Do you ever have no ideas?

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I usually think to write when I have the idea, not the other way around. So I don't have that experience

[echoesofmj]

Honestly, wanting to write but having no idea is probably the worst. It's like your fingers are itching to write, but you just can't think of anything remotely interesting to write about.

What I do when that happens is I mostly try to do something else. Most of the time, I either watch TV or read a book. Also, I have a lot of manuscripts that I work on but that are not finished. Sometimes, I go back and I begin to read one from the beginning, and that gives me the little push I needed to finally be able to write!

[Kyrenora]

I have my “Inspiration Folder.” Any time I get an interesting idea or text snippet pop into my head that isn’t related to my current project, it goes in there. I also have a section for historical figures and mythological stories that fascinate me, as well as my favorite writing prompts I’ve pulled off the Internet. Most of the prompts come from either Pinterest or the writing prompts subreddit.

[Harley-Panda]

Often when I'm out of ideas I note down some character ideas or settings that I would like to write about, without thinking of the actual plotline. Often this can help to stir something in my mind to think of some plot ideas!

When this fails I often read other people's work to get my creativity flowing. I have to admit I will often look at fanfiction as there are many amazing writers who use this genre and there are some really creative storylines out there. Usually, this will help me to come up with my own ideas and I can get started again!

[LisaGreen]

Having no idea is never happen in life. A person who surviving will always have any idea for him/her.

[Asisha Joseph]

I usually sit down at the last scene and just try to brainstorm various possibilities for where the next would go. Even if it's not perfect, I can write something and change it later.

[Alice Thokchom]

I always have ideas. My problem is keeping them together like the beginning, the climax and the end. And, I usually sum up the idea when I write. I have difficulties in elaborating. So, I end up writing poetry.

[jjmainor]

I always have ideas, the problem is when I finish a project, and none of those ideas jumps out at me as the next project.

[VandaQ]

Yes, more than I would like to admit. Because I love working with visual images and building from that, I do what I call the 'three word method'. I ask someone for three random words and then I try to come up with an idea based on those three words. It helps me a lot and, most of the times, because the words are so random, the ideas they generate are unique and very unexpected. I once had to work with clementine, airplane and fire haha

[dreamthewilderness]

When I don't have any ideas immediately available, I either write straight up stream-of-consciousness or I'll find or create an exercise to get the juices flowing. I particularly enjoy exercises in the style of oulipo poetry.

[PlanetHauth]

This happens to me all the time. I know the best solution is to just write about anything and everything, but I struggle doing that too. I really need to devise a routine for myself and stick to it. I want to become a published author, but I'm my own worst enemy and keep getting in the way of myself.

[JordanKSmith]

I've been told to lower my standards when I have no clue what to write. I think there might have been a Ted Talk about this.

Anyways, if I still can't write anything, I lower my standards even more, and more, and more. Sometimes, this leads me to write nonsensical gibberish, but it gets me started. Eventually, as I continue writing the gibberish, it starts to reconstitute itself into something coherent.

Other times, when I want something to write, I will throw darts at a mental dartboard that is filled with topics. After hitting a few topics, I'll try writing about the connections between the objects or ideas. I think that it builds my ability to find associations which is a useful tool for writing descriptions of things.

[Louanne Piccolo]

It happens. And when it does I take a book and use a paragraph as a "warmer-upper". I write it out using other words and change ideas as I go along until I have something completely new.
I don't know why but it seems to iron out the knots in my brain.

[chamomile]

I do have an idea dump document which I visit every so often to add or refine some concepts I had in mind so I never really run out of ideas.

But not knowing what to write is a whole other problem. Word vomits never work out, it's a pain to sift through and it's so bland I couldn't be bothered to read it. Usually I go edit my previous chapters, sometimes endlessly. Or a more productive solution, I read up on the type of voice I'm going for then specifically imagine the words I'm going to use rather than the actual scene. I find it helps a lot to start with a character's narrative quip!

[Khrysalis]

I actually have a slightly different problem. I have ideas, but I don't have enough time to put my hind end in a chair and make a story of them. My days tend to be full, and my time often belongs to other people.