I Don’t Suck, I’m Just Stuck… and other things I tell myself when I’m not writing.
The concept of writer’s block gets a lot of attention. I’ve written numerous articles and moderated fun panels with titles like, ‘You Don’t Suck, You’re Just Stuck!’ If you’ve been writing long enough, eventually you’ll find yourself spinning your wheels, stuck in the muck, or staring at your keyboard like a deer in the headlights. I’m full of descriptive metaphors this morning, but I am also struggling with my newest book.
First off, it’s summertime, and summertime is my least productive writing season. I’ve felt this way since I wrote my first manuscript, and I feel it as I draft this latest one. Over the years, I’ve learned to schedule my life accordingly and use my natural rhythms to my advantage. I have to remind myself of this as my frustration builds.
Eventually, though, I will have to push through my writing malaise, and here are a few ways I do this…
Fall in love with the characters. If I feel disconnected to my characters, or if I just don’t have a clear picture of them in my mind, it’s hard to find inspiration to write about them. I need to dig deep into their motivations, discover their fears, understand their dreams, and picture their quirks in order for them to materialize on the page.
Focus on a really exciting scene. Whether the scene is emotionally intense or a really cool action sequence, writing something fun gets my creativity flowing, and that flow will often carry forward.
Outline it. If I don’t know where my plot action is headed, I get stressed out. Sometimes I have to take a break from writing and focus on the outline. I have to remind myself that working through plot tangles is part of the creative process. My outline acts like a roadmap. There’s plenty of room for adventure along the way, but the outline gives me a handle on the most important scenes so I know where I’m headed. A solid outline actually gives me the confidence and enthusiasm I need to dive back into the manuscript.
As summer winds down, I have some serious writing goals on the horizon, so I’ll be taking my own advice as I get back into the writing groove!
IN OTHER NEWS:
We made it to California! Of course, as soon as we arrived, we had to drive back into Arizona to escape Hurricane Hilary, but the detour was fun and we got to watch a little baseball!
