B Is For… Blocked!
Contributed by Nicole:
I know that I am not a professional writer yet and this might be a radical thought on my part, but I don’t believe in Writer’s Block. Can you be stymied by a story, have your characters be uncooperative, written yourself into a corner? Absolutely. But completely blocked? Yeah, I don’t believe in it.
I like to share some of the strategies that I employ when I have trouble.
Go back to your outline.
If your story is the journey that you are taking your characters through, then your outline is your road map. Have your characters taken shortcut not on the map? Maybe you need to backtrack and get back on the proper highway.
Work on a different story.
Sometimes you just need to get your head into a different space. Concentrate on another character or situation for a bit and then come back to the story that is giving me trouble.
Role Play
Grab your partner, a friend, or a member of your family (anyone that didn’t escape you quick enough) and try trading ideas back and forth.
People watch and play ‘what if?’
I grab a blank composition book and go to a park, restaurant or some other public place and look around. What if that harried barista is a hacker in their spare time? What if that single dad trying to corral his kids used to be an assassin? What if that guy in the three-piece suit is wearing women’s lingerie on under his other clothes? What if the goth coming out of Hot Topics secretly wants to be a hairdresser? What if the big, bike with tattoos scrolling up his arms is planning a romantic dinner for his lady? ‘What if’ are the words that every writer lives by.
I have never not had one of these strategies shake something loose in my head.
The whole going off and writing something else usually works for me. I have some story dice that can help with just coming up with something completely random to get the gears shifting and let the other story percolate in the back of my brain.
Since I never have an outline when I start, going back to it isn’t an option for me 🤣. My writing style is somewhat chaos incarnate, which I fix when I’ve got lots of it already done.
Best wishes,
Tasha
Tasha’s Thinkings: YouTube – What They Don’t Tell You (and free fiction)
Great post, Nicole! I’m going to try some of these strategies the next time that I’m struggling to get words down. Thank you!
I’m currently experiencing some weird form of writer’s block because I just cannot finish any new stories, whether short stories or longer ones. I tried writing a new novel for NaNoWriMo but got stuck about 30k words in and haven’t been able to progress, no matter how many times I tweak the outline.
I think my head is still busy editing my current series and cannot multitask into working on other things yet.
Very good suggestions to get the creative writing going again!
Giggling Fattie
http://www.noloveforfatties.com
I will go to another WIP. You have good idea to stay on track.
The Letter B
I have to agree with you. I do not believe in writer’s block. I have writer’s excess – the block is getting it on the paper.
I like your “go to list.” I have learned that poetry pulls me in so I can pin point my focus. My writing is editing this day so it’s a different kind of energy.
Cheers Happy A to Zing
Writer’s block is definitely something we all struggle with… Glad you wrote this piece.
Great ideas Nicole, and love the humorous touches! You give some great suggestions. For me, another one is discipline – I need to set a time aside for just writing, without interruptions. Sometimes I also need a deadline (even if it’s an imaginary one). Rock on…
Excellent handling of a topic we’ve all dealt with to some extent. I even experience a little blockage while creating art. The best solution is one you suggested, working on something else for a while. Taking a brief vacation away from whatever has you frustrated and feeling blank is just the ticket. I always return to my artwork with renewed vigor after a change of pace. Bravo!