Let’s be honest, writer’s block is the absolute worst. That moment when you stare at a blank page, the cursor blinking like it’s mocking you, and the words just don’t come.
It happens to all of us. The words dry up, your muse goes on strike, and suddenly the cat or the laundry seems way more interesting than your manuscript.
But here’s where AI swoops in to save the day like a caffeinated, overly helpful writing buddy who never runs out of ideas. Whether you need fresh prompts, help fixing a sticky plot, or a nudge to keep your story moving, AI tools can help you skip over the roadblocks and get back to what you do best: telling your story.
Let’s talk about 5 ways AI can help you out of a writer’s block spiral and make the blank page a little less scary.
1. AI Is the Brainstorming Buddy You Always Needed
You know those days when your brain is as empty as the fridge at midnight? AI can step in to get the creativity flowing again.
Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Mistral can suggest premises, characters, spitball plot twists, or help you dive deeper into a scene idea. All you have to do is feed the tool a little context, and boom—ideas for days. Whether it’s brainstorming opening lines, mapping out new story directions, or even playing with unconventional ideas, AI helps you find that spark you need to get started.
Example Prompt:
Prompt: Create a unique story hook, premise, and summary, including genre, key tropes, setting, and core conflict for a small town Christmas romance.
Result:
Title: The Snowfall Promise
Genre:
Small-Town Christmas Romance, Contemporary
Tropes:
Second Chances
Grumpy/Sunshine
Return to Hometown
Found Family
Holiday Magic
Setting:
Snowy Pine Haven, a charming small town nestled in the Colorado Rockies, where every shop glows with holiday cheer, annual traditions are sacred, and rumors travel faster than Santa’s sleigh.
Hook:
When a disgraced travel photographer reluctantly returns to her picturesque hometown for Christmas, the last thing she expects is to rekindle a spark with her childhood best friend—the now brooding, rugged town handyman—while uncovering a decades-old mystery that could save Pine Haven’s beloved Christmas festival.
Premise:
Lena Frost vowed never to return to Pine Haven after a humiliating scandal shattered her rising career. But when her mother insists on her presence for one last "perfect family Christmas" before selling their childhood home, Lena has no choice but to pack up her pride and face the people who judged her.
Cole Bennett, Pine Haven's unofficial handyman, didn’t just lose his best friend when Lena left—he lost the one person who truly believed in him. Now gruff, guarded, and avoiding mistletoe at all costs, Cole is stuck in a half-life repairing everyone else’s problems while ignoring his own.
When Pine Haven’s beloved Christmas festival faces ruin due to a financial shortfall and a series of suspicious accidents, Lena and Cole are reluctantly thrown together to save the day. Lena sees this as her chance to fix her reputation by photographing and promoting the town’s magical charm, while Cole sees only more chaos and heartache.
As Lena unearths forgotten secrets about Pine Haven’s history—hidden letters, an old lovers’ mystery, and a legacy of holiday miracles—she and Cole must work side by side, rediscovering the friendship (and unspoken feelings) they thought they’d buried years ago.
But as Christmas Eve approaches and the truth behind the accidents is revealed, Lena and Cole must decide: can they leave the past behind and build something new, or will they let Pine Haven—and their second chance at love—slip away like snowflakes on the wind?
Core Conflict:
Lena and Cole are both running from unresolved wounds—Lena from her public disgrace, and Cole from his abandonment issues and broken trust. While solving the town’s Christmas festival crisis forces them together, their insecurities threaten to tear them apart again. At the heart of the story is the question: Can love heal what pride and time broke?
Why It’s Unique:
Combining a cozy holiday setting with a small-town mystery subplot, The Snowfall Promise balances lighthearted Christmas traditions and deeper emotional stakes. Readers will be swept up in the charm of Pine Haven’s holiday festivities, intrigued by the town’s forgotten love story, and invested in Lena and Cole’s journey toward healing, forgiveness, and a love strong enough to weather any storm.
Prompt: Your main character finds a note that says, ‘Meet me at midnight. Come alone.’ Who left it? Why? And what happens if they go?
Result: If the main character finds a note that says, "Meet me at midnight. Come alone," the possibilities are endless, but here’s a compelling starting point:
Who Left the Note?
The note was left by a mysterious figure from the main character’s past—someone they believed was gone forever. This could be:
An Ex-Lover: A figure of unresolved love or betrayal who disappeared years ago without explanation. Perhaps they were presumed dead, or they ran off under suspicious circumstances.
