We all know the feeling: You want to write. You plan to write. You even talk about writing. But when it’s time to sit down and get words on the page, suddenly everything feels harder than it should be. The inspiration is missing. The energy is low. The inner critic is loud.

But if you’re serious about your writing goals—whether you’re working on a book, blogging consistently, or growing a writing practice—you need strategies that help you write even when you don’t “feel like it.” That’s because writing consistently isn’t about waiting for inspiration. It’s about creating conditions that make inspiration more likely—and learning how to show up even when it doesn’t.

Here are some practical tips to help you stay inspired and push through on the days when inspiration is nowhere to be found.

The See Jane Write November Writing Challenge begins today! We’re writing every day for 30 days. We’re doing this Choose Your Own Adventure style, and you can do one of the following:

Steady Scribbler: 200 words/day (last year’s pace)

Bold Builder: 300 words/day (the official pace)

Page Turner: 500 words/day (for the overachievers)

Joyful Journaler: Journal every day for 15 minutes.

You can learn more about the challenge and officially sign up HERE.

See Jane Write is a community for multi-passionate writers. So participants may be working on novels, short stories, essays, blog posts or journal entries. So our prompts for the challenge are two-word prompts meant to spark an idea that you can just run with in any way you’d like.

Editor’s Note: See Jane Write publishes guest articles by writers who identify as women, non-binary folks, and our allies. Learn more here.

By: Savannah Cordova

Writing rarely comes easily. More often than not, you’re left swirling half-formed ideas in your mind, unsure of how to shape them into something meaningful. And then there are the days when you feel like you have absolutely nothing to say (which must mean your life is incredibly boring, right? Yikes!).

One way to break through that creative fog is to use writing prompts — specific questions or cues to steer your writing in a new direction. When used intentionally, prompts can surface long-forgotten memories, help you build a steady journaling habit, or even spark entire novels!

Whether you’re writing a blog or a book, these five strategies will show you how to turn a simple prompt into a reliable source of creativity.

Today I’m sharing 31 writing prompts for May to help guide your daily writing practice this month.

When I think of May, I always think of the word “commencement” and not just because of the graduation caps flying through the air. As flowers bloom and the days grow warmer, longer, and brighter, it feels like the start of something new. May invites reflection, renewal, and a fresh perspective. Whether you’re journaling, writing essays, or working on a big project like a book or new blog, the theme of commencement and new beginnings is the perfect spark for your creativity this season.

These prompts are perfect for personal growth, storytelling, or preparing for a new season in your life. They’re also ideal if you’re looking for spring writing prompts, summer-themed writing ideas, or journal prompts about fresh starts.