Annie’s Approach to Writer’s Block

Today, I’m addressing the bane of every writer’s existence: writer’s block.  It’s that feeling when you know you should be writing something, but you can’t think of anything but complete, utter garbage.  Of all writing-related topics to discuss, I feel like this is the topic we bloggers turn to with a startling frequency.  Writers are always looking for new, inventive ideas in the pursuit of slaying our inner demons, so we turn to the ever-so-reliable Internet to find new weapons.  It’s a great idea… in theory.

Let’s be clear: I’m no professional on how to handle writer’s block.  Hell, I have no idea how to handle writer’s block most of the time.  I’m subject to its perils just like you are, but I’ve found an interesting perspective that made it easier to tackle.

Many moons ago, before I started dedicatedly writing my book, I let writer’s block rule me and my creative process.  Writer’s block became a catch-all excuse to not sit down and try to write.  However, when I started writing for my independent study (which you can read all about here), I discussed writer’s block with my advisor and got some of the best advice I’ve ever received.  Here’s what my advisor said:

“Annie, writer’s block doesn’t exist.  You either know what to say and don’t want to say it, or don’t know what to say.  It’s that simple.”

I’m paraphrasing of course, but the sentiment is the same.  If you are sitting in front of your computer or your journal or whatever apparatus you use to write, you are capable of putting words on paper.  Writer’s block does not stop you from writing: you stop you from writing.  Writer’s block is nothing more than something else to blame for lack of focus, lack of purpose, or lack of effort.

Let’s talk about the two situations in which writing gets challenging: knowing what to say versus not knowing what to say.

If you know what you want to say and are consciously choosing not to write it, then I have one piece of advice for you: write your damn novel.  Open your computer or your notebook, pick up your pencil, and write your damn novel.  If you’re looking for a sign that you should close your browser and write your damn novel, then this is it.  I’m rooting for you, my friend.

If you still need a swift kick in the pants to get writing, here are some of my favorite motivators:

• This video from Rachael Stephen:  In this amazing video, Rachael makes the point that writing is like making a date with your writer self.  Your writer self will never get to the date before you do, but if you show up first (by sitting down to write), she might show up.  She may be a few minutes late, but you can only write when you give yourself the chance.

• “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story” from Hamilton: I’m as big of a book nerd as I am a Hamilton nerd and listening to the last song of the musical always inspires me to open my computer and write.  This song is about your legacy: you may never know your impact, but what are you going to do today to make sure that you leave something to outlive you?
• Watching Jane the Virgin: This may seem counterintuitive, but watching Jane the Virgin inspires me to write because Jane, the protagonist and an aspiring writer, is always writing her novel in the show.  Watching Jane write makes me want to write as well (and her baby daddy is a total hunk, so that’s definitely a reason to watch).

If you are ready to write but don’t know what to say, then the endgame is clear: figure out what to write…and then write it.  Easy, right?

Wrong.  Figuring out what to write is hard.  There are millions upon millions of possibilities to choose from and even after choosing possibilities, you have to decide how each possibility will influence your novel as a whole.  No pressure, though.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when you don’t know what to write next:

• What is the absolute worst thing that could happen to my character at this moment?  Peril, however unpleasant in real life, makes a fabulous story, so throw your protagonist a curveball or two and watch them flounder to recover.
• What wouldn’t happen next?  Look at your protagonists situation and start narrowing down the possibilities.  Deciding what wouldn’t come next might lead you to what should come next.
• Is my character where he/she is supposed to be?  If I’m unsure of where to go next, I backtrack one chapter and decide if my protagonist is in the right place at the right time.  If I envision her somewhere else, I backtrack 1,000 words or so and rewrite so she goes where I need her to go.  Looking back at old material while writing can be dangerous, but sometimes we have to take two steps back before we can take fifty-seven steps forward.

If those questions didn’t get you thinking, here are some tactics that I use to get the creative juices flowing:

• Skip ahead:  I’m the worst about this, but sometimes I get so excited to write a particular scene…but have write a gateway scene that isn’t nearly as much fun.  Leave a note for yourself, come back to it later, and start writing something that excites you.
• Set a timer for five minutes and write without thinking:  Open a blank document and type every thought that comes into your head.  You may end up with a document full of gibberish, but you may end up with your next plot point.
• Take a break.  Or don’t:  If you need to step away from your computer for a hot second, then do it.  If you need to put on your big girl pants and write through it, then do it.  You know yourself and your writing process, so decide if absence will make the heart grow fonder or is you just need to write through the pain.
• Read a book you don’t like:  This one’s a little weird, but it works.  If I pick up a book I know I hate, then I start thinking about the ways in which I could improve upon it.  I’d move this plot point here, cut this chapter, kill off this character… and next thing you know, you’ve got an idea.
• Whatever you do, don’t quit:  If you decide to push a project to the side because you can’t think of what to write next, that’s okay.  Maybe you’re meant to let it go for now because you’ll get a fabulous idea later.  Whatever happens, don’t quit for good.  Decide that you’re not writing that piece right now, but you’re still leaving it open.  Don’t burn any bridges.

What is your approach to writer’s block?  What are your weird writer’s block fixes?

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Finally, I’ve a Q&A post coming up, so give me some questions in the comments or on my Twitter and I’ll give you some answers!

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