I am struggling to get inspiration to continue writing a story I started. What do I do? ~New writer
Writers often face that daunting moment when the initial excitement fades and the blank page becomes a fighting nightmare. You may be many chapters in, or just past the opening scene, losing momentum is one of the most common challenges in the creative process. But the good news is that writer’s block and motivational slumps are not permanent. They are signals that you need to shift your approach. Reconnect with your story’s core or simply give yourself permission to write imperfectly.
Here are 23 strategies offered by seasoned authors. These are designed to help you rediscover your pulse and move ahead with renewed energy. Yep, sometimes inspiration can feel frustrating and out of reach. That’s when you dig deep. Adopt a strategy or two to use whenever the writing drought hits.
How To Get Back in the Writing Game
- Read books
- Keep writing
- Go for an isolated nature walk
- Relax. The story will write itself if you stop worrying about it
- Keep a journal for each project. Write why you can’t think of anything to write
- Free write your story until you get a flow going
- Follow the advice of keep writing. But be prepared to write stuff you don’t feel okay with. This is how you break the barrier
- Write for the sake of writing.
- Draw inspiration: music and movies. Inspiration is fuel. Don’t wait for it to fall in your lap
- Move. Exercise. It Stimulates your brain
- Try dancing
- Write one true sentence about your story and repeat it until you get some momentum
- Outline the next couple of chapters. Start high level then fill in details. Keep iterating. Often you find there is something in your story that is giving you doubt and this helps to resolve that too
- Go hiking with friends and bounce ideas off them
- Walk away. Write another book. Sometimes you need space to think
- Go on “Artiste Date” (solo excursion somewhere you like). This will help your creative. You need to stock the pond to catch anything worthwhile
- Add a new character
- Write another element: poetry, prose, scripts
- Keep writing. Some days it’s inspiring and exciting. Other days its drudgery. But you sit down and keep writing
- Do art. Draw, music, painting, dance, even cooking. Get that creative right brain firing on all cylinders
- Make a list of ‘why you like your story and why you’re writing it
- Write the ending and then go back and write your way to it
- Think “what if”. What if your character got abducted? What if another love comes along? What if the treasure you sought in the jungle housed vampires? Don’t dismiss ideas. Just write them down and then brainstorm it further.
Are you a writer? Is a tip or two missing? Do share. We would love to hear.
Cheers!
