How to Get Writing Inspiration and Never Lose It

Have you ever thought about the difference between writing inspiration and writer’s block?

Most of us are well-acquainted with writer’s block.

Goodness knows I am. It’s my number one worst enemy.

However, I’ve noticed that many people — even some experienced writers — use writer’s block and ‘lack of inspiration’ interchangeably.

But the two are not the same thing.

There are major similarities, but the difference lies in that:

Writer’s block means not knowing how to continue on, or your mind being absolutely blank when looking at an empty page.

On the other hand, having a lack of inspiration is not restricted to these things.

You can know exactly what to write next, or have your project fully planned out, but don’t feel inspired or motivated to write.

So…

• Writer’s block = purely restricted to a block in your writing/creativity that you can’t push passed
• Lack of inspiration = can range from not knowing what should happen next, to not feeling spurred on to write at all.

I have 8 tips that address how to get writing inspiration, and how to handle writer’s block. They have helped me and a number of other writers many times.

Of course, some helped more than others, and some didn’t work at all for a few of us.

However, that comes down to the individual and what each person works best with.

Try out each tip for yourself and see how many work for you!

How to Get Writing Inspiration and Never Lose It

SELF AWARENESS

What is your voice like? How do you convey your thoughts and advice? In what way do you react and converse with those who ask questions or offer a differing opinion?

Take this time to get to know yourself more. Are you more nurturing or insightful in the way you write? Or are you more straight-forward—maybe even full-on blunt with no filter?

Is there anything that influences your writing? Are you really writing your own voice, or is it somebody else’s you’re trying to replicate, either intentionally or unintentionally?

What about your life? Is there something or someone who inspires you or whom you admire? Have you taken time each day to just sit or walk and appreciate the trees, flowers, water, and sky?

What conflicts are going on in your life that hinders your mind or puts pressure on your emotions?

If you’re having trouble feeling inspired or getting writing inspiration, look at everything around you and the things you’ve accomplished so far. Perhaps you need to change up your writing style, or learn to put more of your own voice into your writing.

Alternatively, use your life as your inspiration. The people, the nature, the conflicts, the feelings—anything can be turned into a source that fuels your creativity.

Sometimes all you have to do is make a simple change, or look at what’s already in front of you to be inspired.

Find Your Special Place and Start a Writing Ritual

If you’re like me and you have a hard time breaking through writer’s block or keep saying, “I’ll write sometime today” and never get to it…then you need a ritual.

A writing ritual is just another way of saying a writing routine.

They’re essentially the same thing, but I feel that ‘writing ritual’ brings more of the mindset you need in order to truly start writing frequently and consistently.

Why? Because a writing routine or ritual is all about having a writing space and doing certain activities that ultimately lead up to writing.

These ‘certain activities’ are necessary to make writing a strong and solid habit, I feel ‘ritual’ fits better than just ‘routine.’

Now don’t go thinking you have to chant and build a shine—

Actually…if you want to, you totally can. I think that would awesome, to be honest.

The best part about a writing ritual is that it’s different for everybody and can incorporate anything.

These are only examples of what you can do.

The list is endless!

• Try two or three activities before you write
• Restrict the things you want/need as prizes for writing a certain amount of words or writing for a certain amount of time
• Do this day or night—whenever you feel it’s best to start writing

Try different routines until you find one or two that can become your official ritual.

Remember: the point of a ritual is to be consistent.

Whether you feel like writing, or have no ideas to put on paper, once you’ve found your ritual, do it every day so that it becomes a true habit.

You’ll write everyday whether you like it or not—and trust me. You’ll love it because you’ll finally be writing consistently and frequently.

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The Best Way to get Inspiration to Write is to Read!

If you’ve forgotten this very easy and simple method, then let me remind you.

READ!

Trust me. Reading does more than simply give inspiration or show examples of formatting and structure.

Reading allows you to relax. And relaxation is what you NEED.

A time where you can forget about work, your writing difficulties, the conflicts in your life—everything.

I don’t have to tell you how much you have going on in your life without throwing writing or coming up with a new project into the mix.

Sometimes you just need to break away and breathe.

Breakaway and forget.

Breakaway and spend time for yourself.

Just break away and let your mind wander into a world that isn’t here.

And for that, I’d personally recommend a fiction novel to be your ‘home away from conflict and stress.’

Fiction truly allows you to picture a world or situation that doesn’t align with your reality, making it easier for you to clear your mind.

A non-fiction book, such as autobiographies and how-tos don’t do as well because they’re more likely to be in tune with your reality.

