The phrase "writer's block" can strike fear in the heart of even the most prolific writer. Typically it is not that the writer can't write; instead, it is probably that the writer can't think of a good idea.
How can a writer bring back the muse? A few simple exercises can bring inspiration and spark fresh ideas.
1. Read the Paper
Amazing things happen every day, and even the most insignificant of them could inspire the next great work of fiction.
When reading the newspaper, scan it for interesting news items. The briefs and weird news sections can be the most fertile. If you find a story about a criminal who made ridiculous mistake, think about what led him to commit the crime. Maybe he was a regular man who was forced to commit the crime on fear of some horrible punishment. Or maybe he experience some sort of psychotic break with reality that you could explore. Or maybe he is destitute, and he decided that he would commit a crime and be sent to jail so that he would at least have a warm place to sleep and three meals a day.
2. Watch the News
Television news can also provide story ideas. When a car chase comes on, imagine a back story. What happened in the driver's life that led him to this? What is he running from? What will happen after he is caught? What is going through the policemen's minds as they chase him?
When the national weather report mentions a severe thunderstorm coming to a remote part of the state, think about what is will bring. Is the storm the results of natural weather patterns, or is it a harbinger of dark forces? Will a killer use the storm to hide her crime? Will a young family flee the storm and find a better life where they take refuge?
3. Mine the Classics
Classic works of literature can help generate ideas.
Consider retelling an old story or fairy tale with a different perspective. Marion Zimmer Bradley used this technique when she wrote The Mists of Avalon [Del Rey Books, 1987, ISBN 9780345350497], a recasting of Arthurian legend through the eyes of the women, and The Firebrand [Roc, 2009, ISBN 9780451462657], the story of the Trojan War told from the point of view of a minor character. If the story is something to be shared, ensure that it is in the public domain before beginning this exercise.
Or look at the themes covered in classic literature and assess how they could apply today. Aesop taught lessons with his fables. Pick a lesson and see how a fictional tale could teach it. Edgar Allen Poe explored darker emotions. How could an emotion such as fear play a role in a story?
4. Use Prompts
The Internet is a treasure trove of prompts that can lead to stories of various types and lengths. A quick Google search for writing prompts reveals millions of sources. Or, stop by the bookstore or library and get a book of writing prompts.
5. Write About Writer's Block
If you can't beat it, maybe you can join it.
Writer's block isn't just the subject of nonfiction books-which can be of use in breaking past the block-fiction writers conquer their own fear of block by including it in their books. Stephen King's Bag of Bones [Pocket Books, 1999, ISBN 9780671024239] chronicles a writer's journey past writer's block. Writer's block is also a prominent feature of such films as Stranger Than Fiction, Shakespeare in Love, Wonder Boys, and Finding Forrester.
Imagine a writer crippled with fear that she will never writer again. Put her thoughts into words as she sits in front of a blank computer screen, taunted by the blinking cursor. Or as she opens Write or Die and tries to force herself to write anything, even gibberish words.
Or imagine a muse who has quit visiting his writer. Give your imaginary writer's muse a personality and a back story. Why has he quit visiting his writer? What does he do with all of the ideas he is holding? Will he give them to another writer? Will they slowly drive him crazy as he keeps them inside instead of sharing them? Is he also bereft of inspiration?
Ideas can be elusive, but these exercises can open the writer's mind to capture ideas from anything, even the very condition of writer's block.