What To Do When You're Fresh Out of Writing Ideas

I just got back from a weekend in SoCal.

It was a quick trip and a lotta fun too. But it's always nice to be back home, unpack your bags, and hop into your own shower. Know what I mean?

Travel is great, but home is greater-er.

Then there was this one dude at the airport yesterday.

So there I was, sitting at the Southwest Airlines gate. We arrived early, so my wife and I sat and watched. People...we watched people.

There was a 19-year-old girl traveling alone...

There was an Asian family, all masked up and speaking in rapid-fire Cantonese (I think)...

There was a 40-something dude who looked like he legit just rolled outta bed...

And then there was an 80 or 90-year-old gramma, smiling as big as ever, being wheeled to the gate...

Most people woulda only saw what I just typed above and then go back to scrolling on Facebook.

But I saw stories.

Of course, I don't know these people, but their lives flashed before my eyes. Who they are, and where they're from. And creating their stories in my mind's eye made me smile.

* The 19-year-old saw me smile, and she smiled back. She was headed back to college. She'd spent the weekend with her little brother, who is 13, and was missing his big "college sis."

* The Asians saw me smile, and even though they had masks on, the mom smiled back. You could see it in her eyes. She was rattling on to her kids about how there really isn't any such thing as Sweet 'n sour chicken in China...that it was American food marketing.

* The 40-year-old dude saw me smile but just kept walking. He had indeed just rolled outta bed and didn't have time to take a dump at the hotel, so he was bee-lining it to the closest crapper. He was walking like he was desperately trying to NOT sh*t his Lululemon shorts.

* The 80 or 90-year-old lady saw me smile and smiled back. She'd come back to visit her husband. He passed away during COVID and was buried here in Newport Beach. She smiled because even in his heavenly absence, he is still the man she dreams of, and she let him know that while she's still alive and kicking, she can't wait to see him again.

Yeah.

Some people see people.

I see stories.

It's a gift and a curse.

I can't help it.

And I used to think that only "writers" could see stories like this. But then I realized that everyone has the ability to do it. They just have to practice.

Here's how you can start seeing stories everywhere.

Pick a person, any person.

Now, instead of just looking AT them, start observing them. Pay attention to the way they walk, the way they talk, and the clothes they're wearing.

And then start making up a story about them.

• Where are they from?
• What's their favorite food?
• What's their favorite color?
• What's their favorite hobby?

You can do this with anyone, anywhere. In line at the grocery store, at the park, on public transportation. And yep, even at the airport.

It's a great way to practice your observation skills and a fun way to pass the time. But more to the point, it's a fabulous way to, well, make stories. And isn't that the #1 job of a writer?

To make stories?

So there you go.

The next time you're fresh out of writing ideas, try this silly little exercise. It just might help jump-start your creativity and get those wheels turning again. But at minimum, it'll shove you right past that writer's block thing we all hate to have.

You have a wonderful day now, and remember, as you wake up and hit that alarm to roll out into your day...you get to create your very own chapter in your story today.

So make it worth telling.

Happy writing!

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