Tips for Fighting Writer’s Block -- and Winning!
When I run up against writer’s block I try to do the following:
1. I reread what I’ve written ...And usually that means editing what I’ve written. I almost always find something that can be tightened, a word choice that can be improved, or a line of dialogue that can be punched up. Editing can be as productive as writing new content, and though you don’t feel like you’re moving forward, editing is an incredibly important part of telling the story well so it’s worth the time investment. Plus, going back and re-reading gets you back into the rhythm of your own writing and tests you -- as a reader -- to see if you’re interested in the story that’s unfolding on the page.
2. I bullet things out ....If I’m not ready for prose, I try to at least get those thoughts down on paper in some form so that they can stop chasing each other around in my head. Plus, once they’re written down I don’t have to worry about forgetting them when I’m feeling ready to write later on.
3. I write stream of consciousness, leaving lots of blanks like this ______ for me to come back and fill in later ...I think this technique works best for writers who have a lot of rhythm in their prose because sometimes a writer can hear the beat of the whole sentence or string of sentences even before he or she knows exactly which words to use. It’s also great for writers whose minds move quicker than their fingers can write or type. Sometimes a writer knows exactly how that sentence will end and it’s better to get that down rather than slow things down by figuring out every word on the way there.
4. If all else fails, I give myself a break and try not to worry about it. Writing is supposed to be fun. There’s no use in turning the process into torture!
….Enough said!
1. I reread what I’ve written ...And usually that means editing what I’ve written. I almost always find something that can be tightened, a word choice that can be improved, or a line of dialogue that can be punched up. Editing can be as productive as writing new content, and though you don’t feel like you’re moving forward, editing is an incredibly important part of telling the story well so it’s worth the time investment. Plus, going back and re-reading gets you back into the rhythm of your own writing and tests you -- as a reader -- to see if you’re interested in the story that’s unfolding on the page.
2. I bullet things out ....If I’m not ready for prose, I try to at least get those thoughts down on paper in some form so that they can stop chasing each other around in my head. Plus, once they’re written down I don’t have to worry about forgetting them when I’m feeling ready to write later on.
3. I write stream of consciousness, leaving lots of blanks like this ______ for me to come back and fill in later ...I think this technique works best for writers who have a lot of rhythm in their prose because sometimes a writer can hear the beat of the whole sentence or string of sentences even before he or she knows exactly which words to use. It’s also great for writers whose minds move quicker than their fingers can write or type. Sometimes a writer knows exactly how that sentence will end and it’s better to get that down rather than slow things down by figuring out every word on the way there.
4. If all else fails, I give myself a break and try not to worry about it. Writing is supposed to be fun. There’s no use in turning the process into torture!
….Enough said!
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Camille
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Mar 08, 2016 02:25PM
I love #3. I'm often too logical, which can keep me stuck. I can imagine how using stream of consciousness in this manner would disengage that logical self. Great tip! Thanks.
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