32 Places to Find Creative Writing Inspiration

💭 Reflective / Thoughtful

1. A Silent Retreat

A silent retreat is an excellent opportunity to relax your mind and come up with ideas. There are several reasons for this. When your subconscious is relaxed, it is more receptive to getting ideas. Some of them, of course, are not so great even with a bit of tweaking, but those bad ideas often lead to even better ones. So do not dismiss an idea you have as ridiculous right off the bat. Work with it and see what you can come up with. Another great reason to take a retreat for the purpose of idea generation is for prompting. You can, for instance, look at a tree or a hill and think to yourself how you can start your own story by adding these beautiful scenes of nature. Finding creative writing inspiration in nature is something that is achievable for any writer, whether a beginner or professional. So the next time you take that trip to a beautiful place, think of the advantages that can be gleaned by using your environment to infuse and imbue your writing.

2. A Chess Park

Back in the late 1980s, I frequented Washington Square Park in New York City. It’s a place where there are chess tables set up, inviting anyone to play a game either with your friend or any of the strangers who are often present in the park. Adjacent to New York University in Greenwich Village, it’s a place that was often fodder for writing inspiration back then. Not only was the park a beautiful place, but the academic ambience helped me to improve in various areas. I’d often go on afternoon Sundays, the day before I’d return to school, so my thoughts were often occupied by apprehension over homework. I used my time wisely, even taking notes from time to time between chess games. I wasn’t the best student, but I was among the most curious and hard-working, and I credit my trips to the park for helping me to realize the importance of effectively using one’s time, which important for writers.

3. A Closet

Yes, I know some of you may consider this a weird one, and I don’t recommend you ensconce yourself in your closet for hours on end if it’s only 3 by 4 ft. But a closet is being ideal place for idea generation. With no window or clutter to clean, they can block out distractions. You can usually find personal objects in a closet. It could be pairs of shoes or a motley of pants and shirts. These and other pieces of clothing can remind you of certain things. Some of you have closets that are much more spacious than that. If so, you can pull up a chair and a table and use the closet as your writing sanctuary in addition to a retreat whenever you find yourself in a pinch for ideas. Make sure you have adequate ventilation, and hydrate yourself while you brainstorm and/or write.

4. A Long-Forgotten Voicemail

Among the weird habits I have is listening to old voicemails. Why? I guess you can say I’m a bit of an nostalgic person. But listening to messages that I’ve gotten on my phone in the past has also given me ideas for stories that I’ve written. I also like to judge the messages that I received. You know how some folks say they like to monitor their calls via voicemail. Well, I do pretty much the same thing, but the only difference is, in my head I’m trying to think of what kind of person is on the other end. Is he shy, ambitious, or perhaps he seems a bit depressed. What could be going through that person’s head at the moment he left a message. The more I think about these things, the more ideas invade my brain space, and then I can sort through these ideas and find the one that suits me the best.

5. An Abandoned Building

No, I don’t suggest that you actually go inside the abandoned building. Not that there will be a ghost in there, but there are laws. The building may be abandoned but still belong to someone else. But if you are able to enter, do so, because that can help you to come up with ideas. The abandoned building can be a former hospital, residence, or school. Think to yourself, who lived in this place before it became deserted? What kinds of people were they? Why did the building become empty? Questions are the foundation for ideas. And an abandoned building can be an excellent place to visit so that you can come up with some of your best ideas.

6. A Botanical Garden or Arboretum

One of the best exercises to boost creative writing inspiration is to visit nature. A botanical garden is a great place as they’re filled with much beauty and variety in terms of the trees and flowers. It’s a relaxing environment as well, so as you stroll around you can take in the variety of foliage and ask yourself the pressing questions needed to overcome a creative block. One of the most beautiful places in New York City is Central Park’s garden. It sits right across my favorite museum, the Museum of the City of New York. The first time I visited the garden was on a school trip with my elementary class, and I’ve never lost my passion for the garden. It is not one of the biggest gardens that I’ve been to, but it always reminds me of the first time I visited, so that sense only adds to my sense of awe, which in turn infuses my writing with excitement whenever I come up with ideas wow enjoy the natural scene. As a bonus, the sense from the trees and flowers can help you to relax, and as we’ve already discovered in his post, being in a calm, quiet state is conducive to some of your best writing.

