Figuring out What to Write About

Figuring out what to write about is one of the toughest things about writing. It’s easy for people to tell you, “just write. The good words will come.” And just writing is okay for a while, but if you’re trying to get through a longer piece, “just write” isn’t always enough. The problem is that there’s not always a lot of inspiration behind words that come when you’re freewriting.

However, I’m not going to prescribe what you should do because I don’t think one size fits all in this case. Identifying the passions that can compel you through a whole novel takes work. And this doesn’t just mean we’re looking for ideas. I’m sure that you see potential ideas several times a day. This is more about getting in tune with what it is that drives you to write.

So, I’ll offer some suggestions for you to try. Let me know how they work!

1. Process your ideas. Talk to somebody you trust. Start a writing journal. The point is to figure out which ideas you care enough about to really follow them through.

2. Consult some books that can help you be a better writer. Here’s a link to a post that lists the books that have truly helped me and what they can offer.

3. Ask yourself why you’re writing. Remind yourself of the reasons it is so important to you. What value does writing have in your life?

4. Think about your level of discipline. Your book is not going to write itself. You have to put in the time.

5. Who are you as a writer? Review some of your past work to look for patterns. What do you continually see yourself writing about?

6. Try some prompts to get your creative juices flowing. I’ve got lots of prompts on this website, but there are endless resources for them elsewhere too.

7. Don’t forget to play. Terri Pratchett once said, “Writing is the most fun you can have by yourself.”

8. Don’t forget to practice. Just do an exercise every day. Maybe you’ll generate some material that you can use for a book. If so, that’s great! If not, it’s okay, you still practiced!

This is what I’ve got for you. Feel free to comment with your own suggestions on this topic!