Creative writing prompts that inspire writing
Recently, I've been struggling with my inspiration and creativity. I've tried many things to get back into writing but often need more support. People can experience writer's block for various reasons, such as overthinking, perfectionism, or fear. Sometimes, taking a break can help to reignite inspiration, while other times, it doesn't work. In the past, I used to watch Sex and the City for inspiration, but this time, it was more irritating than helpful.
However, after a few conversations, I've learned that struggling with creative writing is a common part of the process. It's typical to sit down to work on a project only to feel like you have no ideas and that anything you do write will be worthless. While it's natural to feel this way, it can hinder your writing progress if it prevents you from trying.
So to get out of this rut, I have looked up solutions from the president of solutions, Google, and tried a few. Outside of the usual take a break, exercise, reading, and listening to music, these have also been my go-to solutions. Going outside! Sometimes going outside helps to draw some inspiration. Keeping your eyes and ears peeled, you never know what you might see or hear that becomes your muse. People-watching is an excellent way for aspiring writers to come up with new ideas (and it has the added bonus of giving you a change of scenery and can help shift your state of mind!). You could also wander into a museum or art gallery. Paintings, sculptures, and other fine art pieces can also help find inspiration.
I meet many people who have been on many interesting adventures, and sometimes these people may turn out to be deep wellsprings of inspiration. A question is one of your trustiest tools in this respect. Regardless of language barriers, you might learn something to get your mind going.
The internet, specifically Quora, is a great place to look for inspiration. Sometimes ideas come from asking questions; there's no better place than Quora. More than a compendium of knowledgeable comments, it's a treasure trove of interesting questions you might not have considered yourself — any of which might spark your muse. A friend told me about the Remarkable to keep as a notebook and write stuff down. I didn't buy it or use my iPad; I don't know where the pencil is, but I have started utilising those 500 notebooks I have in the house. Your staunchest ally when it comes to inspiration may be yourself or, more specifically, your subconscious. Your brain is an unconscious incubator of creativity, so sometimes when ideas spark, it's always good to have somewhere to write them down.
Besides trying the above, I have also recently learnt about free writing and using writing prompts. Freewriting aims to get you to start writing—not to produce publishable work. I could lie and tell you that I have tried these prompts, but I recently picked them and hope they will inspire me to write more or tap into my creativity.
Dissuade your friend to go skydiving with you.
You’ve just started your first day as a private investigator in a mystery novel, which of your friends is the first client to walk through the door?
Tell a story about getting on a spaceship and landing on another planet.
The score of the big game is tied, you’re the coach, what do you say to your players to win the game?
You just woke up 100 years in the past, how did you get there?
Pick a memorable day from your life and write an alternative history of it?
Your dog can talk, how did you learn that they could speak to you?
Go on an adventure with your 10-year-old self.
Finish this sentence “I’d never see the ocean look so blue…”
Take your favorite quote (can be from a person, movie, anything) and include it in a story.
You were watering your plants one day and then…
Think of the last time you were really scared, and put a character in that same situation.
Write a scene in which all of the character development comes from dialogue—no descriptions of how a character is feeling or what they’re doing.
Write a first-person narrative from the point of view of a tree that suddenly has a treehouse being built in it.
Write a meta-story in which a character is writing a book, but they’re having such a hard time that they decide to enroll in writing classes or join a writing group led by the town’s arrogant and infamous local horror writer.
These are just a few examples, but you can see prompts can cover a range of topics and ideas. Pick one of these and give it a try. You don’t have to write a novel. Start with 100 words and see what happens.
