If you watch the news for inspiration, don't things come out more dark than you mean them to with so many depressing things going on? Or do you go more with culture and scientific developments and stuff like that?

You're definitely right. Putting ideas together is the hardest part. I listen to music for inspiration sometimes, but I can never get the ideas to come together correctly.

I have dreams like that too. I wish I was able to write mine down with enough detail that I could write about them, but it seems like when I try, I don't get the same effect.

I've tried to do short fiction drabbles like that before. I always want to make them longer than they need to be though, and then I go to far, and just kind of lose focus on it, and it ends up falling apart.

I'll have to try to write about just random objects/people and see how that turns out. I used to do something like that in high school with a friend of mine. We would go to the mall and wander around and make up stories about people we saw that were particularly interesting, or particularly boring.

I write horror stories so yeah quite dark lol

Lol, well that makes sense. I've never tried writing horror. I read a lot of it, because I'm a huge Stephen King fan, but I don't think I would be much good at it myself.

I get my inspiration from music and or daydreams.Also talking to friends about it will help.

What kind of music do you listen to? Is it something specific for each genre?

Just the music I enjoy

Ah, ok, gotcha. I didn't know if it was productive to listen to chill music if you're trying to write something really dramatic.

Honestly I just draw a doodle of a character and go from there, the ideas for their backstory kinda fall into place as I add detail to their design, typically I just try to remember them but lately I've been jotting them down since I have a fantasy story idea involving a lesbian werewolf and fairy couple, and most of the characters I've doodled since have been for the story as well. I also like to play videogames of that genre to spark my imagination.

It is always hard when you have writer's block and you have the time, but then you don't have writer's block and don't have the time to write it. I face that struggle in college. I currently have about 5 stories I am currently working on and then stories for the pets are kinda up in the air at the moment. I have found some methods, but it all depends on how you work it. I have carried a notebook with me, everywhere to write something down. If an idea pops in, I try to write it down as quickly as possible to get it on paper. Once it's on paper, it usually helps, though it does take some motivation to get it going. Sometimes, it is all about word vomiting onto paper and seeing where it goes. I usually write the idea down first and see if it goes. If it doesn't until later, you'll have the snippet there for you to reference back to. I think it really depends. I know that if you have a writer's block on a story you are currently writing, making a playlist and then using that usually is motivating to write.

I've tried carrying a notebook around and writing things down as they come to me, but I always get things that look really good at first, and then never go anywhere. I end up with a ton of little snippets and nothing else.

I understand that. I have so many of those. Usually, I keep it for later reference because something will come of it or it won't. Sometimes, it's all about the perspective. Want to write a good story, it'll come to you. Just got to let the muse come out where it may. I haven't written in like 2 weeks, but I have the ideas there, just waiting for me to pick it up again. I have a serious motivation problem. But ideas are the best to start and get it moving. I'm sure you'll figure out what is best for you when it comes to those snippets. :)

The way I get rid of my block is I lay down in a black room. I close my eyes and think about the last thing I said, did, or watched. I will interject myself into whatever scene my brain is playing for me. I will let it play out like a movie. This is usually how I fall asleep, and it leads to some FANTASTIC dreams to write about later!

I'll have to try that. :)

One of the ways I beat back writer's block is to use my phone's voice memo function or I'll talk to myself. It's earned me a lot of concerned comments from my parents and roommates, but sometimes it helps jog something loose. I'll get up and walk around as well, pacing or moving between rooms until I get past what I'm stuck on. It looks a little bit like I'm preparing for an audition for a play.

I also use the memo function to record ideas when I'm driving, which is one of the WORST times that my brain gets busy. Long drive, music, plenty of lovely scenery, then suddenly I'm swamped with ideas and unless I want to spend three days making a seven hour trip, I can't pull over and scribble them down. So I get the app open and chatter at it until all the ideas are out, then listen to them once I'm back at my laptop.

I get a lot of my ideas from people watching. I'll notice someone interesting or odd, or I'll see someone doing something unusual or having a heated conversation, and I'll try to imagine what they're saying or doing, and write a story about them.

Generally from my surroundings, or prompts I'll see. Or if I see a movie or a book, or something on a certain topic I usually get an urge to write about it, or elaborate on it in my own way. I started with fanfiction -- which made it a bit easier to write as characters/worlds/etc. are already established, but as I got more comfortable I moved on to more original works.

I also really like doing those '100 Themes' challenges. A lot of them are for drawing, but you can use them to write too. Sometimes snippets of something will turn into a full blown idea.

You can have some time where you don't have any inspiration, I had a moment like that since I hade seasonal depression that hit me hard, and I begin to write again. To help me I listen to music, reading some fanfiction or looking at imagine can help you find ideas to (if you use imagine you have to give credit to the person who gave the idea for the least) but it can help too.

But don't be sad or mad at yourself to have a blank page syndrome, it happen to everyone, give you time and it'll come back <3

If I'm blocked on a story I start another story generally :) And wonder why I never finish anything.

ikr? it me. :)

Honestly, most of my ideas come from dreams (since I can often remember them, and they're vivid enough that I have a general idea.) However, when sleep fails me, I like to make a list of all my favorite games, shows, etc, and write down my favorite bits. Then I dissect it, to see WHY I like it, WHY it works, and I work from there. I also read what other fans of the listed media say and feel about it. By knowing the issues, it helps me figure out how I can avoid similar situations, and usually it helps me build from my own existing ideas and improve them.

If that doesn't work, I ramble to my friends and family till it comes to me, lol.