Where to begin...

Finding inspiration to write when inspiration isn't finding you

All of us have been there. You’ve finished (or set aside) a project and are in need of something new. Maybe it’s for a class, or a workshop, or you need something new to submit to literary magazines, or you just feel like writing, but you have no idea where to start, or the ideas you do have aren’t vibing with you right now.

What do you do? You sit there, thinking, possibly scrolling Pinterest or Tumblr or maybe even Substack looking for that spark, but it’s not coming.

Over the years I’ve collected some fun items and ideas that have helped me get out of an inspiration rut and onto writing. I hope you find them helpful!

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Freewriting - Preferably longhand. Put your pen to the page and just write whatever comes to mind. If you can’t think of anything, try something like “I woke up this morning and immediately saw…” and see where that takes you. The great thing about writing is revision! If you don’t like the beginning but love where it takes you, edit it out later.

D-20 Method - While I don’t play roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons, I do happen to have a D-20 and D-100 lying around after I found these writing prompts from the blog Alyssa Lost in Space. Roll for Who, Where, What, Description, Additional Element, and Sensory Detail, and write a story based on the results! I’ve had a lot of fun with this one.

Card Packs - When it comes to collecting cool, science-fictional things, I am a both a hoarder and a sucker for a flea market. I recently picked up some old card packs (Galactic Empires and On the Edge, if you were curious!) and I have been using these to invoke inspiration. Pull a card at random - or a few - and write something based on the results

Rory’s Story Cubes - Remember that game you played on long trips growing up where you rolled the dice and made up a story based on the results? Turns out, it can be incredibly helpful for creating your next project! I was a bit skeptical with this one at first since the images are specific, but I actually just finished a 4,000 word rough draft based on a roll!

Tarot & Oracle Cards - The beautiful illustrations of tarot and oracle cards can be a great source of inspiration, but did you know there’s an oracle deck out there made specifically for writers? This deck has both written and illustrated cards for when you need something concrete or something to ponder about.

Mix & Match - Use one, or more, of the above tactics to invoke something truly inspirational! Recently, I used Rory’s Story Cubes and the trading card packs to think up a short story about a team of intergalactic insect catalogers looking for habitable places for humanity to live. It was so fun!

A Final Thought - If you have the privilege of having a writing space of your own, fill it with items, art, and trinkets that you like! Go to farmer’s markets, art fairs, and flea markets and grab things that captivate you. You’ll never know when inspiration from something may strike! Double bonus, you’re supporting local artists and buisnesses.

Thanks for reading! This was super fun to make. Let me know what helps you get inspired!

♡ Brooke