7. A Hospital Waiting Room

Many may not think of a hospital as the ideal place to write, but it can be for various reasons. First of all, humanity is on full display. You may hear a conversation or two among people concerning a patient that they love that is in the hospital for surgery. That is a tragic moment, and one that can hit at your core. But it is also fodder for idea generation. You may be writing a short story about someone who was just in an accident and is now in the hospital, and listening to what everybody is saying, you may yourself think of ways that your characters may react to a tragedy. A hospital is also a place where you can observe the facial reactions and body language of strangers. Hopefully, anyone that you’re observing is not going through tragic times but if they are you can use their travails as inspiration for how the human condition, despite whatever adversity it may face in life, still has the capacity to overcome these bad times to face the better moments ahead.

🌀 Overstimulated / Chaotic / Charged

8. A Tech Support Call

A tech support call can expose you to new ways of solving problems. How many times have you been helped by someone on the other end, and you thought the service was so spectacular, that you would hire him in a heartbeat? It’s happened to me many times. I tend to think about such calls, and what it is about the agent that I really liked. Sometimes they inspire me so much that I’ll think about the call for about ten minutes after I hung up. Granted, some of these agent made me feel a bit dumb for not knowing some basic stuff about the issue. The lesson in many of these cases is that there are many people much smarter than us in various areas, and that it’s a blessing competent employees are there to help us with our problems. Smart people like this cause me to aspire to greater knowlege in my own areas of interest. I also learned that collaboration can lead to the best solutions, and that learning never stops.

9. A Public Protest or Demonstration

Several years ago, I visited Seattle. This was my second time in emerald city. I love the place not only because because it’s beautiful, but also because it is diverse. I also met quite a few educated people in the city, and my conversations with these types of folk have helped my writing. While I was there, I observed a number of protests. I would enjoy looking at the signs people wrote and photographed a few. I also got to do a lot of people-watching during these demonstrations. There were people from all over the world expressing their dissatisfaction in something. And I would ask myself often questions such as, what kinds of people attend these demonstrations? Do they really believe in their hearts that they can make a difference? The fact of the matter is, these moments watching these demonstrations helped to fuel my imagination.

10. A Food Bank or Soup Kitchen

Food banks are often filled with a variety of people. You’ve got the needy and those helping them, and you also have other volunteers. It’s moments like these that instill within me hope in humanity that a fellow man is willing to take care of someone he doesn’t even know well. These moments of humanity have given me ideas for short stories. I also enjoy listening to the conversations at these places. A lot of people are in an unfortunate situation, you learn, but within them rings a sense of hope and pride that times will be better. It also endears me to these types of organizations, and makes me ask: what is it within a person who’s doing better than his fellow brother to take out of his time to help feed them or give them job information. This hope encourages me and makes me think that despite the troubles we have in the world, there are still a lot of good people.

11. A Courthouse or Small Claims Court

In a courtroom, humanity is often not at its best. Even when someone, for instance, is expecting to get a large sum of money, on the other end there is a litigant who has lost. In the United States, citizens are allowed to attend court cases as a visitor. If you’re a writer or other creative, and go to one of these events, then you’ve got the chance to listen to both sides of a story, likely unfortunate, and then you can make up your own mind about who’s guilty and who’s not. But the main idea is, you’ll encounter people in a different environment and you can learn a lot about others and how they react to not-so-great situations.

12. A Supermarket

Most any of us visit the supermarket, and if you’re creative, this is a great place to be. From the produce to the employees, you’re surrounded by a wealth of things and folks that can encourage you to ask questions. As you walk around the supermarket, you’ll likely touch a few products. This can be a good time for you to get the feel for the products. I like to feed my eyes with the fruits and vegetables. I like to take in the colors and sense of that section. If I’m stuck for an idea, then I want to be able to relax as much as possible. For some, shopping can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Take in as much as you can and ask questions of not only the products but the people you see shopping around you.

13. A Bus Stop in a Busy Neighborhood

A bus stop can be an excellent place to observe people and their conversations. I like to brainstorm as much as I can at bus stops. Not only am I surrounded by people waiting for the bus, but I see the cars go by and the people in them and even of those things I ask myself questions. And the questions do not have to be all sensical. Do what makes sense to you. Ask questions that a five-year-old may ask but that still help you to learn more about people and their situations. Who is the person seated next to you. You may be shy and not want to introduce yourself. But you can imagine what kind of person he or she is while trying to come up with ideas. So do not underestimate the value of sitting at a bus stop and its potential for idea generation.

14. The Backseat of a Rideshare

🎨 Creative / Artistic / Offbeat

15. A Mural with Graffiti

Using urban settings for creative writing inspiration is something that every creative should take advantage of. Depending on which part of the country you reside in, graffiti may or may not be a common scene. Why not then look through photos of graffiti in a book or a film? Graffiti, like all art, is introspective. When you look at a piece of graffiti, you’re looking at something created by an artist who had the same challenges and issues as we all do. Try to closely examine a piece of art you’ve seen and imagine what kind of person the artist was. What was he or she trying to express in their art? In New York City, particularly in the 1980s, graffiti was a common sight. Unfortunately, much of it was in unauthorized places. But doesn’t make it any less artistic. You’d be surprised at what inspiration you can get from looking at a piece of graffiti.

