As a writer, I know how hard it can be to find ideas. Some days, they flow freely, other days, it’s a struggle. That’s why I’ve had to develop some tricks that will help the ideas flow.
One way I find inspiration is by observing my real life. There’s so much inspiration all around us! Here are some ways you can use real life to inspire writing topics:
Get to Know the World Around You
When I pay attention to the world around me, I realize that it is an endless well of ideas. Writers are great observers, and when I use one of my main skills, I realize there are ideas all around me.
What types of things can I observe? Anything from an interesting conversation that I’ve overheard, discovering new restaurants to try, and beautiful things in the natural world.
I keep a notebook with my observations and also have a note in my phone.
Use Personal Experiences as Inspiration
My own life is filled with inspiration. Here’s a look at some of the things that can inspire me:
- Moments in life filled with joy, love, or even loss.
- Childhood memories that surface.
- Anecdotes from my day that can be turned into a story.
These are just a few examples, but chances are pretty good that your daily lives are filled with moments that can be used as fuel.
Find Topics While Traveling
I just got back from a trip to Florida that also involved a cruise to the Bahamas. On this trip alone, which was just a little bit over a week, I could have come up with at least ten article ideas.
You don’t need to actually go on a vacation to find “travel” topics. You can also treat your local area as a destination!
Hone in on Emotions
When telling stories, it’s our emotions that give them life. If we don’t notice and experience emotions in our daily lives, we’ll have trouble writing about them.
What emotions do you feel during the day?
In order for me to get in touch with them, I write them down. Something s simple as a daily check in on how I am feeling can make my writing so much richer! It can also generate plenty of ideas.
Find Out People’s Stories
What’s your story? What’s my story?
Our lives are filled with stories. Each day is a story waiting to happen. What happens when we hone in on these moments? Well, it can fuel some serious inspiration.
I know this might sound boring, but I find it helpful to catalog my day. Even something simple like “going food shopping” can eventually lead to a story! When writing about these moments, try to think of a detail that stood out. You can use this later.
Write About Challenges
Do you have challenges in your life?
This makes for some powerful fuel for your writing. Nonfiction – you can use solving the problem as inspiration for “how to” style articles. It also makes for some interesting creative non fiction or even fiction – you can use your challenge as the backdrop for a story.
There’s so much in our real lives that we can write about – it’s an endless well! These ideas are some of my favorites.