Photo by Jordan Christian via Unsplash
What inspires you? Are you struggling to write ANYTHING? You are not alone. This has been a weird year for all of us and finding your writing inspiration is not always a top priority. The important thing to remember is this:
Inspiration can come from anywhere at any time. You simply have to be open to its call.
You’re probably thinking, yeah, okay, Christine, if only it were that easy.
When we are feeling stressed out and exhausted, it’s difficult to think beyond our to-do list. We aren’t open to anything new, which hinders our imagination and blocks our creativity. This article aims to equip you with ideas for finding your writing inspiration so you can dive back into your fictional world.
What Inspired You to Write in The First Place?
This is a question I’m asked often, so here’s the short version of this story:
I’ve always loved writing, but I never thought about writing my own book right away. I was a teenager up North on a rainy weekend with no Internet. After I finished reading the books I had with me, I listened to music. Music helps me to visualize scenes as if I’m creating a movie in my head, so I was using this as a form of entertainment. I remember the moment when I thought, “Why don’t I try to make sense of these scenes and turn them into a story?” I picked up my laptop at that moment and began working on my first novel.
Sometimes all we need is a bit of spare time. Not everyone can afford this, so if the reason you aren’t writing is because of a busy schedule, check out #AmWriting Everywhere: How to Write With a Busy Lifestyle.
If this isn’t your first story, think back to why you started writing in the first place. Did someone or something inspire you? A specific book? A movie? Pick it up again and see if it does the same thing.
Tips and Tricks:
Listen to Music
From personal experience, different genres of music can inspire writing. I’ll listen to a song on repeat while working on a single chapter because the two are deeply connected in my mind. For example, a rock song will help me to visualize an intense fight scene or an emotional ballad provides the background for an important moment. Close your eyes and see where the music takes you. It might evoke something you didn’t know was there.
Watch TV
I know this is not usually a tip for summoning inspiration (in fact, it’s recommended to keep away from the TV to find your writing groove), but an excellent script can empower you to write something amazing. Consider the emotional impact that a TV show or movie has on you and why. Find a way to bring that same emotion into your writing and build on it from there.
Go Outside
Get away from your laptop and go for a walk. Take out your earbuds and listen to the world around you. Sometimes you need to get out of your own head for a while and the best way to do that is to pay attention to the sounds of nature. The change in scenery may be enough to get you out of your writing funk.
Read, Read, Read
This is a huge one. You have to find time to read, especially in the genre you are writing. This will give you a sense of writing styles, overdone tropes, and help you figure out if there is a gap in the market. What’s something new that you can bring to the genre? Tailor this idea into an actual story concept and play with it until you are excited to start writing again.
In The End…
Inspiration can come from anywhere. If something ignites a creative spark within you, let it burn and grow into something beautiful.
