I love it when I sit down at my computer and the ideas flow so fast that my fingers can hardly keep up. It is so satisfying to see the story I have in my mind appear on the page. But there are so many times that I sit and stare at the screen and have nothing to say. Here are eight ways that I combat writer’s block:
8. Procrastinate! Yup. Sometimes the only way I can get unstuck is to avoid the project for a while. It could be a day or two, or even a couple of weeks.
7. Read. This one kind of goes with procrastination, but can really help. I sometimes pick up a book in the genre that I’m writing and immerse myself in someone else’s words.
6. Write something else. Changing my focus frees up some hidden part of my brain to continue to work on the story I was stuck on.
5. Talk to someone. For me, it’s my mom. If I get in a bind, I call her up and we talk about the story. Sometimes, just explaining the scene to her is enough to clear the log jam. If not, she always has great ideas that I can use.
4. Research. Very often, the reason that I get writer’s block in the first place is because I don’t know enough about what is happening in the scene to be able to see it in my mind. I’ll take a fieldtrip to the location if I can, or watch a video about a similar situation. I did this one yesterday, actually!
3. Take a walk. Getting out of the house and into the fresh air for some exercise works very well for me. I often have breakthroughs just walking around my neighborhood. It’s a good thing I have a note feature on my phone, though. Otherwise, those ideas might be gone before I get home!
2. Change locations. I have several spots on our property that I like to write. Switching from the Adirondack chair in the backyard to the bistro table in the front yard or the kitchen table might work. If not, I’ll take my computer and go sit at the library or a coffee shop somewhere. This has the advantage of letting you people-watch to add depth to your characters.
1. Invite your characters to a staff meeting. I know this sounds silly, but I tried it and it works! You can think of it as an interview, too. Open a new document and write it as a Q&A session where you ask your characters questions about the scene or the problem you are having. Have the characters answer from their point of view about how they would solve it.
And there you have it. Missy’s Top Eight Ways to Beat Writer’s Block. Not a foolproof list by any means, but they work! I have to admit that I default to number eight a lot. I’m trying to break that habit and try the other methods first. What works for you?