If you’re a pantser, you chase inspiration whenever it strikes, and your instinct is probably just to get started. This page is dedicated to tools that can help with that! Brainstorm as much (or as little) as you like, then jump right in with some of these prompts and exercises. Use whatever works for you, then come back whenever you need a boost.
Writing sprints
This exercise is pretty simple. Sit down to write and set a timer; the length is up to you, but I recommend a short goal like ten minutes or a half-hour. Start writing and don’t stop until the time is up. Doing quick, spur-of-the-moment writing sprints is a great way to get going and knock out your daily pages in a short amount of time.
If you run into writer’s block, try to push forward anyway! Write gibberish, or jot down your stream of consciousness, or troubleshoot about whatever has you stuck. The goal here is to start writing and stick with it, even if the end result isn’t incredible prose.
Starting with dialogue
Having trouble getting into a specific scene? Try to focus on just the dialogue. Write the conversation from start to finish without any dialogue tags, body language, or descriptions. Then, once you’ve gotten to the end, you can go back and fill in the details. This method can be a great way to push through a tricky scene and write dialogue that flows more naturally.
Weird weather
Sometimes, when a scene is feeling flat, it’s because we haven’t created an interesting backdrop that interacts with the characters. One quick (and fun) way to tackle this problem is to change up the weather or the time of day. Try heavy rain, or fog, or humidity, or a brisk sunrise.
There are lots of ways to make a setting feel more alive, but weather is one of the most straightforward. Try to think of ways the background can interact (or interfere) with your characters, rooting them more deeply in your world. Does rain drip into their eyes and distract them? Do they struggle to hear each other over the roaring wind?
Three words
This prompt is one of my favorites, especially for coming up with an idea on the spot. You can use this website or this app to generate either three or five words, or you can DIY this prompt by writing words on slips of paper and then choosing three out of a hat.
Once you have your words, try to come up with a story that connects them. The words I got from this generator were “wisdom”, “train”, and “sun.” The story that springs to mind when I read those words is some kind of locomotive murder mystery in a bleak desert setting, but your interpretation will probably be entirely different and unique to you. If you’re having fun with this prompt, try doing it a few more times! This is also a great way to brainstorm, experimenting with directions your mind wouldn’t normally go on its own.
First line
Let’s try another prompt with one of the resources we used for our three words. Both the website and the app have “first line generators”, which will give you a sentence to start a story with (and the website gives you the option to choose between a few genres). Hit generate until you get a sentence that inspires you, then sit down and start writing!
People watching
Gail Carson Levine often gets inspiration from people watching. In Writer to Writer, she describes a woman she spotted one day:
I was riding the New York City subway not long ago. Sitting across the aisle was a woman who seemed to be looking at me beseechingly. I couldn’t tell if she meant it, and I didn’t know how she did it. She said nothing; she wasn’t crying. But I got a sense of sadness and need. Was it the blue eye shadow and the bags under her eyes? I don’t know. I do know that she sat pigeon-toed, and the turned-in toes added to the woe somehow.
Here, Levine doesn’t just write, “The woman seemed sad.” She notices little details such as body language and makeup that contribute to the woman’s woeful appearance. For this prompt, get out of the house and plant yourself somewhere that you can observe people—whether that’s a park, a local coffee shop, or public transportation like Levine. Pay attention to the people around you. What sort of vibe do they give off, and why? Which details would you use to describe them if they were a character in your novel? If you had to invent a backstory for them, what would it be?
Take notes and if you find yourself inspired, start writing.
Looking for more prompts?
Explore the websites above, and check out these other resources for more help getting started.