Are you looking for writing inspiration?
Like many writers, I struggle to get past creative blocks from time to time.
Sometimes all you need are creative ways to get inspired to write.
Whatever the case, I’m here to share 10+ ways to reinvigorate your writing spark and bring a little magic back into your passion.
Writing is a craft many of us share, and sometimes all it takes to bring that spark back is a little time to reset.
Let’s examine what drives writers first.
What Inspires a Writer to Write?
What inspires anyone to do anything?
The best writing often stems from a place of passion, but what do you do on the days you find yourself lacking drive?
Many people write for the sheer joy of it.
Some people write to express themselves in healthy and creative ways.
Others write because they want to share their thoughts and ideas with the world.
Whatever the source of inspiration, the one thing all writers have in common is a love of language.
Being able to express complex thoughts through the written word and bend sentences to convey deep emotions is a powerful feeling.
How Do You Spark Creativity in Writing?
Chances are, if you’re a writer, you’re already a creative person.
I got into writing because I love telling stories and making up scenarios in my head.
While we may be creative people, getting the creative spark going can sometimes be tricky.
Sometimes it’s as easy as finding things to write about, but other times it can feel like the monotony of life has stunted all imaginative processes.
When I can’t find motivation, I look to the basics.
Just knowing why you write can often open the floodgates to creativity.
If you find it takes a harder push to inject creativity back into your writing, there are many other methods to get the juices flowing again.
Why Does Writer’s Block Happen?
The dreaded words no writer wants to hear: writer’s block.
This infamous curse is the bane of all writers and can come from several different and varied sources.
Rejection
Rejection is the biggest demoralizer in the writing field.
Whether you’re trying to publish a book, find a job, or hit the top ten in Google rankings, rejection after rejection can put a stop to all creative processes.
Getting rejected one too many times can lead to self-doubt, a lack of confidence, stress, and burnout.
Eventually, you may even start thinking there’s no point in trying anymore when you know it will end in rejection.
Lack of Confidence
A lack of confidence in your writing can act as a roadblock to creativity.
When you start doubting yourself, you end up scrapping ideas that may have been phenomenal.
Low confidence in your writing can prevent you from trying at all.
To build confidence, invest in some helpful creative writing tools or get tips on writing blog posts the right way.
Pressure
While working on a time crunch or for a specific purpose can sometimes help us get in the groove, too much pressure will have the opposite effect.
Too much pressure can make you freeze up or procrastinate.
I’ve experienced this too many times to count; feeling a looming deadline approaching and not being able to even start writing.
We often also put too much pressure on ourselves to be perfect, but just remember that’s what rough drafts are for.
Stress
Stress about your writing or things going on in your life is always detrimental to your writing flow.
Stress can lead to distraction.
And distraction leads to procrastination and a lack of directed creative thought.
Forming intelligible sentences can be hard enough, but attempting creative writing while stressed is a nightmare.
On top of that, contending with racing thoughts and spiraling emotions due to stress will make it even harder.
If you have the means, sometimes it’s best to outsource blog writing and the like.
How Do You Get Writing Inspiration?
To get past writer’s block or find the right inspiration you may need to look outside yourself.
Inspiration can come from any source, but some offer more opportunities for inspired thinking than others.
1. Read
Read! It can’t be understated. To write well, you need to read.
Reading improves your writing, and reading literature in the style of and about the topic you focus on is vital.
For example, reading about any sub-niche within the writing niche will give you an insight you may not have expected.
It’s the same as how reading mystery novels will help you understand and write the genre better.
2. Look at Art
There’s no better way to gain inspiration than by letting the classics guide you.
Going to an art gallery or even looking up your favorite digital artists online can spark creative flow.
The visual medium offers a different perspective than the written word and leaves lots of room for interpretation.
Topics or stories may just come to mind after witnessing a great piece of art.
2. Listen to Music
Music not only offers inspiration through melody and lyrics but is also a fabulous way to help you focus and get in the zone.
If you’re writing a gothic horror, don’t be afraid to turn on some gothic horror music.
Listen to some country while writing your western, or break it down even further and listen to a love ballad when writing a romantic scene.
Music blogs are some of the best ways to do so.
Check out the best music blogs to find music that you’ll love.
4. Go for a Walk
Sometimes just getting out of your writing space is the best way to alleviate writer’s block.
Taking a stroll around the neighborhood can help to clear your head and give you room to think.
Staring at a blank page and waiting for ideas to come will only stress you out, so get moving to kick your brain back into gear.
If you’re working on a time crunch and feel too stressed to go for a walk, you can always leave the best AI writing software program running in the background to save time.
5. Go on an Adventure
Trying something new and daring is a great way to spark inspiration and push past writer’s block.
Do something you’ve never done before, or go somewhere new.
An adventurous spirit allows for an adventurous mind and will help free up your thoughts for writing.
Need a new topic for a blog post? Share a wild experience.
Go skydiving, explore the city at night, or go camping for a weekend.
6. Travel
Travel is the single best way to broaden your outlook on life.
Immersing yourself in new cultures and getting to know the locals gives you new perspectives and views on life.
It’s the best way to gain inspiration for writing.
The more worldly experience you have, the more topics you can write about, and the better your writing will be.
7. Talk to Strangers
One of the absolute best ways to inspire new ideas is to learn other people’s stories.
Everyone has a unique perspective on the world, and you can only benefit from learning other people’s opinions and personal histories.
People at the bus stop, the grocery store, or the airport are perfect people to talk to, but you can always start closer to home by talking to grandparents, neighbors, and family friends.
8. Try Freewriting
While you might be following a strict blog writing format, exercises like freewriting can limber up your creativity.
These types of writing exercises can inspire some originality back into bland and monotonous writing.
Freewriting also lets you express yourself without the constraints of obligation.
When was the last time you just wrote for fun? I certainly can’t remember the last time I did.
9. Use Writing Prompts
There are plenty of sources for writing prompts no matter what you’re writing about.
From AI-powered story generators to morning journal prompts, there’s no end of inspiration to be found with a little help from prompts.
A prompt can be as short as a word or sentence, or as long as a summary or brief.
It may be a collection of character profiles, plot beats, and setting descriptions or an abstract concept with only tangential relations to your topic.
10. Take a Breath
When nothing else seems to be working, and the stress is just piling up, the best thing you can do is step back and take a breath.
Take a break from writing and just breathe. Run through some breathing exercises for a few minutes to clear your head, or permit yourself to take the day off.
Sometimes all you need to clear writer’s block is time.
Wrapping Up
While finding inspiration for writing is tricky at the best of times, nothing stunts creativity like writer’s block.
Locating the source of your writer’s block and implementing any of these creativity-inspiring methods is the key to pushing past the wall of bland drivel.
If you have any personal inspiration methods to share or have any questions, be sure to share them below, and I’ll answer you as fast as I can.
