writer's block sucks. we've all been there. maybe one day you're overflowing with ideas and motivation to write, but the next day, you put pencil to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and you just can't translate those ideas into words. maybe you have a killer title or a character who's just begging to be brought to life, but as soon as you sit to write your brain is filled with tumbleweeds. or maybe you've got the ideas and the motivation and the intriguing title and quirky characters, but when you go to turn them in to something, you seem to have forgotten how to form a sentence.
get the picture?
unfortunately, i fall victim to writer's block, ALOT *stares at the 7 stories in my drafts and 4 books i've written maybe a single chapter for* (sorry guys)
but fortunately, because i deal with writer's block constantly, i have plenty of ideas for beating writer's block. these may not all work for you, but this is personally what i to help myself out of slump:
1. MUSIC- i think i'm a very auditory person, because when it comes to being stuck, music always helps. i'm especially fond of listening to movie soundtracks when i write (follow boogabay on spotify!!! my playlist "soundtracks" is my go-to for writing). movie soundtracks are mostly, if not entirely instrumental, which is great if you're as easily distracted as i am. they're also literally written to create a certain mood or feeling, so they can help put you in that sort of a mood. listen to the la la land or up score while you write a cute romance tale, and pirates of the caribbean or star wars while you write your action-packed adventure novel.
2. PEOPLE- people-watching is so much fun and such a good source of inspiration. go to your local park or mall or amusement park and just watch strangers. write down descriptions of random passersby. jot down in the notes app on your phone the most detailed description of that awkward group of middle schoolers with cat ear headbands and sketchers. take note of how people behave. imagine what could possibly be happening to them in this moment. this is also a really good way to practice descriptive writing!! it may sound weird, but it's really harmless. just don't start stalking or being creepy, okay?
3. BOOKS, MOVIES, AND TELEVISION- it's like people watching from your couch, bed, desk, chair by the pool, airplane seat, or whatever! find authors you like, and read lots of them. but also, branch out and try something new (like buying one of those cheesy poetry books even though you have never liked poetry in your life). read and support other wattpad authors! read a blog. watch shows and movies in the genre you're trying to write. writing a new superhero novella? watch the gifted, cloak and dagger, the avengers, or wonder woman. a modern-day fantasy or fairytale? watch siren, shadowhunters, chronicles of narnia or even a disney movie. writing a dystopian world? watch some hunger games, the 100, gotham, or the maze runner. other media can inspire characters, worlds, and whole ideas, and help you write characters realistically. throwing in something you wouldn't usually read or watch can also broaden your mind, and may spark up something you didn't expect.
4. PINTEREST- a picture is worth a thousand words. luckily, pinterest has billions of pictures. but isn't pinterest for middle aged suburban moms to find crafts and martha stewart-esque recipes, you ask. yes, but also no!!! pinterest has literally everything (ranging from those diys to outfits that would have been trendy in the victorian era, to plant inspired names, to how to write a good villain character, to dialogue writing prompts). i'm a very visual person and this website is so helpful when it comes to visualizing scenes or characters or emotions. plus, categorizing these images into boards is super great for staying organized. i've seen some people create a board for each character, but personally, i have a board for each book idea, and then a board for characters, one for names, one for clothing, and so on. find what works for you, collect some pins, and refer to it when you feel the writer's block coming on. also, shameless plug, my writing pinterest is alldaywriting.
5. YOUR PHONE- this was and forever will be my go writer's notebook. i have a thread in there called "RANDOM MUSINGS AND INSPIRATION" which is my catchall for writing inspiration i have while i'm out and about. anywhere. i've had random ideas i definitely would have forgotten at disneyland, while watching antm on my couch, brushing past strangers in the supermarket, in class, and in some odd places. whenever my mind starts to wander, i open it up and write what i'm thinking. this can include excerpts of a future story, character ideas, title ideas, names i like, descriptive blurbs, and just about anything! i write whatever my idea is, then put a date next to it. then, when i don't know what to write about, i'll turn back to it, and usually some inspiration will hit me like a truck. other threads in my notes app that i find helpful are "VOCABULARY WORDS" for when i learn a big new word i may want to use later, "PEOPLE" for when i'm writing descriptions of strangers, "NAMES" which is an ongoing list of names i like, and "FREEWRITING" where i just sit and write random things about how much i loved seeing hamilton or how cancer needs to stop taking people i care about.
6. AN ACTUAL, PHYSICAL NOTEBOOK- i love my smartphone and laptop as much as the next person, but there's just something about putting an actual physical pencil to paper. it's a change of pace, you really have to think about what you're writing, you can't just hit a key and delete several lines at a time, and you can do so much. you can write out ideas, you can create lists, you can doodle or sketch out characters, you can make plot maps and so much more! pull out a notebook, decorate the cover, maybe make a table of contents or section it out in a way you like, and dedicate it solely to your writing. when you feel stuck, go map out your plot with one of those funny bubble things you learned about in grade school, write an scene that definitely would not be in your book, or write some random dialogue. maybe you'll find that a chapter you can't seem to write on your computer basically writes itself when you pull out a real pencil and real paper.
7. FREEWRITING- i mentioned this above, but i love it, and i feel like it's a trick that goes overlooked so easily. for those of you that don't know, freewriting is pretty much what it sounds like. you set a timer for 5, 10, or 15 minutes, depending on what you feel like, and you don't stop writing or typing until that timer is done. it doesn't even have to be good, and it doesn't have to relate to your story. just write. write about the poppies you're growing in your garden or about that embarrassing thing you said in sixth grade. just don't stop. this helps me so much, because it's no judgement, i write whatever comes to my mind, and then i'm in the groove of writing and don't want to stop. you can do this either online or offline, it doesn't really matter.
8. OTHER CREATIVE ENDEAVORS- if you like creative writing, you're probably a creative person and have other artistic hobbies. go take a dance class, paint a picture, color with chalk, sing along to your favorite music, make a stop-motion lego video for youtube. just do something that has nothing to do with writing. i dunno why this works for me, but just doing something else where i can express myself without writing is so... freeing? i also find that writing in my extras books on tchancla or on here can have the same effect.
9. EXERCISE- i'm no fitness guru, but moving is good for your body and your brain!! i like to move and get outdoors. usually this tip is most helpful when writer's block hits suddenly in the middle of a writing session. get up, walk around your house, take a quick walk around the block, go sit on your porch for a minute and enjoy the fresh air, do a few jumping jacks, or walk up and down your stairs until you're out of breath. whatever you do, leave your notebook or computer or phone for a minute, move a bit, and get some fresh air from outside your house or the library or wherever it is you write.
10. JUST DON'T- don't force yourself. if you're not feeling it, don't write. try again the next day or week or month. if you force yourself, you might start to hate writing, which would suck. your wattpad readers will understand, even if you don't explain. when i first published shuck me, i updated maybe every 6 months, sometimes once a year. i still had consistent readers, even though i offered no explanation. you just gotta do what's best for you!!
long chappie, but hopefully at least a little helpful! how do you all get over writer's block? let me know!
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HOW TO WRITE | tips & advice
Diversosa book in which i offer advice on how to write, gain new readers, and not fall trap to cliché storylines or characters