Writer’s block is something every writer has to deal with eventually. The good news is that you don’t have to wait around for inspiration to strike. Sometimes all you need is the right exercise to get the creative juices flowing again.
Here are ten writing exercises that have helped me get words back on the page.
1. Opposite—Opposite
This first writing exercise comes from Reddit.
Opposite—Opposite is when you take something or someone with an obvious connotation and write a scene that completely subverts it.
The example used most often is a monster. Instead of making the monster terrifying, write a scene where it’s misunderstood or has a tragic backstory. Your goal is to get readers to successfully see the opposite of what they expect.
You don’t have to use a monster, though. If you’re looking for a challenge, try something like a sloth. Normally we associate sloths with being lazy and slow, but what if they were actually incredibly fast and only pretended to be slow whenever humans were watching?
There are countless subjects you could use. Just have fun with it.
2. Copy the First Sentence
Another incredibly simple exercise is to copy the first sentence or two from one of your favorite books and then go from there.
Write a page of your own story beginning with that sentence.
This exercise is incredibly simple, but it’s an easy way to break through writer’s block and maybe even discover ideas for a story of your own. By copying that opening sentence, you’ll often find yourself in a mindset where the words flow much more easily.
3. Describe the Same Scene Through Different Characters
One of my favorite exercises is to pick two or more of your characters.
Then sit down somewhere and describe everything around you from each character’s point of view.
One character may notice the grain of the wood on a desk, while another may focus on the way it feels beneath their fingertips.
The point of the exercise is to make your characters feel different and distinct. Two people may see the same thing, but they probably won’t describe it the same way. Find those differences and really get inside each character’s head.
4. Speed Writing
Speed writing is another exercise that can help break writer’s block.
It’s simple.
Pick something to write about and give yourself a set amount of time. Then write as much as you possibly can.
Maybe it’s a journal entry about your day. Maybe it’s your favorite sports team or your favorite band. It doesn’t really matter.
The act of putting words on the page—and seeing them fly from your fingertips—is often enough to loosen writer’s block.
5. Write the Backstory of a Minor Character
Pick a minor character from one of your own stories—or even from your favorite book.
Now invent a backstory for them.
This gives you some creative building blocks without forcing you to start completely from scratch. Often that’s all you need to get new ideas flowing.
Sometimes it’s easier to build a story around a character than it is to build a character around a story.
6. Describe a Single Object
Picking a single object and describing it is another simple but effective exercise.
The goal is to improve your sensory descriptions.
Describe what an object would taste like, even if it isn’t edible. Describe a faint smell. Describe the sound it makes when it’s dropped on the floor.
Whether you’re describing the taste of a dingy room or the sound of a brick smacking someone in the face, this exercise encourages you to have fun while strengthening your descriptive writing.
7. Read Great Writing
Few exercises are better than simply reading good writing.
Reading has always been one of my favorite ways to overcome writer’s block, but it helps to read with the intent of stealing ideas.
Obviously, don’t plagiarize.
Instead, look for pivotal decisions characters make. Then ask yourself:
What if they had made a different choice?
How would the story unfold?
You can also borrow the feeling of a setting and build an entirely different story around it.
Reading isn’t just entertainment—it can be a fantastic source of inspiration.
8. Rewrite a Chapter in Your Own Words
If you’re really stuck, try reading a chapter from any book and rewriting it in your own words.
You probably won’t use it in your own story, but that’s not the point.
This exercise gets words flowing and helps put your brain into a creative mindset. Sometimes simply writing is enough to generate your own ideas.
9. Write Fan Fiction
One of my favorite exercises is to write a fan fiction chapter.
Like rewriting a chapter, fan fiction gives you direction. You don’t have to invent an entire world from scratch, which frees your brain to focus on storytelling.
As you write, you’ll often stumble onto ideas of your own.
In fact, several successful novels reportedly began as fan fiction before evolving into original stories.
10. Use Writing Prompts
The final exercise shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
Use writing prompts.
Writing prompts give you direction without forcing you to invent everything yourself. The more you write, the more ideas begin to flow.
There are countless writing prompts available online. You can Google them, browse writing communities, or even ask AI to generate prompts tailored to your genre.
If you write fantasy, ask for prompts about magic systems. If you write romance, ask for prompts centered around dysfunctional relationships.
The internet is full of writing prompts, and they’re incredibly useful tools for breaking through writer’s block.
Final Thoughts
Writer’s block isn’t something you eliminate forever. It’s something you learn to work through.
The good news is that you don’t have to sit around waiting for inspiration. Often, simply putting words on the page is enough to get your creativity moving again.
If one exercise doesn’t work, try another. The goal isn’t to write something perfect—it’s simply to get writing again.
Want more help generating story ideas?
Check out the video below about generating story ideas, where I dive deeper into techniques for finding your next great concept.
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