What’s the best way to get clarity on what I should be writing about?

What if the answer is already within you?

That might sound a little mystical—but hang with me.

When I’m not sure what to write, my thoughts start to swirl like a hallway full of doors, each one slightly open, each one whispering for attention. It’s tempting to stand there, paralyzed, hoping one of them will reveal the perfect topic.

But here’s what I’ve learned: Clarity doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from walking in.

For me, it starts with writing. Not perfectly. Not profoundly. Just… writing. A walk with my phone in hand. A phrase in my notes app. A voice memo with no clear destination. But as I move, something inside me begins to unlock.

It’s like I’m wandering the halls of my Idea Mansion—room by room—opening windows, brushing off dust, and noticing what’s been waiting there all along.

Sometimes I stumble into a half-furnished space—just a photo of a playground, or a line from a podcast—and suddenly I realize, this room has potential. I just didn’t see it until I stepped inside.

That’s how I’ve learned to write from within:

• I follow the scent of a quote.

• I pause at a tree stump that reminds me of something deeper.

• I snap a picture, then ask, Why did this matter to me?

Those small questions are like blueprints for new rooms—spaces I didn’t know I was building until they began to take shape.

And as I furnish them with reflections, metaphors, and connections to what I already know, they become more than notes—they become living spaces. Rooms where I can think, explore, and eventually invite others in.

Here are two ways I open new doors when I’m feeling stuck:

1. Start with Someone Else’s Mirror
Find a quote that stirs you. Go for a walk. Let it bounce around in your brain. What is it poking at inside you? What story is it trying to tell through your experience?

2. Follow What Catches Your Eye
Take a picture of something that pulls you in. Don’t just admire it—interrogate it gently. What does it remind you of? Why this, not that? Look it up, chase its history, or just sit with it. See where the trail leads.

If you're unsure what to write, don’t panic. Don’t hunt for the biggest, boldest idea. Just pick a room. Step inside. Rearrange the furniture. Add a lamp of curiosity, maybe a rug of resonance. See what begins to echo.

Eventually, you’ll find that the space you were searching for isn’t out there.
It’s already yours.

You’re just learning how to live in it.

Need help finding your rooms?
Check out The Idea Mansion—a simple way to organize your thoughts, explore old sparks, and build a creative space you actually want to live in.