31 Things To Do When You're Out of Ideas
all the resources I turn to for story brainstorming + access to my customizable pitch tracker
At the start of last week, I was sure I’d never have another good idea. I was donezo. Swirling news of tariffs and impending financial crisis sent me into a whirlwind of anxiety from which all creative thoughts were blown away. There would never be another assignment, another byline, another paycheck.
By the end of the week, I had an assignment with one of my goal publications for the year and a few pages of my notebook were filled with new story ideas.
There is no hack to this shift. The assignment was something I had pitched months ago! But it gave me the boost I needed to pursue some new stories.
Unfortunately, this seems to be part of the process when your profession requires a steady flow of original ideas. The motivation and the curiosity evaporate. And then we find them on a walk, in the shower, in a random conversation with a friend. The light shifts. There it is.
Sometimes it’s best to just sit in those foggy moments and let our brains rest. But also, we need to get paid.
In an effort to keep the ideas flowing, I’ve created this list of resources and methods for discovery and inspiration that hopefully lead to good ideas and paid assignments. Some of them are obvious. Some are random or maybe just an excuse to try something new.
Interspersed throughout this list, you’ll find advice from other writers on how they look for story ideas. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed!
I hope you’ll bookmark this page. I’ll keep adding to it, and this can be a living document of inspiration to brainstorm, explore, stretch, and search for something new. Add your favorite resources in the comments to share with others! And then go find yourself some stories.
(Paid subscribers, there’s a little something extra for you at the end.)
1. Read the local paper.
Zoom in on your town or neighborhood to consider hyperlocal issues that might be reflective of larger trends. Or pick a national news item and look for the local example. Who could you reach out to in your own community who might be living a microcosm of a major headline?
2. Review new and upcoming book lists.
Is a much-anticipated novel set in a place you know well? Is a nonfiction book coming out on a topic you love? Book releases can be news hooks for a wide range of stories.
3. Work at a coffee shop you’ve never been to. Read the bulletin board.
I love writing in coffee shops. Trying a new spot is a fun way to jostle my habits and thought patterns and see what comes up.
While you’re at a new-to-you cafe, check out the bulletin board—those windows into the soul of a community where dog walkers, yoga instructors, and open mic hosts bravely tell the world what they’re up to.
4. Check out events at your local library.
Speaking of bulletin boards, my local library has one that’s full of upcoming events and I’m always delighted by the variety. Most libraries regularly host events with authors and experts of all kinds, and these tend to be small enough to snag some one-on-one time with the speaker—maybe even an interview.
5. Look at trade publications
If you don’t already write for trade publications, then there’s a good chance you don’t read them. These industry-focused outlets can be dense and dry—but not always! And they’re packed with insight and updates about really specific things that could be repackaged for a more general audience.
Check out the trade publications from industries you’re unfamiliar with to learn something completely new. There are so many of them!
6. Type “Special:random” into the search bar on Wikipedia.
See what comes up!
7. Reread an old favorite from a writer you love — or your own work.
If a story moved you once, go back to it and see where it takes you today.
Rereading your own work can also be an interesting experiment in how your opinions, knowledge, and voice have evolved.
Could you write about something you covered five years ago? What’s changed?
“I read writers whose voices put me in the mood to write, scour Reddit communities centered on my interests, and read recent stories in publications I'm targeting.”
