You cannot write a new story. No, I don’t doubt your creativity. I am just saying that many writers think every story idea has been written already.
This may feel odd, but if you reduce stories to their main ideas, you will find that many of them have the same plots—just the way they are presented is different.
I have an example to elaborate on my point. The story of Harry Potter is quite similar to Arthur from T.H. White’s “The Sword in the Stone.” Even J.K. Rowling herself calls Arthur the spiritual ancestor of Harry Potter.
Both (Arthur/Harry) follow the “chosen one magical education” narrative. A powerful wizard (Merlin/Dumbledore) gets them out of anonymity to a new world of magic to learn their true powers.
Both have a magical object (Sword in the Stone/The Sorcerer’s Stone), make loyal friends, face opposition from powerful dark forces (Morgana/Voldemort), and eventually win.
Despite having these remarkable structural similarities, both stories sound different because of their very unique settings and eras. You will find this in many other stories as well. Like “Finding Nemo” with “The Odyssey,” “The Lion King” with “Shakespeare’s Hamlet,” and “Pride and Prejudice” with “Clueless.”
Thus, the main ideas are always the same. The way you imagine them in your mind gives them a new look. You have to develop that creativity to become a creative writer.
Managalav Bros once said, “Everyone can write, but not everyone is a writer. What makes a difference is the keen eye for detail and beauty.”
It sounds tough, but believe me, writers are not born. They create this skill with time and proper methods, as I did.
10 Best ways to get nice ideas to write stories and poems
I was not even close to being a writer once. I was just reading a poem and got the idea of writing it differently. So I started working on it. But I was out of ideas after writing only two lines. To get more ideas, I read more poems and stories.
Eventually, I completed my first poem. That’s when I realized that I could become a professional writer if I could improve my creativity. So I researched how to get creative ideas to write stories and poems. Searched the internet, read books, and reviewed an online published review of aipoem-generator.com
I tried all the methods that I found anywhere. But not all of them helped me. What did, are here:
1. Read everything you find interesting
The thing that sparked my creativity was reading, and I recommend you start with that. I liked reading poems, so I read them a lot. You read whatever fascinates you. Short stories, novels, poems, etc.
Take Neil Gaiman, for example. His groundbreaking series “The Sandman” emerged from his extensive reading habits. His portrayal of Death as a friendly character came from reading P.L. Travers’ folk tales. And his storylines were influenced by everything from Greek mythology to Ray Bradbury’s horror stories.
Even Stan Lee says, “The only advice anybody can give is, if you wanna be a writer, keep writing. And read all you can; read everything.”
2. Experiment with “What If” scenarios
This is one of my favorite techniques. I ask, “What if?” to myself every time I read something. This allows me to break free from the storyline and create something out of the box.
Take Andy Weir’s “The Martian.” It all started with one simple question: “What if an astronaut got stranded on Mars?” From this single thought, Weir built layer upon layer of scenarios. Like what if he ran out of food? What if his habitat was damaged? Each new question added depth to the story. That created a scientifically accurate survival tale.
These small ideas get the whole outline by the snowflake method. In which you start with a little idea and start building plots and scenarios around it to complete the outline eventually. Just like water vapors gather around particles to form a snowflake.
I create alternate endings and different character personalities from the story. For poems, I try different synonyms and phrases. Even new poetic forms with the help of the AI poem maker. I just have to write my idea, and it creates different types of poems on that.
3. Start writing anonymously
When I started, the fear of being judged held me back. I couldn’t even imagine sharing my work with others. That’s when I decided to write anonymously. It was liberating! I could experiment with wild ideas, play with words, and test different writing styles without the fear of criticism.
Just like the Brontë sisters. They published their work under male pseudonyms in Victorian England. Women writers were not taken seriously in that era. Writing as the Bell brothers allowed them to write freely without facing immediate dismissal for being a woman author.
Start an anonymous blog or post your work on platforms like Reddit and Quora. You’ll be surprised to see your ideas after removing the pressure of being identified.
4. Reimagine a story idea that already exists
Remember how I mentioned earlier that most stories share similar plots? Well, reimagining an existing idea with a fresh perspective is great for creativity.
I used to flip story narratives, change the setting, swap character roles, etc. Like, what if Romeo and Juliet travel to the future? Or if Cinderella became the villain? The possibilities are endless.
