How to Brainstorm a Story When You’re Feeling Stuck (5 Creative Strategies)

We’ve all been there. You sit down to write, but your mind feels like a blank canvas. The ideas are just not coming. Whether you’re facing a major writing block or simply struggling to generate fresh ideas, the feeling of being stuck is one of the most frustrating challenges for a writer. But don’t worry! You’re not alone, and more importantly, you don’t have to stay stuck.

If you’re finding yourself unable to come up with a story idea or are feeling creatively drained, there are plenty of techniques you can use to reignite your imagination and break free from that mental fog. In this article, I’ll share five creative brainstorming strategies to help you get your story ideas flowing again.

1. Use Prompts to Jumpstart Your Imagination

Sometimes, the best way to get the creative juices flowing is by using a prompt. Prompts are like a nudge to your brain, offering a starting point to guide your imagination. They can be especially helpful when you feel like you’ve run out of ideas or have no idea where to begin.

Types of Prompts to Try:

• What if questions: These are open-ended questions that force you to think beyond the obvious. For example:
  • What if you could hear people’s thoughts for one day, but only for people you’ve never met?
  • What if you were the only person who could see a deadly storm coming, but no one believed you?
  • What if your childhood imaginary friend suddenly reappeared, but as a grown adult?
• Scenario-based prompts: Sometimes, just placing your character in a specific scenario can help you visualize what might happen. For instance:
  • Your character wakes up in a completely different city with no memory of how they got there.
  • A letter arrives in the mail that could change everything for your protagonist. What’s inside the letter?
• First lines or dialogue prompts: You can even start with a single line of dialogue or a sentence that could spark a larger story:
  • “I never thought I’d see you again.”
  • “The last time I trusted someone, they betrayed me.”

You can find writing prompts online or even create your own based on your genre or interests. Even if you feel like they don’t lead to your next bestseller, they can open the door to more ideas.

2. Try the “Five Ws and One H” Method

This classic journalistic technique can be a lifesaver when you’re struggling to develop a story. The Five Ws and One H method involves asking the basic questions of Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. This is an excellent way to structure your brainstorming and ensure that you’re thinking about all aspects of your story, even if you don’t know where to start.

How to Use the Method:

• Who is your protagonist? Start with the character. Who is the story about? What kind of person are they? Are they an unlikely hero? A troubled individual? An outcast?
• What happens to them? What is the conflict or main event that drives your story forward? Are they trying to achieve something? Solve a problem? Escape something?
• Where does the story take place? Is your story set in a fantasy world, a small town, or a big city? Does the setting play an important role in the story (e.g., a haunted house, a dystopian future)?
• When does the story take place? Is it contemporary, historical, or futuristic? If it’s historical, what time period? If it’s futuristic, what is the world like in this future?
• Why do things happen? Why is your protagonist motivated to do what they’re doing? Why are they facing conflict? What are the deeper emotional or psychological reasons driving the plot?
• How does the story unfold? How does your protagonist deal with the conflict? What actions do they take? How do they change throughout the story?

Answering these questions one by one gives you a broad outline of the major elements of your story. Sometimes the simple act of answering them can lead to new connections between ideas you hadn’t thought of before.

3. Get Inspired by Real Life (Or What-Ifs)

If you’re feeling creatively stuck, one of the easiest ways to spark new ideas is to draw inspiration from the world around you. Real life is filled with unexpected moments and fascinating stories—sometimes the most unusual real-life events can be the foundation for a compelling fictional tale.

Real-Life Inspirations to Explore:

• Personal experiences: Think about a unique experience you’ve had—something surprising or life-changing. Maybe you took a trip to a remote place, met someone who left an impact, or faced a tough decision that made you question everything. Could that be expanded into a story?
• News stories: The world is filled with strange, surprising, and dramatic events. If you’re feeling uninspired, check out current news stories for inspiration. Something as simple as a local hero, a bizarre crime, or an unexplained phenomenon could ignite your imagination.
• Historical events: Look into historical events or figures that intrigue you. Maybe you could create a story based on a lesser-known historical incident, a famous person’s backstory, or an untold part of history.

Once you start thinking about real-world events, don’t just ask yourself, “How can I base a story on this?” Instead, ask, “What if?” What if that news story had a different ending? What if that person made a different choice? What if something supernatural happened in the midst of that historical event?

This can lead you to create fictional stories that feel grounded in reality while still being unique and exciting.

4. Mind Mapping or Freewriting to Unblock Your Brain

Sometimes, when you’re stuck, your brain just needs to get out of its own way. Mind mapping and freewriting are two excellent ways to open up your thinking and let your creativity run free.

Mind Mapping:

Start with a central idea (this could be a genre, a character, or a theme) and create a visual map of related ideas. For example:

• If your idea is about a “haunted house,” branch out with ideas like “ghosts,” “family history,” “hidden treasure,” “a locked room,” etc. As you continue to add related concepts, you’ll start to see new connections and angles for your story.

Freewriting:

Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and write continuously about anything that comes to mind—no self-editing, no worrying about grammar, just pure free-flowing thoughts. You can start with a single word or sentence, and let your mind wander from there. Freewriting is designed to help you bypass that inner critic and open up to unexpected ideas. Afterward, read through what you’ve written. You might uncover a hidden gem that could become the seed of your next story.

5. Collaborate with Someone Else

Sometimes, the best way to get unstuck is to get another person involved. Writing can be an incredibly solitary activity, but brainstorming with someone else opens up new perspectives and ideas that you might not have considered.

Ways to Collaborate:

• Share ideas with a writing buddy: Talk about your current story ideas or struggles with a friend or fellow writer. Ask them for their thoughts, feedback, or even random suggestions. Sometimes hearing someone else’s perspective can help you see things differently.
• Join a writer’s group or workshop: If you don’t have a writing buddy, try joining a writing group. Many groups will have exercises and prompts to get your brain working, and discussing ideas with others can spark new thoughts and directions.
• Brainstorm together: If you have a fellow writer or creative partner, try co-writing a story. Collaborating on a plot can help break through creative blocks and challenge you to think in new ways.

Conclusion: Keep Going!

The key to brainstorming when you’re stuck is to remember that it’s okay to feel blocked sometimes. Creative blocks happen to every writer—what matters is how you approach them. Whether you’re using prompts, asking the 5Ws, drawing inspiration from real life, or collaborating with someone else, there are always ways to get your creative energy flowing again.

So, next time you find yourself stuck, don’t give up! Try one of these strategies, and soon enough, you’ll be back in the creative zone, ready to turn your ideas into a story that’s uniquely yours.

And hey, if none of these ideas spark your next masterpiece right away, that’s okay too! Creativity is a process, and sometimes it’s just about showing up and letting your mind wander. Eventually, the right story will find you.

Happy writing!