A Supernatural Entity: If you’re in the paranormal romance genre, the note’s author could be a ghost, vampire, or fae—someone who exists on the fringes of the mortal world and has been watching the main character for reasons unknown.
A Secret Ally or Rival: A former friend-turned-enemy, or someone who has been working behind the scenes to protect—or manipulate—them.
Why Was the Note Left?
The sender has an urgent and dangerous reason to meet the main character in secret:
A Hidden Truth or Revelation: They know something critical about the main character’s life—something that will change everything. A secret about the character’s past, a hidden power, or an imminent danger.
A Plea for Help: The sender is in danger and believes the main character is their only hope. But why? And can they be trusted?
An Ominous Warning: Midnight represents the start of something dark—perhaps a curse, a betrayal, or an event that must be stopped.
A Love Rekindled: If this is a romantic twist, the sender may be seeking a final chance to explain, make amends, or reignite a passion that never truly died.
What Happens If They Go?
If the main character goes to the meeting spot at midnight, here’s what might unfold:
An Unexpected Encounter: The meeting place—an abandoned park, a dark forest clearing, or an empty mansion—is cloaked in mystery. The sender emerges, their face hidden in shadow. Tension crackles as the main character demands answers.
A Dangerous Truth Revealed: The sender confesses a startling truth—perhaps the main character’s life is in danger, a powerful villain is targeting them, or they are the key to preventing a looming catastrophe.
Supernatural Intrigue: The midnight meeting triggers something extraordinary—a portal opens, a curse activates, or an ancient blood bond is revealed. It’s no longer just a meeting; it’s the beginning of a journey.
A Romantic Twist: The sender steps into the moonlight, and the air becomes charged with chemistry. Secrets come to light, and the main character faces a choice—walk away from their past or take a leap of faith into a dangerous but irresistible love.
A Betrayal or Trap: If the main character was warned to “come alone,” it could be a setup. Someone they trusted might be watching in the shadows, ready to strike. What if the sender was forced to leave the note under duress?
What Happens If They Don’t Go?
The consequences of ignoring the note could be just as intense. Maybe the sender appears in their home the next day, furious and out of options. Or perhaps something terrible happens at midnight elsewhere, and the main character was meant to prevent it.
This scenario opens doors for suspense, romantic tension, and the possibility of dangerous secrets. A midnight meeting always promises drama—and a turning point the main character can’t ignore.
It’s like having someone throw ideas at you without judgment, reminding you that creativity isn’t about being perfect—it’s about getting started.
Pro Tip: Be specific when you ask AI for help. The more details you give, the better the responses.
2. AI Helps You Fix Pesky Plot Holes
Raise your hand if you’ve ever reached the middle of your book and thought, “Wait. How did we get here, and where the hell are we going?”
Plot holes are sneaky little beasts, and sometimes you’re too deep in your story to spot them clearly. AI tools can help by outlining logical next steps, suggesting transitions, or mapping out story beats so you can see the big picture again. Whether you’re brainstorming subplots to liven up a sagging middle or tackling the tricky transitions between action scenes, AI makes it easier to keep the story moving.
It’s like handing your plot to a slightly nerdy writing assistant who’s great at puzzles.
Example Prompt:
Prompt: Read the chapters above and identify any plot holes and unfulfilled threads for x genre.
3. Snappy, Natural Dialogue? AI’s Got You
Let’s be real, writing good dialogue is hard. Some days it sounds like Shakespeare threw a tantrum on the page; other days, it’s flatter than yesterday’s soda.
AI tools can help you punch it up. They can suggest variations, help you refine tone, and even simulate conversations to keep your characters sounding real (and like themselves). They can also help if your block comes from trying to write dialogue for tricky moments, like humor or emotionally charged exchanges. Sometimes, the fresh perspective is all you need.
My personal favorite prompt for fixing dialogue came from one of Elizabeth Ann West’s Mastermind labs. Now I use this as a base prompt and tweak it to suit the particular book or scene :
Fix the dialogue so that each line is unique to the characterisation of X and Y. Make this come alive with humorous details. These characters will not answer each other tit for tat. If one asks a question, the other might respond with a question. And anywhere you are vague like "Yeah, it sounds amazing," no, sir. Be specific.
With LLMs, it’s about telling it what you want in a positive way. The more a word is repeated, the more it focuses on that word. When you prompt negatively, it completely glosses over the do not, don’t and avoid, focusing on the thing you’re telling it not to do instead.
