Simple Hacks for Genius Results: This Is What I Do When I Am Stuck For Writing Ideas!

As writers we all get stuck for ideas every now and again, or in my case, I have loads of ideas but most of them are pure junk and would either be boring to write or even worse boring to read!

On occasion I find myself stuck with no idea what to write and again this happened today!

While I was thinking what should I write? I have no idea what to write! I went into Grammarly and saw all my articles, shorts, and little snippets of ideas and had a light bulb moment!

Ah ha! Why don’t I just write about what I do when I can’t think of anything to write like right now?

So here it is! Simple Hacks for Genius Results

Repurpose Old Ideas

The first thing I do if I am struggling with ideas is to read through old blogs, posts, and any other writing that I’ve done to see if anything hits. Did I miss something? Can this be expanded upon?

Refreshing an older article with a new angle, more recent information, or even a total rewrite from start to finish can get me going on a new path. Can any of these be reused or possibly write a part 2?

Is that book idea better as a short story? The other way around? The Gunslinger short story could be written as a novel! Or maybe I can expand upon his life and create a new short with him as the main!

What is around me?

Another trick I often utilize is I think of conversations that I’ve had. For example: I had to go to the store and my wife said “I will kill you if you forget the milk”

What if she did kill me because I forgot the milk? There’s a story right there.

Another time my neighbour was singing a sad song. Why was she sad? Why do some people sing when they are sad but others don’t? Did she write the song? Is she practicing for a performance? So many other questions that could help me generate an idea.

Use Others As Inspiration

Finding interesting content in my niche works! I do read in my niche. I also read a lot of random things from Traveling blogs to Cooking the perfect steak! I’ve often read articles and blogs and thought “I wish I had written this” or “I could do better” but more usually “I still have questions”

And those I still have questions will make me seek answers, and many times those answers will then become their own post.

Writing because someone else has written about it and has done well is a good tactic for following the trend. This doesn’t mean you should steal the other writer’s story but you can put a unique spin on the idea along with your style.

For example, you read an article about taking care of a new puppy, and you think

OK, this is good but what about people that have older dogs?

What about people who have geriatric dogs like me?

Now, that would be a different challenge. So you do some research, along with your own experience and write about Taking care of your OAP Canine Friend.

Combination of art forms or Cross-Pollination

Use other forms of art as a muse for your ideas. A painting, a photo, how a dancer moves like an animal when they perform a certain routine.

I am listening to a song. The chorus starts

“Want you to make me feel like I’m the only girl in the world Like I’m the only one that you’ll ever love Like I’m the only one who knows your heart Only girl in the world Like I’m the only one that’s in command ’Cause I’m the only one who understands How to make you feel like a man, yeah”

I’m the only girl in the world. An interesting concept, it’s been done but usually a man for example Robert Neville in I am Legend but working with that. What if it was a girl, literally a child all alone in the world? The child could be a boy or a girl. Or not even human? What if the main character was a kitten? Or not the MC but the last remaining dinosaur in isolation in Central America?

Today we have the advantage of AI as a writing tool for generating content, outlines, or brainstorming ideas to help jog us into action.

A prompt such as: These are my blog post titles <list of your titles> Can you give me an idea of something new to write that stays within my niche?

Also, you can ask the AI to generate different story prompts based on a single character, setting, or idea.

I also get ideas with the help of AI when I am stuck on a sentence and want to put it a certain way or I don’t want to repeat the same words again and again.

Like below. I keep using the word USE and wanted something different so I asked AI to give me possibilities.

Develop concepts utilizing AI assistance.

Explore creative possibilities with AI.

Let AI fuel my language process.

Collaboration is the power to work with others

This doesn’t necessarily mean writing with other people. I can’t, I just can’t co-write anything. I don’t work well with others and can be a bit annoying because I like my style of writing.

However, I will bounce ideas off of other writers. Do you think this works? Would you read a blog about a geriatric dog if you didn’t own an old dog? Can you give me your feedback before I post this blog?

Step Away And Go Do Something Else

I know it seems like a bit of a trope, but I find walking away and doing something else really helps me to reset. I don’t always have a flash of ideas like in the movies but ideas do start to trickle in after an activity that is non-writing based.

And this can be anything from watching a movie to playing a game or simply going for a walk.

Keep a Content Notebook

You can keep a physical notebook, or use your phone/tablet/laptop. I use my phone because it’s something I always have with me. I have a group marked Notes with just me in it and I send voice messages to this group or pictures, quick text, and so on when I have an idea or two.

I have a small library of ideas, and characters that don’t fit anywhere but are there in case of need.

I also note down weird stuff like a strange restaurant name or something unexpected like I saw an old woman on the subway with a tarantula in a small pet keeper tank. I am sure she just bought it, but I wondered if it was for her. Or her grandchild? This kind of thing brings me ideas.

It doesn’t have to be perfect!

Not every sentence needs crafting until it shines, not every word needs to be Shakespearean quality. Getting it down is more important than getting it right.

The polishing comes with the edit, the second edit, the third, and so on.

Changing Genre or Niche

This is kind of going back to walking away but it deserves its own mention.

I find if I write something different I get some inspiration and ideas for what I am stuck on.

This is how I got into blogging! Because it was a distraction from what I normally write. If I am stuck on my short than I will go blog about something like this!

Simple Hacks for Genius Results: This Is What I Do When I Am Stuck For Writing Ideas

In the end

Writer’s block, or usually more often Writer’s Stall isn’t anything to worry about. Most people can get over it with a few handy tips like those above.

Thanks for reading!

Paul