Inside Scoop

[7] Writer's Block

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Vicky_nfs: Do something else

When I get stuck while writing one story, I usually switch to another. Lately I’ve found myself working on a lot of stories and I get inspired for every single one of them at different times.  It’s easier to write when you’re motivated and really inspired so since I use the ‘whatever-comes-to-mind’ tactic, I don’t really have those moments anymore where you sit in front of your screen or paper, not knowing what to write.

However, when I had one or two stories it would happen sometimes that I wanted to work on the story, but didn’t really have any idea what to write. Or I’d know what I wanted to happen in the story but just couldn’t write it down. That’s when I really did my best to visualize the scene I wanted to write. It’s easier –for me – to write when I have a clear image in my head of everything that’s happening in my story. It’s like a movie that’s playing in your head and you only need to find the right words so other people can enjoy that movie the same way you do – but sometimes that’s easier said than done.

I can’t write unless I’m excited about writing and really want to write. Sometimes I just don’t feel like writing and then it doesn’t matter how long I try to, nothing decent will come out except maybe two lines. When it happens to me that I get stuck on a story and don’t know what to happen next, that’s when you’ll find me reading and watching television, even listening to my sisters their stories can help me get inspired again. Sometimes it’s a single scene, line or even word that inspires and then I’m ready to write again.

Also, I love when I’m in bed at night (which isn’t a rare thing, it’s not like I sleep on the floor) and just before I fall asleep I can get hit by an idea. For example, when I’m stuck on a chapter and all I need is a way to get from scene A to scene B, or to get from one chapter to another, ideas usually come at the most unexpected times. Sometimes it’s late at night while I’m falling asleep, or when I’m on the stairs with a cup of coffee, but I get the most ideas to write when I’m not able to write. Exams are my most productive moments or at least when it comes to story ideas, so if you ever have writer’s block, try to study. It works for me, every single time. That’s probably because at that moment I’m not busy with anything story-related, so part of my brain can focus on story ideas and what not while I’m busy doing something else entirely, and then suddenly new story ideas and scenes pop up in my head - completely out of the blue.

If I can’t find the enthusiasm in me to write, I’ll just leave my writing alone for some time – an hour, a day, a week,… and do something completely different. If I can’t get a scene on paper, I’ll try to visualize it and try to create a movie of it in my head as clear as possible. And finally, when I’m stuck on a story and have no idea where I want to go with it or how it should develop, I’ll focus on another story – new ideas will come eventually.  

Leigh19: Go with the flow

Writer's block- to me, is the same thing as forgetting what you were going to say. When I have writer's block I tend to focus on that to no avail. Eventually if you stop concentrating so hard on it, your ideas will just come back. There's no point in needlessly stressing yourself out over it.

I find going for a jog while listening to my music and sometimes picturing my story as a movie playing out in my head works. I try out different scenarios and soon enough I find the writer's block is gone. The rare occasion where that doesn't work, I just move on , write something else - because if I'm conflicted or I can't take my mind off a current problem I need to fix that before writing again.

Real life tends to be the cause of my writer's block, the lack of focus and concentration. Going with the flow will give you that stress free attitude of not worrying over it and while writing something else I find myself getting ideas for the story I found myself stuck on.

Emmiie: Patience

Patience, I guess. But then again, there are many different types of writer’s block. There are some were you just can’t get in the mood to write, or have lost interest in a story, or there’s the type when you have hit a road block or just aren’t sure where to go next. 

Unfortunately, no matter what the case is, there is no easy solution to instantly solve writer’s block. Sometimes it takes time: you just need to step away from your story, give your brain a break, and read over it with a fresh mind – depending on how long it takes you to get the story out of your head.

If you have gotten to the point where you are just over the story, or you find it hard to stick with the same one because new ideas continue to pop into your mind…well, this type of writer’s block is tricky to deal with. Writing is A LOT harder than people think, it takes a lot of focus and determination, but nothing beats that feeling of accomplishment when you finish a story. And that’s what keeps me going…well, that and the fact that the stories I want to write are the sequels so I need to finish them in order to get there. 

My advice to anyone struggling with this form of writer's block is to either set the story aside until you find a new love for it or until it becomes interesting again, and use that new found inspiration to write a new story you are interested in, but try to set some sort of goal to make sure you actually finish it. Or, if you want to switch between stories, pick out a few to focus on, and move between those. This might keep you from getting bored. Then there is the other way to cope with this, jot down the new ideas in your mind so you don't forget them, and continue to power through your story until it is completed. You can always go back and edit and nitpick. And you could use this other story as motivation to finish the one you are currently working on.

Normally, what I do with writer's block is visualize. I listen to some music that inspires me, fall into character, and imagine possibly scenarios. Think what the character would do, how she/he feels, what the character is thinking. This can often help to come up with an idea or two.

And when all fails, sometimes writing is the only way to get past it. I know it sounds silly, writing to concur writer’s block…but sometimes all you need is to get your fingers moving, and to kick start the engine – so to speak. Sure, it might be a little rocky at first; you might even decide to scrap a few paragraphs later...but normally, once you get past that tough point, things begin to flow more naturally again.