Writing a book is damn hard. It’s a feat of endurance, but it’s a lot of problem solving too. All in all, it’s an exhausting experience, and you probably deserve a break from staring at a blank page. Here are some ideas to help you reset and peek around the edge of the wall and keep yourself going:
Write an Island
If you aren’t really sure what comes next for your story (or if you do know but just really aren’t feeling it) but you do have a very clear picture of a scene off in the distance, write that scene! No one said you have to write chronologically, and sometimes writing scenes that you’re excited for will give you the jolt of energy needed to write scenes that serve exclusively to get from point A to point B. Even better, sometimes writing pivotal scenes can clarify questions you have on how to get there.
Read in Your Genre
Reading is the best education writers have. As such, reading is an extension of writing! Reading a book like a writer with the problems of your own novel in mind can illuminate solutions for themes, character building, plot, conflict and more. Even if the book you read isn’t a smash hit, it can get you thinking creatively on how you would improve upon what they have done and then apply it to your manuscript.
Try Out Some More Plotting
And all of the pantsers groan. I’m not sure who decided that writers must fall into one faction or the other, but writers have taken it seriously. The truth is that you should probably be doing a bit of pantsing and outlining for your best writing experience. If you’re really stuck, it’s possible this is because you have wondered somewhere you never thought you would be. Now it’s time to reconsider where you are and either plot a way to get back on track or consider where this new path is leading you with some extra purpose.
Read About Writing
Though a completely different practice, reading about writing and story building can condense years' worth of reading in your genre down into one helpful experience and help solve the problems you’re up against. If you need help with plot structure, consider reading The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne. If you’re looking for how to build a dedicated writing routine, Stephen King’s On Writing may be your ticket to many more pages. And Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon is great for finding new ideas from everything around you. You’re never going to get a great book that covers all aspects of the craft, but you can probably find a great one to help you over the specific roadblock you’re struggling with right now.
Get a Book Coach
There’s nothing wrong with wanting another person that’s part of your team to help you overcome obstacles in writing and provide industry knowledge. A book coach serves many roles depending upon what you need, be it an accountability partner, a resource for tools, a marketing consultant, a sounding board, a strategy team. Every creative pursuit today is an effort of collaboration, and you don’t have to go the writing experience alone to be a real writer. A book coach is never going to write your book for you. They’re just there to make sure you have all the support you need to make it to the finish line.
Experiencing lapses in inspiration is part of the writing process, but you don’t have to stare at a blank page, hoping to hear from your muse. Overcoming writer’s block can be as simple as changing things up without straying too far from your book to give your brain new stimuli to pull from. Just keep the faith and you’ll be filling in pages again in no time.
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