Since leaving my job to spend more time with my son (and my laptop), I’ve had many a battle with writer’s block. I must have read a hundred blog posts on the best way to deal with this particular black dog, but as far as I’m concerned there are only four #writingtips that really work.
Chug a glass of water, dip something in ink and just write.
Number 1: Just make yourself write, damnit!
Ok, so this might seem a little tough love, but sometimes you just have to say it like it is. If you want to write your story… YOU NEED TO WRITE YOUR STORY.
Chug a glass of water, dip something in ink or sit down at your laptop or typewriter or whatever and just write.
It almost doesn’t matter what comes out. Eventually ideas will spark in your head, you’ll get in your groove and even if you end up bouncing all over the timeline you’ll get to the end of the day with more written than when you started.
Number 2: Get tactile.
Now personally, I’m a laptop writer – I love to curl up in the corner of the sofa, propped up with a hundred pillows, snacks to last three days and a huge vat of tea. However, sometimes, no matter how hard I try, I just can’t seem to see my story. I’m quite an eclectic writer in terms of genre and I find this happens most when I’m writing something BIG, like #fantasy.
I love to curl up in the corner of the sofa, propped up with a hundred pillows, snacks to last three days and a huge vat of tea.
Complex world building is tough. Sometimes the best way to break the block is to map it out old skool spider diagram style. So get a big roll of paper and whatever writing implements leave you inspired and then start to draw what you know. It’s amazing how quickly you can form new connections, create new story arcs and spot places for character growth (or decline), when your world is drawn out in front of you in black and white (or black, white and orange, when your black pen runs out).
Number 3: Read something else… anything else.
Really this #writetip should be split into two subsections – read something else or write something else.
I find a good way to get myself back in the zone is to read something else – ideally something that has similar elements but isn’t quite the same genre as what I’m trying to write. That way my brain gets subconsciously prodded back to life, without accidentally absorbing someone else’s genius!
Writing something else can help too. Like this article, I hope….
...last time I did this I binge watched Brooklyn 99 for 2 hours...
Number 4: Take a break.
This is similar to number 3, but just gives you some proper breathing space to relax. I’d love to say I go outside and connect with nature, or watch a heartfelt documentary about the plight of penguins in the Sahara, but the last time I did this I just binge watched Brooklyn 99 for 2 hours. Okay, 4 hours.
But the point is, it worked.
So there you have it – my top four ways to break writer’s block. If this article doesn’t pan out, I think it might be time for number 1 for me…
@writenadiawrite
Comentários