How To Find Inspiration To Write in Daily Life
(Plus practices to spark ideas.)
Though I've heard some writers suggest that writer's block isn't real, I've heard just as many writers lament about how frustrating it is to have the desire to write but not the inspiration. Personally, I think writer's block is real—but it doesn't always have to get in our way.
Though we often wait and wish for inspiration to strike, the truth is that we can seek it out ourselves. We can also make writing a part of our daily (or weekly—we know daily writing doesn't necessarily happen all the time) process, and over time, writing and searching for inspiration become habits.
Just like anything else, though, it takes practice to find things that inspire you to write! So, let's talk about a few ways to do this.
Look for moments and feelings.
Have you ever heard the phrase, "Not every day is good, but there's good in every day"? I think we can use this same line of thought when writing. Maybe every day isn't hugely inspirational, but there's inspiration in every day.
For instance, recently, I was picking up dinner at a nearby restaurant. I was struggling to hold onto everything with one hand (since I, Emily, use a cane) and get out the door. I'm currently in Vienna, Austria, and I am definitely not the best at speaking German just yet. However, despite this, the waiter at the restaurant was incredibly kind and opened the door for me, making sure to ask me if I was okay. In my broken German, I managed to respond to him and thanked him for his help.
This wasn't a life-changing, drastic moment, but the simple display of kindness that didn't require language really moved me and made me happy. I'd love to create these small moments of connection in my writing. So, if I'm experiencing writer's block, I might write with the intention of bringing that same feeling of warmth and connecting with a stranger into my story.
Pay attention to what stories spark your interest.
It's probably safe to say we've all read a story that really sticks with us. Often, reading writing that you enjoy can inspire you to write something yourself. So, consider what stories you've loved reading in the past.
And if you haven't read a good book in a while, you can look for stories in other places beyond reading—these stories can be ones you hear on the news, podcasts, social media, or from friends. What type of stories are you drawn to? Why do you think you enjoy the stories you do?
If you're really struggling to find or think of something, you can break this down even more and consider what tropes you like to read about, what genres of movies or TV shows you like to watch, or what pieces of artwork you love. Just writing a few sentences about things you enjoy can ignite your creativity.
Think about why you want to write.
This might sound silly at first, but hear me out. If someone were to ask you why you write, you'd probably say that you write because you enjoy it. That's great—but why do you enjoy it? Do you like being able to express yourself through words? Is writing an outlet for you? What moments do you love most about writing, and how can you create those moments (even on a small level)?
It’s okay to write just for the heck of it. Not every project or story has to be a masterpiece. It sounds cliché, but the process of writing is just as valuable (if not more so in some cases) than the outcome. If all you do is scribble a few sentences, that's okay.
Use simple exercises to get you in the headspace for writing.
If you know what you want to write but aren't sure how to actually do it, you can ask yourself why you want to write this specific story. Why does it matter? How do you want people to feel after reading your work (if you want to share it with people)? What are the stakes? Are there specific scenes or pieces of dialogue you have in your mind? Sometimes, it helps to just write down words you might associate with your story, the genre, or specific scenes.
Let’s see how this might look in real life. We’ll say that I want to write a fantasy book with dragons, magic, high stakes, and a bit of romance. I want the book to create an immersive world for readers, and I can envision a scene of a dragon sleeping in a forest. If I’m thinking about words and phrases I associate with this story, I might note the words “ethereal; otherworldly; enchanting; secrets with deadly implications; two characters slowly beginning to trust each other in a world where trust is dangerous; stolen glances; dewdrops clinging to a dragon’s scales just before dawn; lush, dark forests; crumbling stone buildings that hide secrets.”
Now, I feel like I have something to go off of when I start writing. I can pick a few words from my list and give myself ten minutes to write. It’s fine if I don’t use what I write, but if nothing else, I feel like I’ve made progress.
Asking these questions about writing and about your story can feel strange at first because they require you to be objective, at least a bit, about your own work. However, the answers can help you figure out more about yourself—and when you know why you're writing, it becomes easier to look for inspiration in your day-to-day life that aligns with your personal reasons for writing.
