How can I get my inspiration back to write my story?

Read some great books, look at poetry, watch a movie about a great poet or literary genius. Take a note pad with you and go outside and keep a dream pad to scribble on next to your bed.

What you are experiencing is not uncommon among writers. It is called writer’s block. Not being a writer, I can’t speak from my personal experience. I did a Web search and came across this site, which seems to have some good suggestions. Maybe some of the writers here can speak from their experience.

You may have come to the end of the road with that story. Your inspiration is gone because he story itself has become depleted.

This is very frequently the case – even ‘professional’ authors like Steven King (and others) will start a manuscript and then abandon it. I don’t remember who – I think it was Hemingway – would start 20–30 stories and throw almost all of them away until he found the one that fit him.

So don’t be afraid of dropping it, for now, and starting a new project entirely. Don’t throw this away – you may go back to it in a year or two – but it’s perfectly OK to put this one on hiatus and begin with a new idea.

Consider this: by doing so, you are following in the footsteps of many successful authors that have preceded you.

Take a vacation from it and let your creative batteries recharge. Always works for me. The time won’t be wasted. Your mind will continue to work on it.

Especially agree with @LornaLove first comment. “Read some great books, look at poetry…”

It’s pretty simple math.

You want to be an inspired writer… Study the works of inspiring writers.

You want to be a great athlete… Study the style of great athletes.

You want to be a great musician… Study the technique of great musicians.

You want to be a great business person… Study the habits of great business people.
________

Think of it this way. The most well adjusted children are those who spend time with other well adjusted children. They influence one another and promote greatness. The most deviant children are those who spend time with other deviant children. They influence one another and promote their deviance.

Perhaps instead of friends, they hang out with tv, video games, youtube… One must ask if those activities promote greatness or deviance.

I suggest you associate yourself with the most inspiring authors you can, as much as you can.

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies that’s brilliant advise! Well said.
I just finished my first novel and when I had writers block I would stop writing and start another project. By the time I finished my novel I had enough material to start another novel.

Go on an adventure!

It doesn’t have to be epic, even just volunteering at a local homeless shelter, or helping clean litter on a public trail, will get you away from your computer/paper and out into the world. Talk to people, hear their stories, observe nature and how animals interact. When you come across two squirrels chasing each other, imagine they had human personalities, why are they chasing? What is their relationship to each other? Build a backstory for them. Maybe they can become small characters (as people—not talking squirrels), how would that advance the plot?

@Mimishu1995 I feel your pain, I am a writer too, note I said writer not author as nothing I have written has been published as of yet. In other words these are not the words of a professional just an amateur with delusions of grandeur.

Anyway on the topic of inspiration, it’s normal for it to come and go, don’t stop writing just because your inspiration is gone, I know this sounds weird but trust me you have to keep in the habit. I’m not even saying you have to write on your story, just write something everyday so that when inspiration strikes you again you’ll be ready. Practice doesn’t make perfect but it does help us each develop our own voice, the way we write, which in turn allows us to turn those ideas into unique windows into the world we create or the ideas we cover.

In short shelving your story is fine, sometimes your muse just needs some time with a certain idea in order to churn out the really great stuff, but don’t use that as an excuse to not write that day or you’ll never develop a voice or even finish your story.

When I wrote my novel, there was an almost year-long break involved (very early on, right after chapter three). It was a big surprise to me when I came back to an eventually finished it. Now I’m looking at maybe making it a trilogy. So don’t think a dry spell means you’re done.

If you’re not motivated to finish because you’re unsure about the quality, look for some feedback on what you have so far. Maybe you’ll get some inspiring suggestions.

@mariah so you decided to make it a trilogy after the fact? Will this involve any rewriting etc.or will you just start from where you left off? I’m curious as a fellow writer, I’m always reading blogs and such of other writers for details on their process. mostly because I’m procrastinating on my own story

I’ve planned pretty poorly as I went along. I ended the way I wanted to end and my friend who reviewed it for me said the ending was really dissatisfying. I’m realizing now that there’s a lot more I could do with these characters and scenarios and am currently working on coming up with material for a sequel or two. Some rewriting of the first book will probably have to occur, yeah, but not too much.

I’m probably not a good person to learn from, I don’t know jack shit about what I’m doing and I’m just having fun!

My daughter is writing what we all think will eventually be a best seller. She’s already got her name in a friend’s book as the editor. She has been skyping with him (the friend) and her sisters about a new character she’s introducing. She says she’s got lots of new ideas, and is very pleased.

If you can find a few people in your life that are absolutely trustworthy (don’t want them stealing your material), and get their help with writer’s block, plot, characterization, etc., you will be well served.

What you’ve described sounds like a phenomenon called “The Sagging Middle.” This experience is common among writers, especially writers who are fairly new to the craft. Most of us are really excited to write when we get started, and then as the newness wears off and the work sets in, excitement wanes. Here are some things that may help:
* Remember what made you want to write your book in the first place. Remember where your original energy came from. Summarize it into a paragraph, print the paragraph, and tape the paragraph to your writing device.
* Read your favorite part of the story so far. As soon as it makes you smile, start writing the next part of your story.
* If you’re not sure what should come next in the story, write what “could” come next.
* Decide that your number one priority is to have fun and go for the enjoyment. Write to please yourself.
* Last, but not least, write anyway. That’s what real writers do. Most of us would rather clean our toilets with a toothbrush than “get back to work.” It really is the nature of the beast. The difference between you and other writers who finish is that when other writers lose interest, they write their way through it.
Good luck.

Mimishu:

What you are facing is very very common in fiction writing. When you get to the middle of a story or a novel, the enthusiasm typically dies and you lose your way.

This is why some authors recommend an outline of one type or another. If you aren’t using one, you just need to keep plodding on.

This is why most people who say they could write, never do. You have to have the ability to put up with mediocrity in your work to become a good writer.