Everyone's Guide to Wattpad

Author's Block

Nobody likes author's block. If you do, then you just don't want to write in the first place. For those of us that would like to avoid author's block: listen to me closely this lesson. I promise you that if you follow along, you will be able to deal with author's block so much easier.

We all deal with author's block at some point. Even I have dealt with it, but I know some ways to avoid it. Let's get started, shall we?

What Causes Author's Block?

What does cause author's block? Well, for one, it's your ability to be writing at the moment. Step away from your keyboard for a while then come back, and if you still can't write then we have found the source of the problem. It's a lack of planning. The less you plan, the bigger chance you have at getting author's block. On the contrary, the more you plan, the better chance you have at avoiding it.

I like to think of author's block as a river. The number of scenes planned in the plot are the stepping stones to cross the river. The more scenarios you plan, the more stepping stones you have, and the less of a chance you have at getting author's block.

What am I saying? Plan more! When you get author's block, you cannot write because you don't know what to write. Think about it. You have an idea of where you want to go, but you don't know how to get there. You need a transition between scenes, but you don't know how to transition it. You don't know where to go from your current position.

Many writers come up with the plot as they write. We all do this a little bit, no matter how much you may plan. I did that in the past. In the end it jumped around, but hey, I got to the end of it. Writing the plot as you go is okay, but at some point you'll run out of that "create-a-plot-as-it's-written" juice and you'll be stuck in the middle of a plot without a transition to the next scene.

Back to the stepping stones. You have the stones, but how far apart are they? At some point you can't even leap to the next stone. You need another stone. You need another scenario!

How to Resolve Author's Block

I just told you! Get another scenario into your story. I understand it's easier said than done, but it has to happen.

You are trying to get directly to the next scenario, but you didn't prepare yourself. To get you out of this state, you can sit there and think for a long time OR you can come up with something completely unexpected. Throw your plot off a little bit. Throw in a character. Take one away. Wreck a car or two. Burn your character's school down. Ring a phone. Do something that can further the plot.

Your plot's main destination can wait for a couple chapters. Right now, we need to get you out of that author's block. Get a new setting in there. Make it unexpected. Am I clear? You'll get your writing juices flowing in no time.

You have a train of thought. Author's block is equivalent to a train wreck - it isn't pretty. You have to recover by getting it back on track. Start writing something and go from there.

Bottom line is: Plan some settings ahead of time. The more you have planned, the better chance you have at avoiding author's block. Remember: it's your imagination. You do whatever you want to do.

Plan your plot. That's all I have for now! I sure hope this tip helps you all out.

-OrangeGuy