Top 29 ways to Find writing inspiration

Everything is going fine, and then suddenly, you're hit with it. Inspiration has fled out the door. You're sitting there staring at your screen or notebook without a clue how to keep going. Nothing is coming out right. You've lost the flow of words and everything you write is coming out feeling clunky and just... dare you say it?... uninspired.

The good thing is that this is normal, and there's nothing wrong with you as a writer if you discover yourself in this predicament. The bad news is that, unfortunately, it can be a task to get back into the inspired zone.

A lot of people will tell you that writing is a habit, and sometimes that means writing even when you're not feeling particularly inspired. Here at The Fearless Type, we agree. Writing is something that takes discipline and sometimes you just need to have the courage to decide to keep going even if you don't feel like it. On the other hand, though, we are the  first to agree that having inspiration when you are writing is such a big help, so why not try to get inspired?

If you are in need of inspiration and you don't know where to look, this post is for you. So without further ado, let's jump right in!

1. Listen to a podcast or audiobook. One great way to get reinspired is by listening to a podcast or an audiobook. An audiobook is great because it can be fiction, nonfiction, a classic, poetry or whatever you are interested in, but it can be done while you do other things. Podcasts can be extremely educational and can often kick your brain into gear-- causing you to be curious or learn something new.
2. Look at concept art. Concept art is art exploring ideas. It can be from video games or movies, but sometimes it's just someone's imagination in color. A lot of concept art is primarily sci-fi or fantasy, but if you look up specific keywords you can get art inspiration for lots of various themes.
3. Revisit classic literature. Classic literature is classic for a reason. If you ever find yourself lacking inspiration, rereading some classics in your favorite genre can be a great way to get back to the basics.
4. Try a book or movie in a genre or style totally different from your normal go-to. Sometimes just shaking things up is enough to get you extremely inspired. If you're usually a historical romance writer, read some detective fiction. If you write modern suspense, watch a fantasy. Basically, just do something that isn't what you normally go for.
5. Learn past history and current events. Delving into current news or history can sometimes be overwhelming, but as long as you approach it with a simplistic approach, it can often be a source of inspiration. You can browse historical facts on Pinterest to get the gears turning, or look up news pieces.
6. Read meaningful blog posts or articles. Sometimes all you need is a little motivation, so reading about writing can actually be quite helpful. Beyond that, there are great articles and blog posts out there on all kinds of topics. If you choose ones that have value, you can get some great inspiration from them.
7. Go to a museum. Museums are like little sanctuaries for all things academia and arts. If you're struggling to stay inspired, going to a museum or gallery can be a wonderful way to refresh yourself and get back in touch with your creative side.
8. Browse story inspiration boards on Pinterest. Pinterest is filled with thousands of great images to inspire, so getting on the website is a no-brainer. In order to not get overwhelmed, though, it can be helpful to follow some people or boards specifically for story inspiration so you can browse more efficiently. You can check out the Fearless Type page here! 
9. Keep a notebook with you at all time. This is pretty common advice, but it is so relevant. By carrying a notebook with you at all times, you have the ability to write down any thought that comes into your head. You might be surprised where inspiration hits when you have access to jotting it down. When you don't have that option, inspiration often gets overlooked or forgotten in the crowd of other thoughts taking its place.
10. People-watch. While it is always important to be appropriate and unobtrusive, people-watching can really help your mind start forming new thoughts or even story ideas. The key is to people watch with purpose. It may take some practice at first, but try asking yourself questions as you view those around you. Who are they? What is their story? What do they want most in the world? What's their deepest secret? Questions like these can help characters come alive in your head as you simply sit and observe.
11. Take a trip and explore. It's not always possible, but if you get the chance, definitely consider a trip to explore. Even if it's just expanding your local horizon and discovering new things around you, opening up your world a little more always helps unlock some inspiration.
12. Have real conversations with people. Sometimes, just listening to someone and having a real conversation with them can trigger thoughts that can connect the dots or open up new avenues of inspiration. It can be with a stranger, with someone you know, or with an acquaintance. If you get the chance, speaking with and listening to those who are quite different from you is always extremely eye opening.
13. Research something new-- a time period, an invention, an idea. Research is usually associated with work you do once you find your novel concept, but it can also be a useful way to get some new ideas. Even if you don't use the exact thing you were looking into in a future creative project, you never know what you might imagine in your brain while researching.
