How to Use Writing Prompts to “Unstick” Writer’s Block

By Savannah Cordova

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: you’re at your desk, laptop or notebook open, hours stretching out before you… but you can’t seem to get the words down. You feel stuck, hopeless, and incapable of moving forward; in other words, you’ve got writer’s block.

Luckily, there are countless methods out there to combat this condition — and one of the best ways is to use writing prompts. As a judge for Reedsy Prompts, a weekly prompts-based competition, I’ve seen firsthand how our prompts have inspired hundreds of thousands of writers around the world — how they can spark creativity and get you out of even the worst of slumps!

On that note, this post will explore how you can use prompts to push through your slump and help you get back into the flow of writing.

First Off: What Causes Writer’s Block?

Before we dive into the prompt stuff, it may help to identify the root cause of your own writer’s block. That way, you’ll know exactly how to adjust your mindset — and select the right prompts — to defeat it! Here are some reasons why you might be struggling:

You’re obsessed with perfection.

As a perfectionist myself, I understand how the desire to create something flawless can become a huge roadblock. I often fixate on the tiniest details, ending up in an infinite cycle of editing and rewriting. If you also identify as a perfectionist, you’ve probably experienced moments of doubt and creative paralysis — and you’ll need some fun, even silly writing prompts to help you loosen up and move forward!

You can’t focus.

One of the more mundane causes of writer’s block — and another one I’ve experienced myself — is simply the inability to focus. Particularly when you hit a less interesting part of your writing (often called the “muddy middle”), you’ll find it much easier to get distracted. In this situation, you need a prompt that doesn’t take you away from your story, but instead feeds back into it; for example, you could look at some character questions or worldbuilding prompts to reignite your interest and re-focus on your story.

You lack inspiration.

Lastly, if you don’t have clear direction or motivation, you’ll inevitably come to a standstill as you write. Experiencing this kind of creative drought is beyond frustrating, and you might even feel like giving up — in which case you’ll need a Hail-Mary prompt, something so irresistible that it gives you a whole new catalyst to create!

With all that in mind, let’s look at four types of prompts and why these types are so useful for providing inspiration and “unsticking” writer’s block.

1. Conflict prompts

Getting into these key categories, “conflict” prompts are — as one would expect — prompts that introduce a challenge or problem for your characters to navigate. Whether the conflict is internal (“Center your story around someone facing their biggest fear”) or external (“An apologetic letter or email from an old flame suddenly arrives — many years too late”), this can really help you consider how your character(s) would respond and grow when faced with a tricky situation.

Perfect for: Writers who are stuck on “what should happen next?” in their plots.

2. Setting prompts

These prompts focus on a particular environment or place — bonus points if you choose a type of setting you’ve never written about before! Some prompts of this ilk include: “Write a story set in a world of darkness where light is suddenly discovered” or “Set your story in a place where the weather never changes.” As you can gather, setting prompts don’t have to focus on location alone; they can also give you the building blocks of a dystopian world, for example, or a place where a setting’s physical elements are uncontrollable.

Perfect for:Writers who want to start something brand-new, particularly with different genre conventions. (For example, if you’re blocked on a literary fiction project, try a setting prompt — and then challenge yourself to write a sci-fi or fantasy story!)

3. Dialogue prompts

Dialogue prompts give writers a straightforward starting point, yet at the same time, allow them to go in basically any direction they’d like. Prompts like “Start or end your story with a character asking a question” or “Write a story that includes the line, ‘Is nobody going to say it?’” are great conversation starters to show not just characters’ emotions, but also their values, desires, and even their fears.

Perfect for: Writers who need to reveal something about their characters, but aren’t sure how to do it organically.

4. Genre-specific prompts

Lastly, genre prompts are incredibly useful for anyone who wants to explore the signature themes, tropes, and styles of a given genre. Mystery, thriller, dark fantasy, romance… there are so many out there! Trying out a prompt like “Write a story where the laws of time and space begin to dissolve” or “Write a story about two characters who like each other, but don’t get a happily ever after” might even lead you to discover a love for a genre you never knew before.

Perfect for: Writers looking to sharpen their skills in a specific genre, whether that’s their “typical” genre or not!

If none of these speak to you, you can always browse our full archive of 2,000+ prompts — with plenty more filters — from past Reedsy Prompts contests.

3 More Tips for Using Prompts Effectively

There aren’t any set rules when it comes to incorporating writing prompts into your routine; indeed, if you’re trying to tackle writer’s block, you should do whatever it takes! However, if you’d like some final bits of advice — particularly if you haven’t worked much with prompts before, and feel apprehensive about it — read on.

Start small.

When trying something new, it’s almost always best to ease into it; this helps reduce the pressure and bolster your motivation to continue. In that vein, start by dedicating just a few minutes each day to writing prompts, writing on 1-2 simple prompts at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Over time, you’ll be able to take on more complex prompts and extend your writing sessions without breaking a sweat.

Set a timer.

Additionally, to ensure you don’t spend more time on writing prompts than the actual writing you need to do, grab your phone and give yourself only 5-15 minutes per prompt. This is also a great way to stay motivated — instead of wasting precious seconds looking out your window or staring at your ceiling, you’ll feel more compelled to write something — anything!

Keep it free-form.

Remember, no one needs to see what you’ve written besides you, so don’t feel the need to adhere to a certain structure or style. Instead, take this opportunity to experiment with new perspectives, hybrid forms (such as prose poems), punctuation, generic conventions… whatever floats your boat! Just let it all out — this is all about having fun, trying new things, and seeing where your writing takes you.

Finally, don’t forget that writer’s block happens to everyone; the good news is that it’s only temporary. With so many different tools and strategies to defeat writer’s block, you can push past any slow or rough periods and come out feeling even more invigorated than before. You’ve got this — wishing you the best of luck.

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Savannah Cordova is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace that connects authors and publishers with the world’s best editors, designers, and marketers. In her spare time, Savannah enjoys reading contemporary fiction and writing short stories. You can read more of her professional work on Litreactor and the Reedsy blog.

The post How to Use Writing Prompts to “Unstick” Writer’s Block appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

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