So if you want unattributed dialogue:
Prompt: <give it the lines you want it to rewrite> The dialogue should be unattributed or denoted with action beats that give the reader an idea of what the speaking character is doing. If you must use a dialogue tag, they should be x, y, z only. Rewrite the dialogue above.
4. Brainstorm what comes next
So, you’ve written yourself into a corner. Maybe your characters are mid-conversation, maybe you’re staring at the middle of your plot wondering what on earth happens next, or maybe you just need that thing—the next event, the next line, the next spark—to propel the story forward.
This is where AI tools really shine. You can ask them to suggest what happens next based on where you’ve left off. It’s like shaking the snow globe of your story and seeing what patterns emerge. Even if you’re not feeling motivated to write, AI can help you push through by sparking excitement or presenting ideas that reignite your enthusiasm for the project.
For example:
Prompt: Here’s what I’ve written so far: [Insert scene]. What happens next? Provide 3-5 suggestions that add tension, deepen character relationships, or move the plot forward.
Result:
A Conflict Escalates: One of the characters says something they immediately regret—an accusation or revelation that changes the stakes of the conversation.
“You think I don’t know what you’ve been hiding? That letter? The one you didn’t want me to see?”
A New Clue Appears: Someone arrives or something unexpected happens that shifts the focus of the scene—a knock on the door, a phone call, a forgotten letter falling out of a pocket.
The doorbell rings. It’s 11 p.m. No one they know would visit this late…
Character Action (or Inaction): A key decision is made—whether it’s running away, storming out, or confessing a long-held secret.
“I can’t do this anymore,” she said, grabbing her keys and walking toward the door. “Don’t follow me.”
A Twist You Didn’t Expect: Introduce an event or action that upends everything. A storm knocks out power, a mysterious figure is watching them, or they discover something about themselves they didn’t realize before.
The lights flicker and die. Outside, there’s nothing but shadows… and a pair of headlights slowly approaching.
A Quiet Beat with High Emotional Weight: Sometimes, the “next thing” isn’t about big action. It’s a moment of stillness that reveals something deeper about the characters.
“I don’t hate you,” he said quietly, looking at the floor. “I never did. I just didn’t know how to say it back then.”
Sometimes all you need is a spark to figure out what comes next. You don’t have to use the LLM’s response. Sometimes it gives you the nudge you need and it’s perfect, but sometimes it pushes you in a new direction you hadn’t previously considered.
5. AI Brings Your World to Life
Sometimes, writer’s block isn’t about the what. It’s about the how. You know what needs to happen in your story, but the words to bring it alive on the page feel out of reach. Enter AI, your secret weapon for crafting immersive, vivid descriptions.
Whether you’re struggling to paint the perfect picture of a stormy night, make a character’s emotions tangible, or capture the hum of a bustling city street, AI can help you find the words to transport your readers. By generating sensory-rich descriptions, offering unique metaphors, or simply sparking fresh ideas, AI takes your story from flat to unforgettable.
Example Prompt:
Prompt: Using simple language, help me describe a bustling marketplace in a fantasy city. Include sensory details like sights, sounds, smells, and textures.
Pro Tip: Let AI handle the heavy lifting for those descriptive paragraphs, then tweak its suggestions to match your unique voice and style.
The Bottom Line: AI Won’t Replace You—It’ll Empower You
Here’s the truth: AI isn’t magic. It doesn’t replace your creativity. Instead, it’s a tool—a helpful writing sidekick that shows up when you’re stuck, out of ideas, or just need a little help to move forward.
It can’t feel the emotions behind your story, but it can give you the push you need to get those words out of your head and onto the page.
It’s only as good as the writer controling it. You still need to develop your craft. Language is key with AI and if you don’t have the language to communicate with it (language you learn from the craft), then you’re going to struggle to build efficient prompts.
So the next time you feel like your creativity has gone on strike, let AI step in and help you brainstorm, fix, and flow your way back into the zone.
Who knows? It might just become your new favorite writing buddy.
Ready to Take AI for a Spin?
If you’re curious about how AI can transform your writing, we’ve got you covered! Start with our FREE AI Basics Course—perfect for anyone new to AI-powered writing tools.
When you’re ready to dive deeper, check out our beginner-friendly classes, like How to Prompt AI for Fiction Writing and How to Write a Novella with AI, designed to help you master the craft while leveraging AI.
Looking for something more advanced or specific? Explore our growing library of standalone classes tailored to authors at every stage of their journey.
AI is here to empower your creativity, and we’ll show you how to make the most of it.