On Monday, I wrote about how to write when you’re not feeling inspired.
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It’s certainly the case that you can write without feeling inspired. (While I love writing about blogging for WPBeginner, I’ll admit that I don’t always feel 100% inspired for the whole working week!)
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When you’re writing without the added motivation of a salary, though, it’s definitely easier to get going and stick with it when you’re feeling at least a bit inspired.
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And while long walks in the countryside or peaceful weekends away from it all are a great way to feel rejuvenated and inspired … they don’t always fit into busy writers’ schedules!
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So, these are my five favourite quick ways to get inspired.
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#1: Plan Your Writing Sessions Ahead of Time
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Planning ahead might sound like the opposite of inspiration … but if you have your writing sessions in your calendar, it gives you a chance to look forward to writing! I find that, if I’m planning to write in the evening, I tend to start mulling things over when I’m exercising / in the shower / eating lunch etc.
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#2: Read or Watch Something You Enjoy
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If you’re struggling to write, use some of your down time to read, listen to, and/or watch other people’s stories. (I know TV gets a bad rap sometimes, but it’s a perfectly good storytelling medium.)
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Maybe the story you’re taking in will have a character dynamic that makes you think of a new way to approach the novel you’re planning, or perhaps a line of dialogue will spark an idea for you. Maybe you’ll spot a situation that the storyteller didn’t make the most of – something that you want to take and use in your own work.
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If you’re writing non-fiction, you might find that someone else’s ideas get you thinking. Could you build on what someone’s written about briefly in a blog post, or take a different angle to a particular book?
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#3: Do a Five-Minute Writing Warmup
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If you find it hard to get started, I really sympathise! For me, the toughest battle is actually sitting down and typing the first sentence or two during a writing session. Once I get moving, it’s a lot easier to keep going.
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Writing prompts can be a great way to dive in with something low-pressure. Just pick a prompt, set a timer, and write for five minutes. It doesn’t matter what you write, or whether it’s any good: you’re only spending a few minutes on it.
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#4: Tidy Your Desk / Writing Area
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Be honest, how tidy is your desk (or whatever area you write in) right now? I’m in the lucky position of having two different desks – three if you count the kitchen table, where I sometimes write in the evenings – and sometimes they’re all a mess!
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Spending just a few minutes clearing off your desk can make a huge different to how you feel about writing. It’ll mean you’ve got space to get comfortable and to have everything you need at hand – without worrying about a landslide of junk collapsing onto your laptop.
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#5: Skip Forward to the Next Exciting Bit
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If you’re feeling distinctly uninspired because you’ve got a boring scene (or blog post / chapter / etc) to write – then don’t write it. Jump forward to the next good bit. You might find you never need that boring bit after all, or you might figure out a way to make it more interesting for both you and your readers.
Inspiration can strike out of the blue, whether that’s an idea that you want to write about instantly, or just a burning desire to carry on with the next bit of your story.
For almost all writers, though, that's rare! Inspiration might need a helping hand -- and the five ideas above are great ways to nudge it along.