Have you seen Megamind from DreamWorks? How creatively they made a hero out of a villain by narrating the story through a villain’s perspective. That’s what I always try to do. I give my unique perspectives to the online story writer and it writes story outlines on them. That I use to further imagine the tales.
5. Use personal experiences as a starting point
The most authentic stories and poems often come from personal experiences. You don’t have to write your autobiography. Just take an emotion, a moment, or a memory and let it inspire your work.
I used to think about significant moments in my life. Like joy, sadness, triumph, or even a simple observation that can easily transform my words into magic. Most of my stories and poems are built around them.
Even Maya Angelou did that. Her poem “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” was inspired by her getting mute as a child.
Try it, you’ll find that your best ideas often come from your own life.
6. Always keep a notebook along
Once I was walking at a park and saw a beautiful girl passing by me. I made some poetic verses in my head but forgot them coming back home. After that, I started keeping a notebook with me to write new ideas immediately. But I never saw her again.
One of the most linguistically rich novels, “Lolita,” came by this method. Yes, Vladimir Nabokov wrote it entirely on index cards he carried everywhere with him. He used to note down everything during his travels.
You can use a note-taking app on your phone. Write down phrases, ideas, or even random thoughts in a descriptive manner. You might not use them immediately, but they will spark creativity later.
7. Try different genres to get different ideas
I explored many genres to get outside of my comfort zone. It was like opening a door to new worlds. That is how I started writing short stories along with poems.
I read about Stephen King and his journey to write “The Dark Tower” series. He was famous for writing horror stories, but in this series, he blended all the famous genres of that time: dark fantasy, science fiction, western, and horror.
I followed him and started reading stories and novels. Got new or alternative ideas from them. Even repurposed my competitors’ content from Instagram in my own way. And I became a short story writer too.
If you’re into romance, try reading horror. If you love writing fantasy, experiment with crime fiction. You don’t have to master the genre. Just explore it to stretch your creative muscles.
8. Write in collaboration with others
I came across a person like me on social media once. He criticized my work and gave me some suggestions. I was upset, but his ideas were really great. I thought two creative minds are better than one. So I asked him to collaborate with me.
We created a YouTube channel together where he writes stories for children and I write poems for the stories.
Our partnership reminds me of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s remarkable collaboration on “Good Omens.” Back in 1990, instead of remaining competitors in the fantasy genre, they joined forces.
Pratchett discovered a flaw in the story Gaiman had written. Rather than criticizing it, he reached out to discuss how they could develop it together. Their distinct styles merged to create something neither could have achieved alone.
You should also find a writing buddy. Share ideas together. Sometimes, another person’s perspective leads you to ideas you’d never consider on your own.
9. Find stories in everyday life
Inspiration often hides in plain sight. I discovered this when I saw an old man feeding birds in the park. It was a simple scene, but it made me wonder: What if he used to come here with his late wife? What stories would this park hold for him? This tiny moment turned into a heartwarming poem I later wrote.
Mary Oliver, one of America’s most beloved poets, found inspiration for “Wild Geese” from simply watching birds in flight. Like the old man I observed in the park, Oliver saw the extraordinary in the ordinary.
So, look around you. Observe the people, nature, and even the chaos of daily life. Inspiration is everywhere. You just have to capture it and discover unique stories for a better experience..
10. Always believe that your work is in process
This is the most important lesson in your creative writing journey. The moment you think your writing is “perfect,” you’ll stop growing as a writer. I used to get frustrated when my first drafts didn’t turn out the way I imagined. But over time, I learned that writing is a process.
Ernest Hemingway famously said, “The first draft of anything is sh**.” That quote gave me the confidence to improve my imperfections.
One of my favorite poems took months to refine. I rewrote it so many times that I almost gave up. But I kept going until my work was done. Like T.S. Eliot, whose final draft for “The Waste Land” was half the size of his first draft.
So, don’t rush to perfection. Allow your ideas to evolve. Remember, a masterpiece is never written—it’s rewritten.
Conclusion
Every writer has a unique process of finding new ideas. It takes time to figure out what works for you. It involves exploring and experimenting with everything you find interesting.
You’ll have days when ideas flow like a river and others when you feel stuck. That’s normal. The key is to keep going. As I mentioned earlier, writers are not born. They are made through three Ps: practice, persistence, and patience.
Now it’s your turn. Pick a method that works for you and start creating. Your best story or poem is just one idea away.
