Write Sprites

If you're feeling stuck on your WIP or big writing project, try writing about your WIP. Character boards, playlists, and other inspiration activities are great when motivation is low, but it's easy to use them as a way to procrastinate. Your allotted writing time should be spent primarily writing, even if you aren't writing your WIP.

Here are some prompts to try when the motivation to actually draft your novel dries up:

Write a scene for your WIP that will never be added to the manuscript. Maybe it's one or more of your characters living out a normal day. Maybe it's a happy memory your character has that will be alluded to in the draft but never shown. Maybe it explores your secondary characters independent from the plot. These are all great ways to further explore your characters/world/story in a way that won't fatigue you.

Write your own "fan fiction." Instead of just exploring your canon further like you did in the last prompt, throw your canon out the window this time and write your characters or world in a way that contradicts your WIP. Is Character A the hero while Character B is the villain? Write an AU where their roles are swapped. Is Character A in love with Character B? Write a story exploring a relationship with Character C instead. Explore the what-if scenarios of your characters and plot and see where it takes you!

Write at least 500 words describing one of your characters. You can make this purely physical, or you can also use this time to explore his mental/emotional traits, background, etc.

Write at least 500 words describing a setting from your WIP. Whether it's a planet, city, cul-de-sac, house, or even a single room, describe it using all five senses. Tell us details about it that the characters might not even know. Where did that scratch in the wallpaper come from? When was the house built and by whom? What does the cul-de-sac sound like on a nice summer day? What about a late autumn night? Where are all the best places to eat in the city? What does the terrain look like on the planet? What are its "special" places?

Write your entire WIP in under 5,000 words. What would your novel look like as a short story?