Though it requires patience sometimes, looking for inspiration rather than waiting for it to strike is a practice that will serve you well as a writer.
Where do you find inspiration? Let us know! And if you found this post interesting, please restack it, leave a comment, or favorite it so we know what you like seeing from us!
If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, and Jean—would love to help you with creating your book. If you'd like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don't work together, I'm happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:
https://www.kwepub.com/consultation
We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.
Write on!
Kim Eley
KWE Publishing
“Read, read, read. Read everything – trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write.”
–William Faulkner
Honoring Hugh Hardwicke
When I met Hugh Hardwicke, I was struck by his deep appreciation for family history and storytelling, which he beautifully showcased in his book, Things My Grandmother Told Me of Yesterday. Born and raised in Chesterfield, Virginia, Hugh grew up immersed in the rich narratives of his grandmother, Eppes Hatcher Hardwicke.
At our first meeting, Hugh told me he wanted to publish three books. The first was about his grandmother’s stories, the second would be a genealogy book about his family, and the third book would tell the tales of his father’s flights as a World War II pilot. I’m grateful we published Hugh’s first book and made his dream come true. Sadly, we were halfway through work on his second book when we lost touch with him. Knowing that was unlike Hugh to not respond, we kept calling and emailing. Finally, we learned online that Hugh passed away on February 5, 2025.
At KWE Publishing, we will fondly remember Hugh as a delightful gentleman with a kind smile and a wonderful love of writing. I will cherish the times we met at Panera, and he would excitedly share his writing and his next idea for a story. Thank you, Hugh, for being a part of our lives.
An Active Week for KWE Publishing’s Clients Across the U.S.!
Celebrating Amy McCoy’s Book Launch Event in New York!
Last week, author Amy McCoy celebrated the launch of her newest children’s book, Katie Finds Her Voice: A Story About Autism! The event was a great success with friends, family, and loved ones attending to celebrate her amazing book!
You can learn more about Amy’s books, including Katie Finds Her Voice, on Amy’s website!
Author Event Recap: Everything is an Event Book Passage Launch in Corte Madera, California!
On Saturday, March 29th, author and event designer extraordinaire Marinda Freeman held a fantastic book launch event in Corte Madera’s Book Passage! Her weekend appearance at the wonderful Book Passage was a huge success with over fifty people showing up to celebrate her and her amazing book, Everything is an Event: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Memorable Occasions for Today's Lifestyle, with 15 Principles Revealed! Featured in The Pacific Sun, the event was packed with friends, clients, and excited readers.
You can learn more about Marinda on her website or click the button below to purchase her book!
Bill Shea’s Book-Reading Event in Palmetto, Florida!
This past Saturday, March 29th, Bill Shea, author of A Grandpa Joe Day!, held a book-reading event at Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa in Palmetto, Florida! The book-reading was a wonderful success with families around Palmetto coming to hear the story of A Grandpa Joe Day! The event was also featured in
, which you can read here!Carin Jayne Casey’s Books-a-Million Event in Midlothian, Virginia!
On Saturday, March 29th, author Carin Jayne Casey held a fantastic spring book-reading event at Books-a-Million in Midlothian, Virginia, which I (Kim) also attended! It was so much fun to see Carin sharing her fiction and nonfiction books with local readers.
You can learn more about Carin Jayne Casey and her books by clicking the button below!
Resources:
Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in the world of marketing a book? Marketing is something that a lot of authors are curious about, but the idea of marketing your book can also be intimidating.
Recently, I came across a fantastic post by
where she talks about spending $11,000 marketing her debut novel, What We Sacrifice for Magic. While Andrea published her first novel in 2024, she has spent over fifteen years working as a book marketer, so it’s safe to say she knows her stuff! In her post, Andrea shares how she spent her money, what she’s seen work well regarding marketing, and what she wishes she’d done differently. Though every author will have their own budget and goals, seeing Andrea’s transparency and hearing how she approached marketing her book is incredibly valuable for readers, and we encourage our authors to check out the post and Andrea’s Substack to keep up with her writing. Thanks so much for sharing, Andrea!