I bought a $300 'idea generation' software package that just gave me generic lists

It was a few years back, and I was stuck on a story. The ad promised unique, tailored prompts. I paid for the full version, but all it did was spit out things like 'a character finds a key' or 'write about a storm'. I could have gotten that from a free website. It felt like a real waste. Has anyone found a tool or method that actually helps break through a creative block?

3 comments

3 Comments

cora5181mo ago

Ugh, that's such a frustrating experience. I've totally fallen for similar promises before. Nathan's constraint idea is a solid, free alternative that actually works.

nathan9011mo ago

That "generic lists" problem is why I stopped looking for a magic software fix. What works for me is setting a dumb, simple constraint to force new angles. If a scene is flat, I'll write it only as text messages between the characters, or from the point of view of an object in the room. It breaks the routine. The goal isn't a good draft, it's just to shake something loose that you can use later.

iris9271mo ago

See this everywhere now, the promise of a quick fix sold in a shiny box. It happens with diet plans, productivity apps, even those courses that guarantee you'll learn a language in a month. They sell you the dream of skipping the hard, messy work. Nathan's got it right, the real solution is usually a simple, free trick that makes your own brain start moving again. The fancy tool just distracts you from doing the actual thing.