16. A Street Performance

The gentle echo of a violin as it floats through a city square, or an adroit juggler entrancing a crowd can offer inspiration as a writer. Passersby can also give you ideas. You can watch the crowd and imagine the stories behind their faces—their dreams, struggles, and hope—and churn out creative work based on their glimpses. The street entertainer himself will likely cause you to think about certain things. Perhaps he’ll remind you of one of your friends or family members. Or his skills or so wonderful, that you’ll decide to create a character in a story based entirely on him. I was in Portugal eleven years ago, and one of the most amazing experiences.I had was watching the buskers in the capital. At around this time, I’d begun composing a story, and decided to use a performer performing tricks with large bubbles as a character. So next time you’re in a large city somewhere in the world and you see someone performing in the street, make sure you stop and observe. That musician or artist just might end up being a character in your fiction.

17. A Cultural Festival

Speaking of culture, a festival where various nationalities are represented is also a good place to draw writing inspiration. Like travel, being in one of these places can help you see that your different. I like cultural festivals just as much as traveling because you get to have everything in one place. So whether it’s a food festival or book event or any other type of occasion, you get to see that despite the differences, we are much more similar than one would think. When you do go to a cultural festival, walk around and ask yourself, how is this food different from my own? Listen to the languages being spoken. How do they sound? Are they just as melodic as your own language, with a preponderance of vowels like in Italian or Spanish, or are they rich in consonants and sound a bit more serious? What kinds of people are at these events? Are they mostly foreigners or natives of your own country? Questions like these can help you in terms of idea generation for your own writing.

18. A Recipe Comment Section

I enjoy reading the comments right under recipes on blogs and in books, whether written by the author or by readers. Sometimes I’ll get an idea for a word based on something that someone has said. For instance, they might use the word delectable to describe a piece of cake. I didn’t ask myself, what other synonyms can I use to describe something that is delicious, and I’ll try to come up with at least 10 synonyms. Food requires immersion of one’s senses, which means most who describe a favorite dish will use many adjectives and/or verbs. Take these words and see how many of your own you can come up with that express the same idea.

19. A Neighborhood Facebook Group

Facebook groups are great for a number of reasons. One of them is, you get to meet many people with the same interests as yourself. Quite a few of these groups will invite you to comment on a post. I like reading through these posts, not only the post itself, but also the comments, to see what others have to say. Then, I will wait for a reaction. Sometimes the other person will state something that I did not expect. But then that fuels my imagination and gets me to think about how others, even when interested in the same subject, can feel very differently about it. So you’ll know that people are different even if you share the same hobby. I even learned a few things I hadn’t known. And the more you learn about a subject, the more interesting your writing will be when you describe it.

20. A Community Bulletin Board in a Grocery Store

💬 Conversational / Quirky

21. An Overheard Conversation in an Elevator

An elevator can be an excellent place for deriving inspiration for your creative work. Many times we’re alone in an elevator and, depending on how far up or down you’ll have to go, this will give you ample time to think about ideas. But it is often the case that we find ourselves with others in an elevator. Use this opportunity to observe people around you. Or you can start talking to someone, and from those conversations, ideas will come alive. Some of us take the elevator every day, so for most of us, there really is no excuse for not using the time a lot. It on your way up or down to do the things that can call forth your muse.

22. A Diner

A diner is a great place to be if you’re looking to get some inspiration for your writing. The variety of people will help to fuel your imagination. You’re also surrounded by food and the scent will invade you. I myself like to come up with ideas just after smelling something. Now, mind you, my favorite orders are pleasant ones, but even in places such as the New York City subway, where some things can be malodorous, I come up with ideas. In a diner, as long as you’re subtle about people-watching, you can start coming up with the questions about the personalities of people that will help you to think more deeply about life’s major questions. Ask yourself, how does that person seem to you that’s seated across on the other far end of the diner. Maybe you see someone eating alone. Ask yourself, does he enjoy eating by himself, and what could have transpired, if anything, to have him come alone. Maybe there are people that you’ve seen in your other trips to the diner. Ask yourself, are they frequent customers? Do they prefer to eat at diners as opposed to home? Questions will inevitably come up, and think about each one, so that your mind gets as many ideas as possible.

