I know, there are people who claim that writer’s block is like the Easter Bunny, it doesn’t really exist. (Although how do they explain where Marshmallow Peeps come from?) But writing is work, and sometimes the writing muscles tire, the brain gets dull, the words do not flow. Also, writers are people and people do not always perform at peak all the time. So here are ten tricks to turn to when the words don’t flow:
1. Accept that you have bad days. Accept that the words you produce might be utter crap. Lower expectations and write those crappy words anyway.
2. Set a timer. Even on your worst day you can write for five minutes, right? Set the timer and go, writing nonstop. When time’s up, you can go eat a brownie or read a comic book and feel virtuous because you wrote. Then come back for another five.
3. Warm up with a read and polish of what you’ve written so far, or re-read your outline or synopsis to ease your brain into the story. Then begin writing new words.
4. Make a list of five things you could put in the story that would make it fun and exciting. Then try to use as many of them as possible in the scene you’re writing.
5. Get up and move. Take a five minute yoga break, run up and down the stairs, walk around your neighborhood. Get the blood pumping and oxygen moving to your brain. Sometimes this is all it takes to shake words loose.
6. Take a shower. The ions in the water help creative thinking. I came up with a missing piece of a scene today when I put away my laptop and got under the spray.
7. Think grounding details. If your brain feels gray and the words seem equally colorless, try to get very, very specific on sensory details. The creak of the leather seat, the bright red strawberry, the tart lemon, the groaning hinge; specific details make the scene vivid.
8. Write a character interview. Ask him or her what’s wrong. The answers might surprise you.
9. Read poetry. It’ll infuse your prose with new life.
10. Make sure work isn’t all you do. If words aren’t coming and everything is gray, ask yourself; when was the last time you did something fun?
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Hi Charlene,
Those are great tips. I’m a new writer and I find my ideas come to me when I’m at the tanning salon. I find that 20 minutes of uninterrupted quiet time tends to give me the ideas I need to move my stories along. I go twice a week, but that’s enough to keep my story going . It works every time. I’m not published yet but I’m hoping to be soon (could be wishful thinking, but I’m going to try).
BTW, the first erotic book I ever read was Wicked Hot and I’ve been a huge fan of yours ever since. Keep up the amazing writing!!
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Uninterrupted thinking time is gold, however you can get it! And thank you, glad it’s helpful and glad you enjoyed Wicked Hot. BTW, #4 is how the dragon ended up at the door in WH.
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I meant to comment on #5. What a great idea!!
I loved the dragon, purely brilliant and fun
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Oops!! I meant #4. # 1 was also a great piece of advice. Even if it is crap, write it. You can always go back and edit it later when you’re in a better frame of mind. At least your idea is down in black and white.
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I loved writing that character. And I find that even if the crappy words I write end up getting cut, they lead me to the good words I needed. It’s all part of the process.
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I do many of those things if I’m having trouble writing. I also go back to my outline and look at what I planned for the upcoming scene. If I can’t move ahead, it might mean that the scene doesn’t really work. Or I don’t understand the motivation of the characters.
Rebecca
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Good tip about the outline, Rebecca!!
I find my outline is so vital to writing. I actually look at mine all the time. It is such a useful tool. The problem I keep running into is that I may have my story outlined in 18 chapters, but by the time I’m done, it’s about 26 chapters. I try to stick to the outline, but when I come back to what I have just written the day before, for instance, I find so much more to add.
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It’s always good to remember that an outline is a roadmap, not a straitjacket.
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Well said.
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Rebecca, character motivation is often a sticking point when the plot doesn’t want to move.
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I agree about the ions in water. LOL I should just write notes on the shower tiles because my brain really gets going in there.
I think we underestimate sometimes how mentally exhausted we can get from writing. And we need to do whatever we can to replenish ourselves–by stretching, getting up to drink some water, look outside or breathe some fresh air. It may seem like we’re just sitting here typing or scribbling. But our brains are doing a LOT of work!
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Donna, you can actually get special paper and pens for writing in the shower! Good way to capture those inspirations.
You’re right, it’s very easy to think writing is just sitting there and overlook the effort expended. Self-care is critical for keeping the words flowing. Not to mention living!
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Here’s a link from Boing Boing on a shower writing tablet: http://boingboing.net/2006/01/02/showertablet-for-wri.html
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OMG, that is hilarious! And yet so practical. Thanks for the link.
And I’m trying to follow my own advice with the self-care today. It seems to be working too.