less than inspired. We all have times when the creative juices don’t seem to be flowing, so it’s always nice to have a backup plan, so you’re not having to strain to come up with something at the last minute. I keep my list on my phone, so it’s always easy for me to access, and anytime I have a random thought that I think could be a writing topic, I add it to the list and move on. If there are certain details I want to make sure I don’t forget, I add those too. This list gives me a good balance of feeling like I’m making progress, but at the same time doesn’t make me feel pressured to finish an entire piece in one sitting.
5. Raw journaling
Let me explain what I mean by "raw." I mean, sit down. Shut the door. Put your phone away, and write without thinking and without stopping. As a writer, even in my personal journal, I’m always so tempted to make things sound pretty and cohesive. However, some of my favorite pieces have come from me not caring about how pretty something sounds and just writing down my thoughts and feelings as they come. Don’t worry about grammar or syntax or even spelling. Just write what comes to mind, and go back later to pick out what you actually want to use.
6. Have a group of “writing buddies.”
One of the best means of support I’ve received since I started writing has come from having what I like to call “writing buddies.” I have a few trusted people who I send all of my work to before anything gets published. They are the ones who give me the most honest feedback and help me perfect my writing as much as possible. They’re also great people to share ideas with and get ideas from. So when one of us is having a tough time coming up with a topic, the others jump in and offer their two cents.
7. Have a conversation and ask questions.
Talking to people might seem like a no-brainer since it’s something you do every day, but it can be one of he most effective ways to come up with writing topics. In fact, my previous article originated from a conversation I had with one of my friends several years ago after she went through a pretty rough breakup. By talking to her about what she was going through, I was able to recall a similar situation that I had dealt with previously, and from there, I started writing. You never know how one question or one conversation can spark something. So start talking!
8. People watch
This is probably one of my favorite ways to get writing ideas, and I’m sure I’m not the only one, because come on, who doesn’t love to people watch? Not to mention, you can do this anywhere at anytime. Whether you’re waiting for your next class to start, studying (i.e. checking social media) at the library or hanging out at Starbucks, people watching is always an option. Heck, one of my articles came as a result of people watching at a concert.
9. Look through old pictures.
Memories are a great tool to prompting writing ideas. (Again with the nostalgic approach.) Going through old pictures might remind you of things you learned in high school or memories you had with your little brother, and thinking back on those things could give you just the inspiration you made to put that pen to paper or those fingers to the keyboard.