For example, if you were writing a book that relates to female empowerment, but were stuck or feeling uninspired, reading the autobiography of a female rights activist may, yes, offer some motivation, but that’s still relating it back your work or project.

In some cases, the same can be said about how-tos, depending on the topic and what you’re actually writing about.

Reading is meant to take your mind off work and just be you and relax.

Don’t complicate the time by reading something that relates to your current writing projects.

And get this: the more you relax and just let your mind soar, the more inspiration will come to you as you read or get back in the writing spirit.

Stop Writing!

Kind of an extension from the last point.

If you’re not feeling inspired, just DON’T WRITE!

Yes, this goes against having a ritual and pushing through to write consistently every day, and blah blah blah — But you know some rules are meant to be broken, right?

That is, AFTER you follow those rules in the first place!

While a writing ritual is designed to essentially force get those creative juices flowing and make writing happen, there are times when you just cannot write.

Whether it’s writer’s block or an inspiration block, every writer has that moment when enough is ENOUGH!

So, stop. Drop the pen, laptop, notebook, sketchbook—whatever it is you use to write. Just STOP—

And do something, anything, FOR YOU! Anything NOT related to your writing.

Watch how at peace your mind becomes when you let the pressure of writing disappear and allow inspiration to take its place. 

Remember, This is a Process

In life, you’re supposed to have ups and downs, be content and crave, soar above and fall below.

The writing process is the same thing.

You’ll be inspired and uninspired, write endlessly and not write at all, love what you create and despise your creation to its very core.

Sure, as you continue to write, get more comfortable, and find ways to write more often and consistently, you’ll grow into a more confident writer.

However, life still happens.

No matter how confident and great you become in your craft, you’ll still find yourself uninspired at some point or another.

Don’t panic. Don’t freak out. It’s not the end of the world.

It’s natural because it’s all a part of the writing process.

So, trust yourself.

You’re writing for you.

You’re writing for your audience.

Most of all, you’re writing something you want to be proud to have your name stamped upon.

You are doing the right thing. So, breathe, relax, and let the writing process do its thing.

Take Responsibility When you do and don’t write

This is something I advise for anything, not just writing, because it’s true.

Be responsible for your actions. Don’t blame anything or anyone else.

Your creativity for your writing is also suffering because your thoughts are all over the place.

That said, if you choose to write, then write.

You decided to do it at this moment, so you should do it. Don’t think things like, “I have to take out the garbage” or “I have to start the laundry”, because those are NOT the things you chose to do at this time.

You chose to write.

Here’s a very real example:

When I was a student, I was the procrastinator type, but the work that had to be done was on my mind half the time.

I chose to not do the work, but was I really enjoying my fun time when my mind was still on said work?

No, I wasn’t.

Likewise, when I would do the work, I often did very little because I was thinking of the things I wanted to do instead.

So, after realizing how this was affecting my daily life, I finally decided to take responsibility.

I still procrastinated, but I owned it.

I owned that I wasn’t doing any schoolwork, thus, I enjoyed my fun time a lot more.

And when I chose to work on assignments, I got a lot more done because I owned my decision to do my homework.

And I do the same thing with writing.

Taking responsibility for my actions, even in writing, changed my habits and life for the better.

Try it yourself and see what it does for you! 

Just Write!

This was outlined in a few points already, but I didn’t actually say the magic words:

JUST WRITE!

You’ll catch your groove eventually, but you have to start in order to find that flow.

And who knows? Maybe writing ‘anything’ will spark some creativity for a new writing project, too.

Snap Back to Reality with Inspirational Writing Quotes

Sometimes, regardless of how many methods you try, or attempts you make…

Inspiration doesn’t come.

Words don’t fall on the page as they should.

Being a writer is as thrilling and fulfilling as it is frustrating and draining.

Happiness and sadness. Freedom and prison.

Writing encompasses these things in one.

And I still have days when I hit my head trying to come up with something–anything–to happen in my stories.

When the frustration begins to set, I open up a special notebook I keep full of writing quotes.

These quotes involve every phase of the writing process, inspiration being one of them.

Here are some of my favorite quotes for writing inspiration.

IN CONCLUSION

All of these tips are what worked for me at different periods of my writing life.

However, some work better than others depending on my writing project or even my mood, so I’m constantly rotating the methods until I find one that works for me at this moment.

Try them out for yourself and see if your inspirational flow has improved.

Even if one doesn’t work, another might, so don’t give up!

By the way, do you have any tips for writers when they feel uninspired? How do you get writing inspiration? I’d love to hear about them!

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