3 Thoughts… about writer’s block
Suffering from writer’s block? You are not the only one…
Maya Angelou had a “just write” strategy. Neil Gaiman had a hibernation strategy. Mark Twain used an outlining strategy. Ernest Hemingway had a hoarding strategy- yep, hoarding…look it up!
Sometimes we suffer from a sheer lack of creativity and while there are many avenues to explore to get past that annoyance, we wanted to share our 3 thoughts on fighting for your muse!
Let’s dig in…
Switch up your writing style or write in a new genre.
So, switching from cozy mysteries to dark fantasy might not produce a best seller, but it will give your brain the space it needs to get some creative juices flowing. So often, we tap out that creative overflow simply by trying too hard. The pressure to produce something great can cause us to do just the opposite. Give your brain a break and write something so totally off-the-wall that you will hide it in a filing cabinet somewhere so it is never found. Your brain will appreciate the opportunity to just write for fun and can start to repair the parts needed to get the real job done. Don’t know what to write about using that new genre? How about a writing prompt- or 21 writing prompts? You can find them in our Writers Planner!
Spend some time with your characters.
It’s easier to know what you’re writing when you know who you’re writing about. It is all about the back story.
Answer the following questions…
Do you know what your protagonist’s earliest memory is? And if so, do you know why that moment sticks out enough to be an actual memory? Does that hold some significance in the way your character relates and reacts to others? How does that affect their relationships with your other characters?
These are things that might never make it into your novel because your audience doesn’t need to know all the deets…but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know them. It is easier to write what you know which is why we spend so much time doing research for our writing projects. However, we seem to always miss this mark with our characters. The more you know about your characters, the easier it becomes to write their stories. Need some help in this department? Try out our Character Development Notebook.
Collaborate!
The writing world is definitely one of collaboration. This is an uncomfortable place for many of us introverted just-wanna-stay-home-with-a-cup-of-hot-tea-and-a-whole-lot-of-silence writers. But by doing so, we are missing out on something amazing- camaraderie. We are all on different paths and are at different places on those paths but we all have one thing in common…we live in a world that most people don’t understand- the writing world- which is filled with make-believe worlds & colorful characters, deadlines, and writer’s block.
If you are struggling with your project, consider some collaboration!
-Reach out to a fellow writer for advice. That new perspective might be exactly what you need to move the story forward.
-Join a writing group or a critique group.
- Find an online group of writers. There are a plethora of groups on Facebook, MeetUp, LinkedIn, & more. It’s worth a Google! Here are a couple that we love… Calhoun Area Writers, Cartersville Area Writers.
Right now, grab all 3 tools from our writer’s toolbox for a discounted price. Our New Year- New You special includes the Writers Journal, Writers Planner, and Ultimate Character Development Workbook- all for just $35. Grab yours here - while supplies last!