23. A Farmers Market

Visiting a farmer’s market is a great experience, especially if you love food. The last time I was at such an event was in New Mexico. I got to see things I’ve never seen before, such as rare fruits and vegetables. You also get a chance to do some people watching. And of course there are the scents of the produce. You can relax at these places as you take a walk around. Walking is great for idea generation, so this is a bonus.

24. A Hotel Lobby

Most of us have spent a lot of time in hotel lobbies somewhere in the world, and during this time we most likely got to see people coming in and going out. A few of these will check in, giving you some time to observe them. I like to use the time at hotel lobbies when I’m waiting to observe people and to think of ideas. And if you’re a creative, I encourage you too to do so too.

25. A Laundromat

Some years ago, I was at a laundromat and while my clothes were drying, I met someone who, it turns out, was an attorney. I didn’t initially think he was a lawyer, but then we got into a conversation, and he gradually revealed to me that he was unhappy with his job. Now I’m not saying that attorneys are generally unhappy, only that in his particular situation he was not. We got into a long conversation, and the time flew by so quickly. I think that being in the laundromat can offer you the opportunity to generate good ideas provided that there’s someone else for you to talk with. I generally have not gotten any great ideas while washing my clothes alone at a laundromat, but your situation could be different. The bottom line is, some can use time while washing clothes to find a conversation partner or to think deeply about whatever questions that have been nagging them or projects that they’re thinking of creating while they sit idly.

26. A Neighborhood Block Party

I grew up in New York City in the 1970s and ’80s. I can remember a time when block parties were a common sight. Somehow, they seem to have disappeared, but in cities where they exist, this can be a great time to visit and take in their environment. Walking, as I have already mentioned, is a powerful way to generate ideas. You will also have the chance to do some people watching. Another advantage is that at these parties, you quite often have music, and this can help you relax. Music is great for creativity. While walking through one of these events, you may hear a tune that revives a long lost memory, or suddenly be the spark to an idea that, later refined, becomes brilliant and original.

27. A Garage Sale or Estate Sale

A garage or estate sale is one of my favorite places to spend time as a creative. Like at an auction, every single item has a past. They were owned by someone else, and if objects could talk, then each would certainly has a story to tell. You’ll also often hear fragments of conversations from both patrons and owners about the objects for sale. Someone may ask the owner of an object about what they’re selling and why, and you can listen to a lengthy if not somewhat nostalgic response. This might elicit a response from you, or you may remain quiet and continue to listen to the talk, imagining how it would be for your own self to get rid of objects that is our dear to you. Or you might see an unusual item, one that you hadn’t encountered before, and wonder about its purpose. Such curiosity can be the fuel for generating ideas. So whether as a buyer or seller or merely an observer, being at one of these events can help awaken and provide you with fresh ideas for your writing or any other type of creative endeavour.

28. The Lost & Found Section of Craigslist

🧊 Lonely / Isolated / Quiet

29. A Park Bench

A park bench is one of my favorite places to sit whenever I’m stuck with ideas. Like botanical gardens, parks are the place to be to take in nature while you try to come up with ideas. But sitting on a park bench is a bit different in the sense that it’s more passive. Yes, you’re people-watching, but you’re more focused on generating ideas from within. Also, whenever I take in my surroundings from a park bench, I like to take a notebook and pen with me to jot down ideas, whereas at a botanical garden, I’m strolling for most of the time. So each has its advantages, but none is better than the other. You may have a preference, however, and if so, that’s okay. If you find that sitting at a park bench with a notebook and pen can help you generate better ideas, than you would at a botanical garden, then consider going to the park more often. The goal should be to find the places that work best for you.

30. An Auction House

An auction house is a dynamic setting for creatives, as it pulsates with energy, competition, and myriad stories, with each and every item carrying a past. The bidders themselves also often are rich in story. Then you’ve got the fast-paced atmosphere. The contrast between wealth and desperation is often evident. Being in this environment can surely help you come up with narratives that are full of intrigue.

31. An Elevator

An elevator is also a powerful setting for creatives. Oftentimes, you’ll be forced into conversations. Other times, you’ll meet people who you know well and whom you see everyday. If it’s an elevator in the building where you reside, then you’ll likely have interactions that will seem right after a while, because you’ll likely repeat what you said before. Other times, you’ll see strangers. If you take an elevator to your office where you work, the people that you’ll meet will also be diverse, giving you the opportunity to talk about work and/or current events. Weather is often the topic of conversation among people in elevators. From these talks, other ideas may spawn. For instance, I was once talking to a colleague in an elevator about the vicious snowstorm in New York City. Later on, this got me to thinking about a story that I always wanted to write about, and I included in inclement snow storm in it, which help to propel the tale from a simple one to something a bit more interesting.

32. A Local Animal Shelter