You’ve written a book (or two), maybe some short stories, and yet here you are again—staring at a blank page, the well of ideas feeling bone dry. Inspiration isn’t cooperating, and the usual tricks don’t seem to work. I know that place well.
One day, in the middle of my own creative drought, I found myself staring into a pantry filled with a hodgepodge of random shelf-stable food. No fresh ideas, but a bag of rice, a can of green beans, and a box of mac & cheese. It wasn’t much, but it was something. And from those humble, leftover ingredients, I cooked up a whole new story plot.
This article isn’t about magic solutions or forcing ideas. It’s about getting curious with what you already have—no matter how ordinary or uninspiring it might seem—and turning it into something unexpectedly rich.
Why Writers Run Out of Ideas (And How to Fix It)
Creative dry spells happen to everyone, even to those of us who have multiple books under our belt. It’s not that your imagination is broken; it’s often a symptom of overthinking, burnout, or the pressure to create something “worthy.”
Waiting for inspiration to strike rarely works. Instead, the best thing you can do is lower the stakes. Stop expecting the next story to be your masterpiece. Instead, play. Experiment. Get messy.
When you allow yourself to create without judgment, using whatever’s at hand—even a half-empty pantry—you open the door for unexpected ideas to emerge.
The 5-Ingredient Story Method: How to Use It
Here’s a simple, playful exercise you can try anytime:
- Pick 5 random objects — food, office supplies, things on your desk, whatever is nearby.
- Assign each object a story role:
- Main Character
- Setting
- Conflict
- Tone or Genre
- Plot Twist
- Combine the elements into a story idea — free-associate, build connections, and don’t overthink it.
Example: My Pantry Plot
Here’s how it went for me:
- Main Character: The bag of rice (almost empty, tired, barely holding together)
- Setting: A can of green beans (preserved, stale, a town stuck in time)
- Conflict: Diet Dr Pepper (craving something sweet but fake)
- Tone: Mac & cheese (nostalgic but processed; bittersweet slice-of-life)
- Plot Twist: Cocoa powder (looks rich but bitter—betrayal or harsh truth)
And just like that, I had a story about a burned-out woman trapped in a small town, chasing hollow dreams, until a dark secret comes to light.
Why This Works: Playfulness + Constraints
Using everyday objects as story prompts does two things:
- It forces creativity inside constraints, which paradoxically sparks originality.
- It shifts your focus from “perfect” to “possible.” You’re not hunting for the “right” idea—you’re playing with what’s in front of you.
Pantry Prompt List: Your Starter Pack
If you want to try this, here’s a list of weird and wonderful items you can use to spark ideas:
- A single sock in the freezer
- Expired cinnamon
- That one spoon that disappears and reappears
- A can of peas with the label half-ripped off
- A cracked coffee mug no one is allowed to throw away
- Three jellybeans in a Ziploc bag
- A jar of pickles with no pickles inside
- An unopened birthday card from someone you haven’t spoken to in years
- Instant oatmeal with mysterious fruit chunks
- A receipt for “one lemon and duct tape”
- Leftover gravy stored in a pasta sauce jar
- A takeout fortune that just says, “RUN.”
- A spoonful of peanut butter left on a Post-it note
- A box labeled “IMPORTANT” that’s completely empty
Try picking one or two, assign them story roles, and see what ideas bubble up!
Try It Yourself: Write Your Own 5-Item Story
Just grab 5 items out of your pantry, assign them a title, like main character, setting, tone or mood, secondary character etc… and go for it. Just write randomly and wild! You may be surprised at what you come up with.