Finding Creative Inspiration in Writing ??
Patricia Mae Estenoso
Creative Copywriter ?? Brand Storyteller ??Content Strategist ?? Content Writer??
Ever felt that you ran out of ideas to write?
Staring at a blank screen for hours already?
It’s a common problem for writers: coming up with something to actually write about. Or even if we do have something to write about, there’s the pressure to find a new angle for a common topic.
After all, the requirement is NOT just to write something.
You need creative content that meets these three criteria:
? Relevant – Why does this content matter to your audience?
? Interesting – Will this catch their attention?
? Valuable – So what? What will they get after reading this?
Now comes the question: Where do I start finding this kind of ideas then?
The key to finding fresh, new creative ideas is to proactively seek creativity. Here are six ways to do this. ?
??Learn in the format you are most comfortable with.
Not a fan of reading but need to explore a new topic? Then listen to podcasts or watch a video related to the topic. It’s a win-win situation: you learn a new topic in a way you will most likely pay attention to and you learn a new storytelling format.
?? Walk or sprint – take writing challenges!
Writing sprints or walks personally helped me a lot in achieving speed, quality, and catching fresh angles in writing. Sprints challenge you to write in the fastest way possible about a given topic. Walks, on the other hand, help you pay attention to the smallest details and create new takes on otherwise common topics.
?? Connect with a variety of people online or in person.
Don’t just connect with like-minded people. Look at different industries you may consider writing about and see how others discuss that topic. Unlocking creativity involves listening or interacting with people a lot. Especially for industry-specific or technical topics, make an effort to talk to specialists because they will give you firsthand information.
Reminder: The best industry secrets are learned firsthand, so go ahead and connect!
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?? Seek feedback and take action.
Your editor or co-writer gave you feedback. What did you do after you got the feedback? Knowledge without action will not get you anywhere. Explore ways to incorporate that feedback into your writing routine. Oftentimes, in the process of exploring, you end up stumbling into new, valuable topics or writing strategies that can help unlock creativity.
Reminder: Take one feedback at a time. Improvement doesn't happen overnight!
?Take creativity courses and workshops that actually matter to you.
Check out creativity courses and workshops (online and in-person) and look at the course objectives first. If it aligns with what you need, then sign up for it. Prioritize looking at the free courses or the ones with trial periods so that you also don’t waste money.
Pro Tip: Create an action plan after your course. In this way, you can best use the knowledge and skills that you learned.
?? Go out and put your skills to the test.
Join competitions, try volunteer opportunities, and sign up for conferences – anything where you can have a platform to check your skills. All of these are rich, learning opportunities to help you find creativity and improve your writing.
??Prioritize self-care.
Sometimes, the best ideas come after you take a much-needed nap or spend time doing your hobbies. So do not skip on self-care! It involves relaxing, recharging, and doing things you love. It doesn't even have to be grand; you can find joy in the simplest things like getting your favorite food or coffee today.
Reminder: Self-care doesn't just involve your wants but also what your body needs. Get sleep, eat well, and don't forget to exercise.
If you did all of these and still, creativity is bleak – KEEP ON EXPLORING!
Creativity is not to be treated like a butterfly. It's not something that you just watch fluttering around and waiting to land comfortably on your shoulder. Remember, even resting and relaxing takes effort to do so!
Creativity demands to be found and practiced. It's an endless journey of rediscovery because it will take more than just one strategy to find it again and again.
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1 年I love that you wrote about the importance of prioritizing self care. This can be a great catalyst for creativity. PS. I'm speaking from personal experience.
I write pitch decks that sell climate like Mad Men sold smokes | THUNK: Ideas That Land Hard
1 年Well said, Patricia. I am a fan of walking to clear my head. When an idea doesn’t materialize on the screen, I get up and start walking around the house until I recollect my thoughts. Then I come back to my desk and get on with my piece of content. I also work on different things at a time.
Board Member of Global Goodwill Ambassadors for Human Rights and Peace Professional Designer with Top Voice at LinkedIn. Excellent at accessorizing a room, does her own seasonal Decorating , did custom work see Profile.
1 年Seek creativity in inspirational writing
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1 年Patricia Estenoso this was a fascinating read! I love the flow and how you broke down the process. Every day we face new challenges that need solutions and without creativity, we as humans will never be able to thrive.
This is so great, Patricia Estenoso. So many great ideas you shared about how to tackle the creativity block. When I finally pull my proverbial finger out and get around to starting that blog/newsletter, I'll be sure to use some of these approaches! Thanks for sharing your insights