Inspirational Writing Directions: 7 Inspirational Concepts to Increase Your Artistic Writing
It goes without saying that the pandemic brought turbulent events for most people. At times you may have felt heavy. And at times, you might have looked for an elevator – and turned to writing to create those bright moments. Because of this, you might be interested in inspirational write requests to spark your creative ideas.
Here at The Write Practice we want to support your writing craft and your journey. One way to do this is to provide writing challenges so you can practice writing with our supportive community.
One of those challenges is our 7-day creative writing challenge. If you've already signed up for it, fantastic! I hope these inspirational prompts will move you forward on your journey.
If you haven't signed up yet, don't fret. You can take part here!
The 7 Day Writing Challenge will make you a better writer
The 7 Day Creative Writing Challenge is a great place to start at The Write Practice – and even a great place to come back if you've been part of the community for a while. This challenge will help you begin a daily writing habit that is vital to becoming a better storyteller.
What makes this even funnier is that writers master this challenge as a community.
This is how it works:
Once you sign up, you may be scared that you have nothing to write every day – and you've made a commitment to write 1,000 words every day. This is where these seven inspirational prompts come in.
If one day you feel stuck, no new ideas come to mind. Return to this page and drag out this list of prompts. Don't worry about the perfect answer or idea, just use them as motivators – then start writing!
So many great stories come from the actual paperwork, and writing prompts is a great way to start that process.
7 Creative writing asks you to start a new story
You're not alone. Many writers wonder what to write about every day. They itches to put their fingers on the keyboard, and they are eager to grab an idea that really motivates their creative thinking and writing – but they can't think of anything. Still.
Here are seven inspiring ideas that will spark your creativity as you tackle 1,000 words of challenge at a time! What kinds of stories will you tell through these prompts?
Check out our list and think about how to write a short story or start a scene inspired by this list of seven inspirational prompts. Don't hold back if any of these ideas really get you somewhere. Make a list of notes and record a story – or if you're a panther, write past the 1,000 words and see where you end up.
No matter what type of writer you are, having a command prompt to act as a launch pad for a bigger story is a great tool to keep in your writer's toolbox. Return to these prompts on different days and I bet you will find different answers for each answer.
They are only limited by your creative mindset, and I am delighted that you are using them for what could ultimately be the motivation for a 90,000 word manuscript.
1. Tell a “true” story
Indeed, the truth is often stranger than fiction. Changing names and events as needed will tell a true story from your own life and childhood about characters other than you. For example, I'm working on a story from my hometown where a disgruntled employee blew up a gas station.
Here are some questions to ask:
- What crazy character in your own life is empathetic, at least with regard to their goals or desires?
- What happened before and after a memorable childhood event? How can I investigate the causes and effects that I haven't seen?
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The truth is often stranger than fiction. Writing a prompt: think of a true story in the world around you and use it as inspiration for a fictional story.
2. "Travel" to the extreme
With a quick Wikipedia and Google Map search, you can "visit" the South Pole, the mountain. Everest, the mouth of a volcano – almost everywhere. Set a 15 minute timer (so you don't get too distracted), do your research very quickly, and then start writing!
- Who visits this place regularly as an employee or family member? For whom is this "normal"?
- What important object or goal would one pursue here? Why?
- What improbable or surprising reason might someone travel to this place? Discover this possibility!
3. Explore a deserted place
The world is filled with once beautiful places that have since been abandoned. These incredible locations are easy to stimulate the imagination, and the Bored Panda website has dozens of high-resolution shots to keep your pen going!
- What was ordinary life like in these places before the end came?
- What did that fateful day bring when everyone had to or wanted to leave?
- What happens if a research team goes there today?
4. Change a law of physics
Science fiction and fantasy stories start with a simple idea: the laws of physics aren't really laws.
Get inspiration by asking what if gravity, light, chaos, color, or practically anything related to a world law were different? Let your story explore the possibilities!
- Does it happen to everyone or just one person? Is that your hero
- What goals would someone want in this other world?
5. The past, but from a new angle
History is usually agreed upon by most students. But what about the men and women who lived through these events? What about the people who have lost, died, or been pushed aside, even if they were in moral law?
Give "historical fiction" a twist of its own with this fun spark for your inspiration!
- Was one of the bad guys in history empathetic? Whose story would it be fun to tell?
- Who witnessed a famous historical event and how did this event change their life?
- What common, everyday (boring) goals did our great historical ancestors pursue that might be surprising?
6th piece of dialogue
Stand comfortably in a busy place with lots of conversation, such as a coffee shop, restaurant, or waiting room. Specifically, listen to a conversation about a conflict. Take over the conversation with your pen without attracting attention and explore where it is going and why.
- Why do people speak with certain language patterns or habits?
- What motivates people to curse or use certain terms of tenderness?
- What are your characters not talking about, but avoiding or dressing up?
NOTE: This is a great starter for people with "writer's block". Don't let the pressure of being "good enough" stop you from doing something! Just have fun and try new things!
7. "What if I've lost everything?"
With this prompt we force a protagonist to take a risk and lose everything. Then we have to answer: "Then what?"
Take a character out of a work-in-progress or quickly dream up one by giving them a goal and a problem. Then immediately describe the character who makes a decision to pursue their goal and fails.
- What physical consequences would there be and how would your protagonist deal with them?
- What new goal would the protagonist find and how would he / she start pursuing it?
- What other characters might appear in this moment of total loss?
Get inspired!
There are so many other ways to get inspiration, and these seven inspirational prompts barely scratch the surface.
So don't give up on your commitment to the 7 Day Creative Writing Challenge! No matter what, dig deep and find something fun to explore and write about.
You're worth it. Your passion for writing is worth it. And to give this passion the writing habit it deserves, you must complete the 7 Day Creative Writing Challenge like a champion.
Because that's what this is about: building a writing habit.
What inspiring idea will help you write something new? Let us know in the comments!
WORK OUT
We all find inspiration in different areas of life. Take fifteen minutes to describe something that inspires you and leave it in the comments below. Try phrasing it as a command prompt to help your co-authors tackle their 7-day creative writing challenge!
Good luck and have fun writing!
