How To Get Ideas and Fight Writer's Block — Wes Molebash

It happens to the best of us. You’re writing and drawing like a fiend, making awesome progress, when all of a sudden — BOOM! — you hit a wall. You run out of gas. The well runs dry. The idea faucet taps out.

OK. That’s enough metaphors. You get it.

So what do you do when writer’s block pops up? How do you generate new ideas? From my experience, you’ve gotta switch things up a little bit. Here are some tips for unclogging the pipes so the ideas can flow freely!*

*I’m seriously done with metaphors now.

Get rest

If you’re like me and you tend to do most of your creative work after your family has gone to bed, there’s a good chance you’re not getting the rest you need. If your eyes are burning and the ideas aren’t coming, listen to your body and go to bed. Maybe take the next night or two to go to sleep at a decent hour to fully recharge. This may just be the ticket to jogging your imagination out of its rut.

Take a shower

I don’t know what it is about showers, but they’re great places to think and get ideas. Plus, when you get out, you feel awesome and rejuvenated. If the ideas won’t come, it never hurts to take a nice, long shower.

Go for a drive

I love driving, and I like to use my daily commute to think about creative things. It’s also a great way to shake things up and get out of your routine. Take a drive around your city or county with the windows down. Maybe get something fun to drink, like an iced coffee or a milkshake, and let your mind relax. I’ve had some great ideas come to me while driving.

If you’re not able to drive, ride your bike or take a long walk around your neighborhood. The mode of transportation doesn’t really matter. It’s the migration that counts.

Listen to music

Music is a key component to my creative process. I love all kinds of music. Since childhood, music has helped paint pictures in my mind and have helped me conjure some awesome ideas.

Whenever I’m working on a project, I like to make a playlist of songs that conveys its tone. When I was much younger, I used to make mixed tapes on my stereo. Nowadays, I make playlists on Spotify. When I’m in a rut — or if I just want to maintain my creative energy — I will listen to that playlist while driving, mowing the yard, or working at my desk.

Watch movies

Movies are a great way to detach from your project for a little bit, and also generate ideas. Whatever sounds good, watch it. Maybe it’s a movie you’ve never seen. Maybe it’s a movie you’ve seen a thousand times. Doesn’t matter. Watch it, pay attention to the story, and keep your mind open to new ideas.

Read books

Make a habit of reading, especially works of fiction. It’s my belief that every creative person should read at least three works of fiction to every one work of non-fiction.

Live your life

Go outside. Take a vacation. Hang out with friends. Spend time with family. You can’t write from experience unless you have experiences to draw from. One of the best ideas I’ve ever had came to me while I was playing with my sons on the living room floor.