Writer’s block happens to all of us. Instead of waiting for inspiration to strike, take action! Here are a few exercises to break through the blockage and get the creative wheels turning again:
Wordplay Warm-Ups
- Open a favorite picture book and choose a random noun. Brainstorm five new story ideas using that word as a theme or central object.
- Grab a dictionary or word generator and write a silly, short story using three unexpected words.
Sensory Storytelling
- Step outside and describe everything you hear, see, smell, taste, or feel.
- Write a scene where a character experiences an unusual sensory moment (e.g., a child hearing colors or tasting the sound of a bell).
- Write a memory of an event, object, or person from your childhood. Now, write it again in 1st person, as if you were that child and it was happening in that moment. Focus on the sensory details.
The 10-Minute Brain Dump
Set a timer for 10 minutes and free write anything that comes to mind—no judgment, no stopping, even if you repeat yourself, or write nonsense. Just keep the pen, pencil or your fingers on the keyboard moving. You may just uncover a hidden gem in the mess!
Visual Story Sparkers
- Flip through a magazine or picture book and find an illustration that intrigues you. What’s happening in the scene? What’s happening outside the frame? Write that scene.
- Look at old family photos and imagine a character inspired by one of them. What do they want? What’s in their way? What happens?
Fracture a Fairy Tale (or other inspiration)
Think about a favorite movie, play, or book. What makes it so successful? What is the overall theme, or takeaway? Now, write a story inspired by that favorite – but change the main character, setting, and period. For example, if you chose Star Wars, write a picture book version with the hero as a child, and set it in a small town on Earth in the 1950s.
When writer’s block strikes, don’t stress—just play! The key is to move past the fear of the blank page and let your imagination run wild.