14. Use some writing prompts. We've mentioned writing prompts before here on The Fearless Type, and so if you've been around a bit you know how much we promote them as a great writing exercise. Whether you are stuck and need some inspiration, or just want some quick practice, writing prompts are a great way to get things going.
15. Get into nature. Whether you're a nature person or not, there's something to be said for spending some time out of doors to clear your head and quiet your mind. Sometimes all you need for inspiration to kick in is a breath of fresh air and some space to be still and let yourself think.
16. Go somewhere new to work. If you normally work at home, try hitting up a local coffee shop, or if you are almost always at a library when working, switch to your living room with your pet and some background music. The point is, changing things up can trigger you to think outside of the box, which allows the chance to be inspired.
17. Listen to music or make a playlist. Music is incredible for inspiration, and sometimes it only takes one song to get you full of ideas and motivation. Other times, creating specific playlists for various projects can really help set the tone and keep you in the flow. Some interesting ideas if you're really in love with music: Use your songs on shuffle to inspire a piece of flash fiction, or go onto a soundtrack website and search by mood, genre and style to find a piece that sparks creativity.
18. Create a vision or mood board. You can do this on Pinterest, or the old-fashioned way with paper and photos, but vision or mood boards are always an amazing way to help you focus in on your project and get some new ideas.
19. Have coffee* and create a moment to just let yourself think and wonder. Quiet is underrated, especially in the modern hustle of entrepreneurs and boss babes. Sometimes, though, all you need is a cozy drink of your choice, a good place to curl up, and some space to let your mind wander.
20. Follow someone who inspires you on Instagram. Instagram is full of creative, inspirational people, and it can be easy to get in the rut of who you follow. If you feel like some fresh faces, a good idea is to search by hashtags you already know you like, or see who your favorite people on Instagram are already following.
21. Read a biography or watch a documentary of something/someone you're interested in. Especially if you are writing a book on some historical or scientific aspect, watching a documentary or reading a nonfiction book of a person, time, or circumstance that relates can be a wonderful eye-opener. Even if you aren't in the middle of a project reading or watching something like that can be extremely educational, as well as an inspiraiton.
22. Watch motivational or inspiring Youtube videos or TedTalks. If you find that you are struggling with inspiration in a more abstract, career related way, take some time to watch some motivational videos. Sometimes all it takes is a mind shift to realize inspiration was in reach all along.
23. Chat with your friends about your current projects or what you're interested in. Take some time to get excited about your creative project or your ideas by sharing it with those who will be your biggest supporters. This also gives you a chance for some valuable feedback.
24. Think about what scares you the most and pursue it. When it comes down to it, inspiration rarely comes from your comfort zone, so why not try to push yourself to pursue something outside of that? When we focus on what truly intimidates or frightens us, often we realize that is exactly where we will find the greatest inspiration and the message we need to tell.
25. Go somewhere alone. There's something about going somewhere alone that expands your horizons a bit and can provide some amazing ideas. If you normally wouldn't visit a tea shop alone, try it out. If you are nervous about exploring by yourself, make it a point to do it sometime and see what happens. *Of course, please exercise safety in every situation!*
26. Take part in a conversation within your writing community. If you are a part of a writing community, hop into a conversation and see what happens. It can be on social media, through blog comments, or even in a group chat. If you don't have a writing community, what are you waiting for? Join in on the conversation here and let's get acquainted!
27. Use a story generator. Much like the tip about using writing prompts, using an online story generator can be a lot of fun and also present you with some thoughts to unlock your story further. While many story generators can be more amusing then anything, it truly can help get your gears turning.
28. Take a walk. Sometimes you just need a little physical exertion to start feeling inspired again. Especially if you've been working for long stretches at a time, taking  a walk and getting some fresh air can be just what you need to feel refreshed again.
29. Have a time to just relax. When it comes down to it, though, inspiration is something that is really hard to force. If you find that nothing seems to be working, your brain might be telling you it's time to take a break. We have a post all about that here. It can sometimes be the perfect way to get you back on track.

So there you have it! Our top 29 ways to find inspiration. How do you get inspired? Share in the comments below!

Stay Fearless!