Do you have writer's block? Are you stuck on a certain scene? Or are you
unsure of what you should write next? Are you desperate for some inspiration?
All of this is very common for all writers--especially me!--so don't be
alarmed. I tried to put together a list of things that help me get
"unstuck", if you will, so that I can come back to them later when I
need some inspiration.
Hopefully this will help any of you fellow writers who are experiencing the
dreaded writer's block.
1.) Set a Goal
Sometimes it helps to tell yourself, "I have to get 'x' amount of
words written in 'x' amount of time." That way you'll feel some pressure
and hopefully be motivated by that. A good goal to start out with that isn't
too difficult to achieve but still gets your fingers typing is 1000 words in 30
minutes. If this is too easy or too difficult for you, feel free to adjust it
accordingly.
2.) Just Write
If you're stuck on a particular scene, don't know what to write next, or
just want to get your words flowing, there is a solution. Open a new document
or grab some paper and write. I know it sounds obvious, but I can't tell
you how many times I've just wanted to write while being stuck on a
specific part of my current book. It really does help to just write--write
anything you want. Write down your thoughts, a list of quotes from your
favorite book, the lyrics to your favorite song, what you want for Christmas. .
. anything that gets your creative juices flowing.
3.) Push Past the Pain
Oftentimes our blocks are caused by not wanting to write a certain scene.
You feel me, right? If it's a bad block and you can't seem to get past it, no
matter how hard you try, then it's all right to take a break and write
something else. But sometimes it's just laziness. Sometimes when I find myself
faced with a scene that needs a lot of careful planning or one that doesn't
involve as much action, I just want to close my laptop and go do something
else. This, however, is pretty much the worst thing you can do. Because the
next time you're in the mood for writing, you'll most likely take one look at
the "boring" scene that you couldn't get past in your last writing
session, and you'll think, "Oh. . . I'll do this some other time."
(And usually you won't.)
The best thing that you can do is just write that scene. It's one
thing if your head is empty and you just want to bang it on the wall; now
that's when it's perfectly okay to take a break. But if you know that you're
putting off that scene out of laziness, you need to write it! Push past the
pain, the I-don't-want-to-do-this, and just get it done.
You'll hate me now but thank me later.
4.) Go Places
When I feel stuck, staring at my bedroom wall doesn't inspire me, and
neither will the place where you do most of your writing. Now I'm not talking
about anything extravagant, like traveling to another country, although that
certainly wouldn't hurt. I mean take your writing and go anywhere: the
grocery store, the post office, a coffee shop. You'll see different things
there and you'll see some people there, too. You might even find yourself
writing a character that looks like your waitress, or weaving a simple
conversation you overheard into your dialogue.
5.) Organize Your Room
If you don't have the chance to change up your scenery, it might do you
some good to organize your room. Rearrange the books on your shelf; move some
furniture around; display a collection on your nightstand. I'm not really sure
why, but this really inspires me to get writing.
6.) Clear Your Mind
Anxiety is mainly what stops me from writing. If I'm worrying about
something or there's a lot of noise going on in the house, I won't get far with
my writing. It helps me to find somewhere quiet where I know I won't be
disturbed, then pray, write down my thoughts, and try to clear my mind.
7.) Go for a Walk
As I said before, a change of scenery is nice, whether you decide to take
your writing with you or not. Sometimes when I need a break from my writing I
take a walk in the woods, and I spend that time taking in my surroundings--just
searching for inspiration, I guess. The fresh air truly does do you some good,
though--give it a try.
8.) Be Alone
Even if the house is completely quiet, or if I have earbuds in, sometimes I
just can't focus knowing that there are other people in the house. Strange,
isn't it? I just have to be completely focused when I write. I think I get the
most writing done either late at night, or when I'm alone in the house. So grab
your computer, crank up your music (if necessary, buy a Bluetooth speaker), and
get it done.
9.) Write Every Day
If you don't necessarily have writer's block and just want to feel more
inspired, there's a solution. Keep a journal and try to write in it every day.
Write your hopes, dreams, fears, aspirations, ideas, observations. . . you name
it. If it's on your mind, write it in your journal. I've heard a lot of people
say that writing every day makes you a better writer. I try to write in my
journal every day (but I don't always get around to it), and although I'm not
sure that I see a huge difference, I really enjoy it. It helps me feel more
inspired.
10.) Stay Up Late
This is probably a terrible thing to encourage other writers to do, but I
get so much more writing done at night. Everything is quiet and you have hours
to think, write, listen to music. . . whatever gets you inspired. I typically
stay up until about 2 am and wake up around 11 am. Like I said, it's a terrible
habit, and I'm not even sure if it works for everyone, but for me night is the
best time to write.
