Blog
Part Four: How to keep going (the dreaded writer’s block)
This episode of my novel writing guide will look at the dreaded writer’s block and how to keep going when it gets tough.
It’s amazing the number of people who say writer’s block isn’t real. To them I stick up both middle fingers and tell them to stop denying many writers’ lived experience. We could use other names for the experience that freezes some of us at the 20,000-word mark. How about deserted by the muse? Or do you prefer stuck? What can we do when we’re stuck and don’t know what to write next?
Writing is a job, and you will have tough days. Unlike most jobs you don’t have a job description to fall back on. You can’t simply repeat what you did yesterday. Writing may be a job, but it’s a creative one, and if we are to create new things we cannot repeat what we’ve already done. We must be inspired.
If your muse dozes off on the job, how do you wake her or him back up?
Are you on a tight deadline?
No:
If not, allow your imagination a little breathing space. Relationships can get tricky, especially if you’re forever taking the other person for granted. Maybe your imagination needs time out – a break. Take a day off and allow your mind time to rest. But keep that notebook ready, just in case.
Maybe your creativity is hungry – feed it with walks in the woods, music, films, books. Focus on a pastime you love, if only for a day. Take photos, paint, cross stitch. If you force yourself, you might squeeze out a new sentence or two, but if there’s no looming deadline, is the gain worth the pain?
Wake up the following day, take up your notebook and pen, or load up your writing software and write some more. That didn’t work? Shit! Maybe we need to post a missing person ad. Lost – my muse – reward offered.
Put aside the project and write something new. Check open anthology listings. Write a story to a prompt or theme. Something short. You don’t want to abandon this novel forever. You’re on a break not breaking up.
Yes:
If there is a tight deadline and you cannot afford to leave the current project, or you know that if you give up on it now, you’ll never return, there are other things you can try. Some are about fixing your mindset, and others are about fixing the novel. The mindset ones are quickest/easiest, so attempt these first.
- Distract yourself - I frequently get inspired while in the shower or while running or walking. If these things work for you too, see what ideas surface while you’re getting sweaty or clean.
- Change location – if you usually write at your desk, take a notebook or laptop to a cafe and see if that helps. Get on a bus and scribble while the world passes your window. If you usually type, try freehand or vice versa.
- It's not an easy thing to hear, but maybe something is wrong with your story. If you've exhausted all attempts to fix your mindset and liberate the muse, it might be time to look at your novel.
Have you written yourself into a corner?
Remember when I mentioned how plans for novels can give you a stepladder to climb this wall? If you have one, check your plan. Where is the novel supposed to be going? It could just be the scene you’re stuck on. Move to a later scene. You can come back later and join the two up.
You don’t have a plan. You’re stuck without a ladder. Try introducing a new character or plot device. An ex arrives on the scene. An old school buddy stops your main character in the street. Your hero receives a letter. Your hero is hit by a speeding car and dies horribly.
If the last one sounds like the perfect solution, perhaps you haven’t figured out whose story this is. Try rewriting from a different point of view and kill off that treacherous scum bag. It’s your story. You can do whatever you want with it. Don’t let your characters convince you otherwise.
Alternatively, read what you have written so far. At the end of each chapter, decide whether the story is still working for you.
You might reach a section and know that’s where you started to stumble. Cut it at that point and write a whole new scene. Don’t delete the later scenes yet. There might be parts you can use from them, but don’t feel trapped into keeping them either.
If it sounds like a lot of work, remember how good it feels when inspiration sits on your shoulder, whispering sweet plot lines into your ear. To regain that feeling of excitement and control, it is worth losing of a few thousand words.
Keep writing
Whatever you do, don’t give up. You can move past this block. You can climb the wall.
Friends, readers and fellow authors might be willing and able to haul you out of the hole. Ask other people to read it. They might see what’s gone wrong, or their admiration might give you the strength to keep writing.
You aren’t alone.
Few writers finish a novel without doubting it at least one stage. You’ve got this!
If you have other tips on how to get beyond writer's block, please share them in the comments.
If you try my advice and it works (or doesn’t), please comment with your feedback.
Next week
What to do when your first draft is finished and you’ve experienced the intense joy that comes with typing those words – The End.
Previous lesson | Take your next step
Carmilla Voiez is a horror and fantasy author. Her novels have been published by indie publishing companies including Vamptasy Publishing, CHBB and Stone Circle Publishing and her short stories have been included in anthologies by Crystal Lake, Clash Books, Weird Punk, Siren Magazine, and Dragones Mecanicos. The first two books in her award-winning Starblood series have been adapted into graphic novels illustrated by Anna Prashkovich. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English Language, studied copyediting with Centre of Excellence and the Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders, and proofreading with Chapterhouse.
Carmilla also offers individually tailored editing packages for self-publishing authors.
Check out my full bibliography on Amazon.
Like my page on Facebook.
Connect with me on Goodreads.
Subscribe to my newsletter.