So... You want to be Popular? (FINISHED)

Volume Truth V: Five Tips on How To Deal With "Writer's Block"

Volume Truth III: How To Deal With Writer's Block 

1. Don't try to "Craft" every sentence and every word.  Nothing you  write will ever be perfect and the sooner you can accept that, the better. Some writers like to spend years (yes, years) perfecting their manuscript before they even let anyone read it. 

I think it's more helpful to write as many chapters as you can and then you can encougage in several intense re-writers later. It's unlikely that you can' t think of a second chapter. It's more likely that you're too hung up on creating a perfect chapter. (This is my writing process! It may not work for you!) 

2. If you've been stuck on the same story for more than two months...

   1) Let it go. If you can honestly re-read the same manscript over and over AND YOU STILL CAN'T think of ONE MORE CHAPTER, then the idea probably wasn't that great to begin with. 

2) You will think of something better.

 3) Sometimes, you need a breather from a story. Clear your head for a week and Don't look at the story. Once you come back with a fresh mind, you'll be able to get to work with a clear head. 

  3.  "I'm waiting to be inspired to write." 

I hate when people say this. No you don't need to feel inspired to write, just do it.  It's unlikely that you are going to find some great inspiration everyday. Unless you are living some outstanding life, finding inspiration-true inspiration- on a day to day basis is nearly impossible.   By all means, I encourage you to Listen to incredible songs and draw your inspirations from books. I think a writer needs to push his/herself to write every day. If you are waiting for some epic inspiration or muse, then you may never finish a novel.  Stop wasting your time and JUST WRITE. 

4. Write chapters out of order. 

If the future chapters are easier for you to write, then write them first.  Sometimes, it's easier for a writer to write the middle and the ending before they start on the beginning chapters. Everyone's writing process is different.

5.  Force yourself to write a page a day. If you're not too busy to stroll facebook or watch TV, then you're not too busy to write. Make Time. You are only going to get busier and life is only going to become more chaotic. Can't make time to write? Then, you don't care about your writing. And if you don't care about your writing, don't expect anyone else to care about your stories!