11.) Read Old Feedback
I like to write down the feedback that people give me so that I can reread
it later. It's nice to receive compliments and read over them whenever you feel
like your writing isn't good enough, but I actually prefer criticism. When
somebody reads my book and says something like, "Oh, it's great, I love
it!", I always say, "Thank you, but do you have any criticism?"
People's honest opinion on your writing is most important of all, in my
opinion. If you've received constructive criticism, you should read it again
and really try to apply it to your writing. It might get you inspired to change
what you don't like about it.
12.) Call a Friend
I'm one of those people who loves stories. I must admit that when a friend
tells me a story about something stupid they did as a child, or about something
their sibling did to embarrass them one time, or about something interesting
they did on summer vacation last year, etc., I get excited. I keep all of those
stories in my memory and, if they're memorable enough, I'll find some way to
tie them into my writing. Don't judge me.
Anyway, consider calling an old friend the next time you have writer's
block. You'll be able to catch up with them, and chances are, they'll tell you
a story or two that you might be able to use in your writing. ;)
13.) Play Some Videogames
This might seem unproductive, and you've probably read quite a few articles
that say playing videogames kills your brain cells or something. Maybe that's
true, but when I need a quick break, it kind of helps me relax for a few
minutes. Just make sure the games you're playing aren't too engrossing (then
you wouldn't get anything done) and aren't distracting enough to give you a
headache.
14.) Drink Caffeine
Caffeine gives most people energy (I, unfortunately, am not one of them).
If you need a quick burst of energy just grab some coffee, and you should be
good to go. Sadly, caffeine doesn't give me energy or keep me up longer. . .
however, if I drink a cup of coffee when I'm stuck, it somehow gets me past the
block. So I don't feel any more energetic, but I guess it gets me un-stuck.
15.) Music, Music, Music
I listen to music almost every time I write, but for those of you who write
in silence, try conquering your writer's block with some music. I enjoy a very
broad variety of music: from sad breakup songs and slow, soft soundtracks to
Christian hip-hop and alternative music. It really all depends on what mood I'm
in.
If you're like me and can barely function without music, I highly recommend
creating playlists for your main characters (and for specific scenes, too, if
you want).
16.) Research
If you're stuck on a novel or other large project, sometimes it can be
helpful to do some research on a small part of your writing you haven't quite
got to yet. It can be anything from "What do baby dragons eat?" to
"Famous naval battles". And who knows, you might even find some good
ideas along the way.
17.) Ask for Criticism
Sometimes the best thing you can do when you're either unsure of where to
go next or stuck in the revising stage is to ask for a criticism. Find the most
honest person you know, ask them to criticize your writing, and keep an open
mind. Oh, and don't be offended.
18.) Re-Evaluate Your Scene
Being stuck on a specific scene can mean many different things. Of course,
none of us want to write that one scene that's boring to write but important to
the reader to know. Usually the scene feels "boring" because of a
lack of action, which is normal, but have you asked yourself if you really need
that scene? I can't tell you how many times I've dropped an info dump,
over-described something, or added an unnecessary scene just to raise my word
count. Ask yourself what you can do to make this scene more interesting, and
ask yourself what would happen if you omitted the scene altogether.
19.) Read
Reading makes you a better writer--it's true! Besides, who hasn't been
inspired by something they read at one point or another? I should also mention
that it's a great idea to read the dictionary. It's a great way to increase
your vocabulary, find stronger words than the ones you're using now, and find
the meaning of those words that you think you know.
20.) Start a Blog
Unless you have Blogger's block, it's a great idea to start a blog when you
need a break from your writing. You can express yourself, be creative, talk
about something you're passionate about, and still be writing in some way or
another.
21.) Find Other Writers
It's always nice to have a writing buddy who you can share ideas with,
receive criticism from, and just be understood by. However, it's so
difficult to find one, so maybe you should consider joining a writers' group.
Writing is hard, especially when you have to do it all alone.
22.) Try Your Hand at Drawing
If you have a steady hand and some art supplies, there's no reason why you
shouldn't try to draw. Maybe if you're talented enough you can design your own
book covers.
23.) Revise
While you're stuck on where to go next, you can make the most of the time
you spend staring at a screen and start revising. Chances are, there are plenty
of small mistakes you missed, and it can't hurt to start fixing them now.
24.) Compare Now With Then
One of the best things you can do when you feel like your writing isn't
good enough is to compare it with what you wrote when you were younger or had
less experience. There's probably a very noticeable difference, right? So take
pride in that! Tell yourself that you are improving every day.
25.) Don't Force It
Remember, if you can't seem to get past your writer's block no matter what
you do, just take a break. Writing is flat and boring if you try to force it.
I hope that this list has helped you defeat your writer's block :) This
list is pretty small, so if any of you have some good tips that help you when
you're stuck, feel free to share them below!
