What to Write About when You Have NO IDEAS... Quick Writing Inspiration!

Are you struggling to come up with a story idea that is unique? In this video, I'm sharing a FUN + EASY method for thinking up new story ideas – by remixing your favorite elements from stories you love the most. Writing prompts don't work! Why? Because they are missing the most vital ingredient of storytelling: internal conflict. Instead of telling you what to write, this method will get your creative juices flowing and help you to brainstorm a great story idea that you can actually get EXCITED about! Grab a notebook and let's get started.

✨T I M E S T A M P S✨
0:00 Introduction
2:20 Can you steal from other writers?
3:34 Step #1: Make a list of your 4 fav stories
4:13 Step #2: Make a list of 4 story elements
5:17 A note about short stories
5:54 You’re NOT writing a retelling!
6:54 Famous stories that stole from other stories
8:52 Watch me brainstorm stories in real time
14:16 Now it’s your turn
15:36 Subscribe for more writing videos :)
16:18 Bloopers

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Subscribe for weekly episodes of #WritersLifeWednesdays! Make Your Story Matter™ and make your author dreams come true… new videos every Wednesday.

✨ V A L U A B L E R E S O U R C E S✨

MORE VIDEOS YOU WOULD LIKE:

→ HOW TO FIND YOUR MC'S FATAL FLAW

→ THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF EVERY STORY

→ MY SCRIVENER SETUP

→ 10 WEAK WORDS TO CUT FROM YOUR NOVEL

✨F O L L O W ✨

✨ A B O U T ✨
My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.

Story isn’t about “what happens” — it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel – and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!

[lizesan]

I have three moods:
-I have so much ideas idk how to write
-I have no idea idk how to write
-I'm writing and waiting for the idea

[ari]

My biggest problem is I get so many ideas for one story, and now I have no idea where to start or how to organize my notes! Yes this is a call for help!

[dkyeorumi]

Actually, my problem is when I'm writing a story, and I stop write it for about 2 to 3 days, then I have no motivation to continues writing. By the way, this is so helpful <3

[Amycballad]

This idea is GENIUS! No one tells you these things or explains the concept of how to creatively "borrow" from other stories the way you do, Abbie. Thank you so much. My creative juices are primed and ready. Now I'm off to make my list of favorite stories/movies. So grateful for the wisdom you've shared with all of us aspiring writers through your videos. Thank you! 😊

[xiaothelibrarian]

Abbie you have no idea how much you've improved my writing, I just wanted to say thank you for being a huge inspiration!.

[markforster]

In my experience, writing prompts are usually dull-witted: "Pretend you're Santa Clause and the elves want to unionize".

[RajeshSingh-jmuu]

After 5 minutes of this video, I wrote down a detailed plot for my story! I can't believe it was me just yesterday who taught writing's not for me and my mind's always blank. I wanna finish my story now. Thank you so much :)

[suzuyahaise]

It's almost like finding your art style. You mix the ones of the artists you like the most into your own.

[thereseoffsay]

Who else smiled everytime it said "story smoothie blending"?

[Vanessa-skkw]

I have a journal of characters who I wish to write someday. In said journal I have internal conflict mapped out along with an inspirational quote that will be the theme of the MCs journey . When I lose motivation I come back to this journal and research prompts to get my external juices flowing (since that's where I tend to run into walls the most). But that's just my process!

[SillySyrup]

Thank you for this method! I have my own idea now. Here is my structure:

Genre: Encanto
Plot: Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy
Characters: Keeper of the Lost Cities
Theme: Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard ("So long as there is wonder in the hearts of men, so, too, will there be magic." -Scrivener Behn)

*Story Smoothie Loading*

A magically protected valley village is filled with mystical joy and merriment, but a devastating world war rages outside of the haven, a fact that not many of its inhabitants like to admit. A family with a bloodline of intense magical abilities exists within the refuge, each person with different abilities. Groups of soldiers in the war secretly hope for a prophecy spoken by one of the people from the magical bloodline to come true (This person has chosen to make himself more known instead of hiding in the protected haven). The prophecy states that a person from the magical family will be born to end the world war that has been destroying lives for so long. Unknown to the people who hope for the prophecy to come true, one who may indeed be the one spoken of resides in the protected haven - a girl in the magical family who can turn products of her imagination into reality at will. One day a person with magical ability living outside of the haven enters the haven, finds the girl, tells her that he thinks the is the prophesied one, and gains her trust. Now having the weight of the fact that she might be able to end the war on her shoulders, the girl must make a difficult decision - stay in a safe place that she'd known for so long? Or use her abilies to try the stop the war - and create things only she can imagine?

[august]

Looking at my story premise now, I realized that I’ve subconsciously been using this method

[alicia_e_]

I started watching this video, and suddenly, my cat shows up and starts watching. I had no idea she was such a fan! 😆

[riyadondapati]

My story started as a fanfic living in my mind and then started to grow and expand into its own little world and then after that I decided to become an author.

Edit : thx for this video!! I always felt like I was copying people if I got inspiration from them and it made me feel kinda guilty.

[alejandrarodriguez]

"now mulan! The original film... The new one sucked" I FEEL YOU GIRL. I FEEL YOU.

[ishapurohit]

As someone who has just started writing creatively and is confused beyond anything, this is such a helpful tool. Thanks a lot, girl 💜

[jocelynjacob]

abbie, you don't understand how much you've helped me make my writing better! thank you for your videos! it's also like you read my mind, i needed this so bad.

[MrsSukre]

Abbie, if someone hasn't said this yet, let me say it to you. YOU ARE AMAZING!! Thanks so much for this. Definitely a life saver! I can't thank you enough for all the videos you and Kate made, which really helps me in my writing journey.

[liliamargret]

the fact that this advice is free is a miracle. thank u this has been so helpful!

[justblah]

Abbie, thank you so much for this. I tend to overthink ALOT when plotting and this showed me that a great story WILL COME TO YOU when you just stay true to what interests YOU.