Writer’s block. That dreaded creative black hole that prevents you from making progress on your story. If you’ve ever been hit with it, you know how frustrating it is, so today I’m going to talk about my methods of overcoming it.
First, what is writer’s block? In my experience, there are two forms of writer’s block: procrastination, and what I call subconscious plotting. Let’s talk about what each of these are and how to deal with them.
Writer’s Block as Procrastination
We know we should be writing, but for whatever reason, we just don’t feel like it. Writer’s block can be a convenient excuse for not dealing with things that we should be. Here are 4 common types of procrastination-related writer’s block and what to do about each.
- Fear. Unless you’re a king of confidence, you’ve likely felt some level of fear around sharing your work with the world. I know I have. Sharing our writing can feel like sharing our soul, and it’s scary to think that someone might reject the deepest and most vulnerable parts of ourselves. This can lead to avoiding writing to avoid the fear. There are 2 things you can do to overcome this fear.
- Write for only yourself. There’s no reason you need to share your first draft with anybody. Write it as if nobody else will see it. Just you, your pencil (or keyboard), and your muse.
- Remember that YOU are not your writing. While it can be hard to separate ourselves from our creative work, we are not one entity. We are worth more than what we create. If someone critiques your writing, they are not criticizing you as a person (unless they’re very, very rude, which is their problem, not yours).
- Exhaustion. Sometimes, we get burnt out on life. You may have a busy schedule, and by the time you open your notebook to write, you’re exhausted and have nothing left to give. To overcome this, I would suggest taking some time to rest and unplug from everything. If this isn’t possible, then find something refreshing to do right before you start writing. For example, stretch, go for a walk, sit in nature, or listen to some meditative music to reinvigorate yourself.
- Lack of inspiration. Sometimes we suffer creative exhaustion rather than physical exhaustion. If you’ve been working hard on one story for weeks and weeks, it can be beneficial to take a day or two as a break from this story and come back to it with fresh eyes. Find other ways to gain inspiration here.
- Blank page syndrome. You may have heard of the fear of the blank page. What makes blank pages so difficult? The possibilities. A blank page is an empty canvas: It can be filled with beautiful things, but where do we start? There are thousands of possibilities, and at some point, you have to force yourself to just pick one and go with it. If you’re feeling stuck because of blank page syndrome, here are 2 ways to overcome it:
- Decide what you’re going to write BEFORE you open your notebook (or writing program). Blank page syndrome is the strongest when you’re sitting there staring at the blank page, so before you even sit down to write, decide what scene you’re going to write and how it’s going to start. That way, as soon as you confront the blank page, you already know what you’re going to do.
- Write in a different location. If you normally write in a specific chair in a specific room, try writing at a local library, cafe, outside, or in your car (but please, no writing and driving). A different location can force your brain to think differently, which may push you over this hurdle.
Writer’s Block as Subconscious Plotting
The other type of writer’s block is what I call subconscious plotting. This means that your subconscious is hard at work solving plot holes, organizing scenes, and developing characters, but you don’t consciously have that information yet. The subconscious is funny in that it works in the background–subconsciously, if you will–even when you’re doing something else. Ever had an idea pop into your mind out of seemingly nowhere? Your subconscious was likely cooking it for a while before it decided the idea was developed enough.
Here are the 3 easiest ways to tell whether your writer’s block is subconscious plotting:
- You’re stuck on one particular scene or chapter, but are able to write a different scene.
- You’re not sure how a particular event in your story should play out.
- You feel like something in your story is missing or unsolved.
Subconscious plotting happens when your subconscious is busy trying to change or fix something in your story, but it’s not ready to share yet. It needs some time to finish developing this new idea before you can integrate it into the story.
3 Ways to Help Your Subconscious Plot
- Write a different part of the story. If it’s a particular section of the book that you’re stuck on, just skip it and come back later. I often skip it with notes to myself in [brackets] so I can easily find the problem section later. For example, I may write [the hero somehow arrives at the library]. I have no idea how he arrives at the library. Once my subconscious figures it out, I can jump back to my bracketed note and replace it with a scene. Until then, I can skip that part and write what happens after.
- Make a list or chart of possible options. If your subconscious is trying to figure out how a particular event plays out, you can help by writing out a list of possible options. Start with a brief overview, then expand each option in the list. Write how the outcome would change and how it would affect the rest of the story. Write the pros and cons. Consider how each character would feel or how they would react to each option. This can help you think of solutions and may give your subconscious the push to decide what to do.
- Talk to someone about what you’re stuck on. This should be a close friend or relative you trust, someone who can listen without interrupting or being too critical. They may be able to offer comments or ask questions you hadn’t thought of. Most of the time, the simple act of having to explain something, out loud, to another person will make you think about it from a new angle. It forces you out of your head. My sister is my trusted listener, and she knows exactly what’s coming when I turn to her and say, “I need to tell you about something I’m stuck on.”
What are your favorite ways to deal with writer’s block? Let me know in the comments!
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