Writing Tips

Writer's Block

GAHHHH!  A writers's worst nightmare!  (Besides losing all of your work due to a glitch in the matrix.)

Everyone has their own methods of getting over writer's block, and sometimes there's just no way out (at least not a short-term one, anyway).  But, here are my suggestions on how to get back on your feet.  (Or would it be your fingers, since you don't type with your toes...?  And if you do type with your toes, you are one talented individual.  Bravo!)

1. Listen to music.  I listen to music all the time when I write.  It really helps me focus.  Sometimes, though, it distracts me, and I end up sending Snapchats to my friends of me lip-syncing to The Lion Sleeps Tonight, but sometimes that's bound to happen. 

But anyway, most of the time it isn't distracting, helping me focus on the story at hand.  And when it is distracting, I may occasionally pick up some ideas from the lyrics.

2. Take a nap.  Sometimes writer's block doesn't happen because you have no ideas; it happens because you have too many.  So many different thoughts are flying through your head, and you have no idea how to string them together.  What I do when this happens is write them all down and do something to clear my head, like take a nap.  That way you can bring all of the thoughts together later with a less crowded mind.

Also, one time I actually got a story idea from a dream, so it's a win-win.

3. Take a break.  Sometimes you just have to stop writing a story and take a break.  Just let the story sit there; you can always come back later.  Go take a shower, take a walk, work on something else.  Run errands.  Play a game on your phone.  Just do something to clear your head so you can return later with a fresh start.  This is probably the most effective trick for me.  Just make sure you actually go back later and work on it. 

4. Write something else.  This is basically #3, except when you only have writers block for a particular story but you still want to write something else.  So meanwhile, you can work on that other story you promised your followers until you want to go back to your first story.  Eventually, the desire to write that story will return, and, if it doesn't, then maybe the story isn't really one you want to be writing.

5. Make promo photos.  For someone who loves editing (making book covers and other story graphics, such as promo photos), this is a helpful method for me.  And whether you're good at it or not, it's still a fun way to focus on your story without actually writing your story.

Here are some promo photos I've made:

Wish (A Supernatural Mega-Multifandom)

Wings (A Sequel to Wish)

Second Chance (A Daredevil Fanfiction)

(Editors - PicsArt, Picmonkey.com, Phonto, Snapseed)

Find the books and look in "media" for more promo photos!

Making these promo photos brings me lots of inspiration.  I put so much time in them that I realize how much I really want to go back and write the story itself.

(Making trailers works too, if you have the software for it. And if you don't have the software, don't let that stop you! Make flip books, PowerPoints, mini comic books...whatever you want! Post them in your story if you want!)

6. Cast your characters.  I'm not really big on casting characters, since I don't normally like seeing the infinitely-long list of cast at the end of every single chapter of a person's book as I read it, and that each book always has the same celebrities.

But, I decided to try it out.  And, me being the perfectionist, I had to make sure the celebrity not only looked like my character, but that I could picture them actually being my character.  I had to actually like the actor and their skills.  And they have to actually be good at playing the bad guy if I was going to cast them as the bad guy. 

Think of it this way: If someone were to find your story and want to turn it into a movie, using your chosen cast, how well would the movie turn out?  Would Celebrity A really be the perfect Bob?  Is Celebrity B really young enough to play Kelly?

As crazy as it sounds, the more thought I put into this, the more I wanted to write in my story.  (Also, you can add more people to your promo photos when you have a chosen cast.)

Update: My story Second Chance now has a full cast that is growing fast. It's pretty fun.

7. Read the next chapter.  The next chapter I am going to write in this book is all about how to get inspiration and ideas for your story, so if that's the reason behind your writer's block, be sure that you read that chapter, too!

8. Set goals.  Finish that chapter by the end of the week.  I dare you.

9. Keep writing.  Even if you think you have no ideas, trust me, there's something back there.  Write whatever comes to mind, if it's relevant or not.  Forcing yourself to write can possibly lead you back where you need to be.  And, if not, delete it and start again.  Use trial and error.  Who cares what you write?  No one will see it until you click publish.  And, even if you do click publish, that's okay too.  You can go back and edit it later.

10. Jump around.  If you have no clue what to write in Chapter 7, but your mind is itching to get to Chapter 11, jump ahead and write the big turning point of your story and come back to Chapter 7 later.  There are no rules. 

Jumping ahead and then backtracking can help you figure out Chapter 7.  When you write Chapter 11 about how Molly finds out that she's adopted, once you establish how she finds out, you can go back to Chapter 7 and throw in a few clues and hints to this big reveal.

11. Eliminate distractions.  Turn off/silence your phone.  Close your door.  Put in earplugs if you want to go that far.  Focus on nothing but your story.  Turn off your music if it distracts you, or switch it to something instrumental so you don't try and sing along. 

12 Change locations.  If you've been curled up on the couch for hours trying to figure out how to get Molly from Point A to Point B, move yourself from Point A to Point B.  Go outside.  Go to your room.  Sit at the dinner table (and try not to eat too much).  Heck, go to Starbucks and use their free WiFi.  A new environment around you can shift your thought process.  And, if it doesn't, enjoy the coffee.

13. Watch YouTube/Netflix/TV/a movie/read a book.  Maybe a particular scene or character stands out to you.  You can gain inspiration from other people's works.  Just whatever you do, don't plagiarize. 

---

Did this chapter help you?  Let me know!

If you have any other methods for overcoming writer's block, comment them for other readers to see!