Writer’s block is the number one complaint I hear about when working with an author as their book coach. It’s often the final nail in the laptop before they break down to admit they need help. But the good news is that there are some quick fixes for writer’s block that will help keep you moving the vast majority of the time.
While it’s likely you’ve only been writing at this scale for a handful of years, you’ve been reading stories since before you could speak. Your reader brain is a well-trained literary analyst, and sometimes it’s trying to communicate with your writer brain with symptoms that just feel frustrating. Here are some of the more common reactions writers have while experiencing writer’s block, what they might mean, and how to proceed without overthinking things:
The Blank Stare
Ever sit down at your screen and just… that’s it? Maybe you put one word or a couple of sentences down, but you just can’t move any further. Writer’s block that causes you to stare at your screen is fueled by you not knowing what’s going to happen next. You’re tapped out on ideas, and your blank mind is out for lunch until who knows when.
A lot of writers will tell you that staring at a blank screen is an important part of the writing process, which it is when you’re thinking actively. But perpetually feeling blank and seeing a blank screen can lead you into a state of shell shock that’s hard to emerge from. Instead, consider opening a new document and forcing out ten ideas of what could happen next in quick succession. One has to be half way decent or at least enough to get the ballpoint rolling. You can always come back and prune if you end up somewhere else.
The Foggy Nap Brain
Sometimes, when you sit down with your narrative, you just start feeling drowsy. The words go blurry, you reach for your coffee, you blame last night’s sleep. And sure, maybe you’re just exhausted, but more often what you’re doing is boring yourself.
The story is boring. You’ve hit a bad slump. Go back to the last point where you were excited about the story, be it a few paragraphs or a few chapters, and try writing forward choosing a new path. Small changes along the way can make a big difference. Alternatively, write an island of a scene in the distance that you do see clearly then fill in between them. If you can’t keep yourself engaged, you’re sure as hell not going to keep anyone else on board.
The Constant Rewrite
I know I’m not the only one who finds themselves writing and rewriting and retooling and reimagining the same sentence over and over. I love the idea I’ve come up with, but it doesn’t quite fit, but I have another idea that will make it better. And then it just doesn’t.
Stop. Take a breather. If you’re working this hard to fit something in, it’s because it doesn’t fit there. Your brain knows it, and even if you love it, you’re going to have to listen. Just make the cut and go for something completely different. You’ve spent enough time on that idea. If it has a place in your narrative, it will come back around where it fits easily.
The Wanderer
You know, that feeling when you sit down to write but then realize you didn’t bring a tea, so you have to go get one. Then, when you come back, you feel the urge to pee. Next, a family member is in need of your attention, and don’t forget that text you forgot to send. Make sure you write down that awesome brainstorm you just had in your writing notes. Or maybe writer Twitter pulls you in. No matter what it looks like, you keep disappearing from the page, easily distracted.
Having a hard time staying in place and getting to writing is a sign that your next scene is difficult either technically or emotionally. There’s a reason you’re avoiding it, but the only way around it is ultimately through it. Power on even if it seems like you’re not doing a great job. Doing something wrong the first time can make it easier to do it right the next time. And perfection is overrated. Get something on the page, and enjoy the scenes that follow before coming back for a rewrite. You’ve earned it.
The Slog
The last kind of writer’s block I want to address is the absolute lack of joy. That feeling when time and time again you sit down to write and are hating every moment of it. It’s no fun anymore, it’s painful, and you hate everything you write anyway.
While it’s masquerading as writer’s block, this is actually you struggling with depression. And I wish it were easy to refresh like with some of these others, but the reality is that you probably need to take a break from writing. Go and address what’s causing the depression, then come back. The page will be waiting for you when you’re ready, and you won’t be wasting time in the meantime. You’re never going to like your writing right now. Go find ways to bring yourself back to life. It’s worth it.
Writer’s block is rough, but it’s good to have some quick ideas to help set yourself on the right path. Still having trouble putting words down after trying a few of these tricks? Then it might be time to bring out the big guns. A session with a book coach could help you identify new patterns that get you started while addressing your writing goals.
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