What to Write When You Don’t Know What to Write.

by Jackie Houchin

  • Prompts help.
  • Other people’s ideas help.
  • Daydreaming out the window helps.
  • Deadlines help.
  • Contests help.
  • Tragedies or celebrations MAY help.
  • Anger MAY help if directed.
  • Copywork MAY help.
  • Unfinished manuscripts MAY help.
  • Praying (if so inclined) MAY help.

But what WORKS?  What can get your thoughts sparking and your fingers flying. What can set you on a course from A to B (with subpoints) or from Inciting incident to Denouement?  

Threats? Muses? Overdue bills?  Screaming? Pulling out hair? Ai? 

Wait….Ai?

Okay, I’m going to ask a ChatGPT assistant that question. I easily signed up, familiarized myself with a couple short questions, and then posed my dilemma.

(Oh, and I thought I needed to name my Assistant if I was going to use it. How about Charlie?) 

Meet Charlie.  

He’s not the sharpest pencil in the holder. He basically told me most of the things I’ve written above in a slightly different way. 

Here’s “Charlie’s” list of “helps”.

1. Free Writing:

  • Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and write continuously without worrying about grammar or structure. Let your thoughts flow freely; often, this can spark ideas you weren’t consciously considering.

2. Prompts and Ideas:

  • Use writing prompts to kickstart your creativity. For example, websites and books offer daily writing prompts, or you might start with “What if…?” scenarios that encourage imaginative thinking.

3. Mind Mapping:

  • Create a mind map around a central theme or topic that interests you. Branch out with related ideas, characters, or themes that come to mind. This visual representation can help organize your thoughts.

4. Write About Your Passion:

  • Reflect on topics or hobbies you’re passionate about. A blog can focus on your expertise, a hobby, or experiences you want to share. Writing about what you love can inspire authentic content.

5. Read Widely:

  • Read articles, books, and blogs in various genres. Exposure to different styles and topics can ignite new ideas or give you insight into what resonates with you.

6. Explore Personal Experiences:

  • Consider your own life experiences, emotions, or challenges you’ve faced. Personal stories often resonate with others and can be a rich source for blog posts, articles, or fiction.

7. Observe Your Surroundings:

  • Take time to observe the world around you—people, places, situations. Noticing everyday life can inspire ideas for fictional characters, settings, or events.

8. Set Goals:

  • Define what you want to achieve with your writing. If it’s a blog post, think about the message you want to convey. If it’s a short story, consider the theme or moral you want to explore.

9. Experiment with Different Genres:

  • If you’re unsure, try writing different genres or formats—a poem, a letter, or even dialogue. Experimenting can help you find your voice and lead to ideas for longer pieces.

10. Join Writing Groups or Workshops:

  • Engage with other writers in workshops, online forums, or book clubs. Sharing ideas and feedback can help stimulate creativity and lead to collaboration.

11. Create an Outline:

  • If you have a vague idea or concept, outline the main points or plot. This structure can act as a guide and make it easier to expand on your thoughts.

12. Give Yourself Permission to Write Badly:

  • Allow yourself to write poorly without judgment. The first draft doesn’t have to be perfect. Just get your ideas down; you can refine them later.

By using these strategies, you can overcome writer’s block and find inspiration for your blog, articles, stories, or any other writing project. Don’t forget to enjoy the process—exploration and creativity are key to finding your unique voice!

…

Well, not very creative.  I asked Charlie for MORE suggestions.  Here’s what he gave me this time.

.

“If you’re looking for ways to ignite your creativity and really get your writing flowing, here are some more active and engaging techniques to help you spark ideas and motivation:

1. Change Your Environment:

  • Sometimes a change of scenery can help. Try writing in a different location – a café, park, library, or even a different room in your home. New surroundings can stimulate fresh thoughts.

2. Engage in a Creative Activity:

  • Participate in activities that aren’t directly related to writing, such as drawing, painting, or crafting. This can help free your mind and lead to unexpected inspiration.

3. Use Music or Soundscapes:

  • Create a playlist that suits the tone of what you’re writing or listen to soundscapes that inspire a mood (like rain, ocean waves, or bustling city sounds). Music can enhance creativity and help set the scene for your writing.

4. Set a Writing Challenge:

  • Challenge yourself with quick writing exercises, such as composing a short story in 10 minutes or writing a poem from a random word generator. Short time constraints can boost creativity.

5. Visual Inspiration:

  • Browse through images on platforms like Pinterest or Unsplash. Find a picture that resonates with you and write a scene or story inspired by it.

