Are you tired of finding yourself staring at a blank page while the anxiety and self-doubt creep in? I know, it feels frustrating. But, next time you see yourself in this depressive situation, just know that it’s completely normal and all writers are struggling. Some just hide it very well!
I’m here to give you some tips on how to find inspiration as a writer and finally continue your journey.
Personally, I find inspiration when I follow these rules:
- Read more. Read different genres. Read small texts.
Reading always helps. But do it as a writer.
Study how other authors describe their scenes, how they make you feel emotions, and how they build characters that make you fall in love with them. It’s all about technique. Sometimes, the big inspirations don’t come from analyzing complex plots or characters’ development (although you can also do that), but from small details in a specific scene. Little things that can spark that inspiration for a whole plot point in your novel. It’s always a funny moment when you’re reading a book and, all of a sudden, the points that will fix your own plot holes miraculously connect.
- Write anything that comes to mind.
My number one tip might be to have your own yapping journal with you at all times. The more you write in it, the faster your ideas will come to you. We must clear the clutter in our minds to gain more clarity and create space for our creativity to flourish.
English is not my first language, so words don’t always come easily to me. I like to force myself to develop my writing skills in English because it kind of strengthens my brain in a way only Maths could. (But I can’t do Maths even if I tried). Therefore, if you speak another language, try writing anything in that language, too. It might help you more than you’d expect.
- Listen to different songs.
If you’re replaying the same songs all the time, you’ll probably have the same scenarios going through your head. I know that you played that song 500 times to write that scene! And there is nothing wrong with that! But try to listen to a new album and let your imagination run wild. I’m sure it can change the vibes and give you new ideas to adapt into your project. Have you ever heard that writing tip that says: “If your scene feels stuck, change the weather”? Well, you can also change the music!
- Observe the people around you.
Some are very boring, of course. Some people are weird. Others are extremely annoying. We have all kinds of people in our surroundings. Even the boring ones can serve as fuel for your character-building skills.
- Go to Pinterest
I have no words to describe how much I love Pinterest. It’s a gift for all writers. You can find beautiful paintings that just fit the vibes of your novel perfectly! Sometimes, a single picture can give you an amazing idea for a setting. I personally enjoy creating my own boards with the vibes for my book. Whenever I feel like motivation has deserted me, I go there. The urge to write comes back instantly.
- Look back at your own life.
Memories could give you some of the best ideas ever. The emotional attachment that you have to certain times of your life, whether good or bad, has the power to spark the writer in you. It’s not uncommon to see books that were originally inspired by something that happened in the author’s life. You can change the things that happened and still keep that flame, the emotion that will make you write for hours and ease your heart.
- Go for a walk
I know that some of you are not fond of exercising, but it helps! Remember when I said that writing anything that comes to mind clears the clutter inside your head and makes more space for creativity? The same happens with exercising. When you are walking, you don’t give space for anxiety and other annoying emotions to rule your world, which lets you with the best opportunity to think about ideas without self-doubting so much. Most of the time, we are stuck because we’re just perfectionists.
Conclusion
I hope you allow yourself to slow down and let your creativity run wild. Who cares if it’s not perfect? Remember that you only live once. Your novel is not going to write itself. It’s supposed to be hard and messy. That’s the magic of it!
Happy writing, my friend! 🙂