Inspiration for writing can come from most anywhere. Our day-to-day lives boast treasure troves of overheard conversations, intriguing questions, and funny scenarios that spark ideas almost effortlessly. Even so, there are days when it seems that the store of inspiration is completely sold-out. The shelves of ideas stand empty; the pantry of our mind sits bare. How can we restock our thoughts when a shortage of ideas hits and the blank page looms before us?
Here are a few tips to try when inspiration is hard to come by.
1. Pray
When you’re at a loss for what to write, start by steeping your work in prayer. In James 1:5, we find the instruction, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (ESV) In our moments of lack, we’re called to seek the Lord and lean on Him to provide strength and direction. Praying for the Lord’s wisdom and guidance helps us to refocus on why we write. Prayer readies us to use our words for God’s glory, and it can remove some of the doubt and pressure we put on ourselves when we run out of words to speak.
2. Ask for Help
Ask a friend or family member to help you brainstorm. Sometimes it’s easy to get in a rut with our thoughts. Having a second perspective can trigger new ideas, rekindle our excitement about current projects, or lead us to directions we hadn’t considered before.
3. Glean from Your Daily Life
Take a few minutes to reflect on your recent experiences. Are there any reoccuring themes in what you’ve been reading, watching, or listening to? Have you tried anything new lately that you enjoyed or didn’t enjoy? Have you noticed anything funny, beautiful, or even sad in the last week? Consider how those lived experiences might translate into a character, setting, or theme for your work. If you’re working on a blog post or newsletter, those experiences might show lessons you’ve been learning or antedotes your audience can relate to.
4. Change Up Your Format
Try writing in a format you don’t usually use, such as a letter, a poem, or a list. Sometimes by writing in a style outside of your norm, you can discover connections you didn’t think of before or observations you wouldn’t notice otherwise. A new format can also recapture some of the fun of writing by breaking up your normal routine and challenging you to think differently.
5. Keep A Backstock of Ideas
Make yourself a folder, a jar, or a notebook that you can fill with ideas for a rainy day. Anytime you have a spark of inspiration–a question that seems interesting, an image that catches your attention, or a line that you like but don’t quite have a place for–tuck it into your backstock. Save your ideas that you aren’t ready to use so you can sift through them on days when you lack inspiration. Even if you don’t use those specific thoughts, reading through old ideas can trigger new ones when you feel at a loss.
Final Thoughts:
While inspiration sparks our words, there are times we must write even when inspiration is scarce. Leaning on the Lord and our communities, reflecting on our day-to-day activities, and challenging ourselves to try new styles can keep us moving forward on days when we don’t feel like writing.
For more ideas on staying motivated, check out Five Writing Activities to Keep Writer’s Block at Bay