6. Interactive Writing Prompts:

  • Find interactive storytelling games or writing prompts that require you to make quick decisions or choose paths (like “Choose Your Own Adventure” games). This can stimulate your imaginative side.

7. Use Creative Apps or Tools:

  • Explore writing tools or apps designed to prompt creativity, such as “The Most Dangerous Writing App,” which encourages you to keep typing without stopping.

8. Engage Your Senses:

  • Take a moment to close your eyes and focus on each of your senses. What do you hear, smell, feel, or taste? Write a descriptive paragraph based on your sensory exploration.

9. Flash Fiction:

  • Write a complete story in 100 words or less. This constraint can force you to focus and be intentional with your word choices, leading to new ideas.

10. Interview Your Characters:

  • If you’re working on fiction, write down interview questions for your characters and answer them in their voice. This can deepen your understanding and lead to new plot ideas.

11. Use ‘What If?’ Exercises:

  • Take a mundane situation and apply a ‘What If?’ scenario. For example, “What if someone found a hidden letter in their attic?” This can help you explore unexpected plot twists or themes.

12. Journaling:

  • Keep a dedicated writing journal where you jot down random thoughts, dreams, or observations daily. This habit can lead you to uncover hidden ideas over time.

13. Connect with Other Writers:

  • Have a brainstorming session with a writing buddy. Discuss ideas, trade prompts, or even start a writing sprint together, encouraging each other in real-time.

14. Limit Distractions:

  • Turn off notifications and clear your workspace of distractions. Sometimes a focused environment can help ideas flow more freely.

Finding your flow might take some experimentation with different methods until you find what resonates with you. Don’t be afraid to try out various techniques and see what gets your creativity sparking and fingers flying across the keyboard!

..
 
 
Again….. 
 
Not quite the help I wanted. (They tell me the better ways I ASK for help, the better RESPONSES I’ll get, so I guess I need practice there.) 
 
 
 
Readers, how do YOU decide what to write?   (Please share your secrets!)
 
Have YOU ever tried Ai?  (If so, how? And are you happy with the experience?)
 
 

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Author: Jackie Houchin

First, I am a believer in Jesus Christ, so my views and opinions are filtered through what God's Word says and I believe. I'm a wife, a mom, a grandma and now a great grandma. I write articles and reviews, and I dabble in short fiction. I enjoy living near the ocean, doing gardening (for beauty and food) and traveling - in other countries, if possible. My heart is for Christian missions, and I'm compiling a collections of Missionary Kids' stories to publish. (I also like kittens and cats and reading mysteries.)

9 thoughts on “What to Write When You Don’t Know What to Write.”

  1. I have used the “What if…” approach and have basically “interviewed” my characters just to hear their reaction, but both of those things happen after I have a rough idea of where my story is going. The “What if…” question lets my story go in a different direction when I want a challenge to occur for my characters. As for interviewing those characters, sometimes they really do have a “voice” and letting them speak lets me know more about them. But again, that’s after I have a story in mind. If I waited around for all those things AI would be tossing at me, I’d never have a book or story written, and I have quite a few out there. I don’t want AI typing anything on the page for me. I’ll do that myself. As for where ideas come from. From the human brain. Writers write. Period.

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  3. I’m familiar with, and have tried, many of the techniques listed, but as Gayle mentioned, only with a story-in-progress. When I’m feeling stuck, I’ll try free writing, which usually yields something, if only a line of dialogue. I’ll also put it aside and let my mind roam freely – ideas or solutions for plot dilemmas occur when I’m doing housework or taking a walk. I’ll give points to “Charlie” for thoroughness, but none for originality. That’s our job.

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  4. You are generous, Miko!

    I asked the question originally because I just didn’t know what to write here, on this blog. Charlie wasn’t much help with that – nothing original, for sure, like you said.

    I do write a daily Bible Study blog elsewhere and I also write on a book review blog as I finish reading books, so I AM writing, and often. But you all seem to come up with much better topics for The Writers In Residence. I envy you. (But certainly not, Charlie. haha)

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  5. My best ideas come when I’m walking, driving, or pulling weeds. Transferring these ideas to the page isn’t always easy. While Charlie may not be original, he reminds us of tools we (I) forget about.

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  6. I prefer my writing to be AI-free! And I try all the ideas Gayle and Jackie mentioned – and if nothing there works – I go outside for a walk or drive somewhere. It’s amazing; when I take that pressure off – the ideas come floating in. So I have to have my notebook handy.

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    1. I love that Rosemary. No wonder you write about Hollywood in fiction and non-fiction. That’s where your walks take you, right? I’ll have to think of some plots next time I walk outside in my very plain neighborhood. Or… maybe it isn’t!!!! haha.

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