OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
This is a guest post from Leanne Dyck, author of The Sweater Curse. I'm not personally into knitting, but I know a lot of crafty people are these days!
He found the note on the breakfast table. There it was beside his scrambled eggs and toast. He picked it up and read it out slowly. It was Saturday—he had the time.
He smiled. Smiled—at such a note? Was he insane?
Maybe. He did, after all, love a writer. That required some degree of insanity.
Yes, he smiled. He smiled because he knew her writer’s block was over. The clouds had lifted. The sun shone. The birds sang. All was right with the world. His wife was back at work. She had once again found her muse.
“Did you read it?” she enquired, with a kiss.
“Um, yes, well, yes. I did.”
“Well, what do you think?” she beamed inquisitively.
“It’s rather, well, strong.”
“Yes, I know, isn’t it? I’m not sure where it fits yet. Sometimes it’s like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. Only you don’t have to find all the corner pieces first. You just have to find a piece.”
Yes, he had to admit, it did help to be a little insane.
***
Oh, yes I’m very familiar with writer’s block. So, familiar, am I, in fact, that I’ve devised ways and means to overcome it. These strategies have worked for me—I hope they work for you.
Release: One word leads to another. So grab a pen and write the first thing that comes to your mind—how cute your boyfriend looks in jeans; what you love about your new job; the weather. Write.
While you write, don’t worry about word count, grammar or spelling. Simply allow words to pour out of your pen uncensored. The only goal here is to relax and release.
Pep talk: It’s often beneficial to seek the advice of others who’ve faced the same obstacle. So, talk with or read the books of fellow writers to discover their strategies. Helpful books are Steven King’s On Writing, James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure, Nancy Lamb’s The Art and Craft of Storytelling.
Set goals: As a member of a critique group, my self-imposed expectation is that I have something to share at each meeting. If I don’t, my peers will know. For me, this external means of accountability is a strong motivator. Other sources of motivation may be a daily word count or a weekly blog post.
Change of scenery: Sometimes unblocking can be as easy as going for a walk. Physical exercise allows my brain to work, while the rest of me is otherwise engaged.
If I consciously think about my writing at all, I focus on my reader. I have to write—I don’t want, I can’t disappoint them. They’re counting on me. I return to my project refreshed and ready to write.
All writers face it, you will overcome it—believe in yourself.
Aspiring knitwear designer Gwen Bjarnson is stuck in Purgatory. To escape, she must re-examine her life, journey through her past and right a wrong.** But which wrong?** Young and in love, she works to establish her career, except fate has different plans. One rash act and she loses everything. Never resting, always seeking, and yearning for what she can no longer have, Gwen faces the truth: if she remains, others are destined to die. How will she solve the mystery before it is too late?
More about Leanne Dyck at OKnitting.com
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1 2 Next »Great post thank you!
It's the word count beast that gets to me. I see my target goal for the day/week ahead and then freeze up. The word count beast is my enemy.
I've never experienced this although I hear a lot about it - I run a writers' group. I think it's because my attitude to writing has always been;
There is no such thing as good writing, only good editing. and...
You can't edit a blank page.
So to me it doesn't matter how poor the words are; I continue to write, knowing I will edit the rubbish out. Some times when I am not in the mood, I find I have written some real gems; these would never be written and lost forever if I allowed myself to succumb to this writers' block thing. Something that might help people achieve this attitude if anybody wants to, is to do nanowrimo. I highly recommend it and I love it.
I hit periods of hideous writers' block every few years. Usually it's at a turning point in my writing. I've learned that sometimes, it can't be forced -- it can only be accepted. The sooner I accept that something subconscious needs to be addressed, the sooner I get out of it... otherwise, I can't connect.
I love the sound of the book -- especially the Purgatory part! :D
It is was a pleasure visiting your blog, Joanna. I'll now return to being a faithful lurker.
Thank you, Rebecca, Christopher and Cathy for your comments.
Thanks for the inspirational words, Leanne. I need a push to finish my second novel. That sounds so cool,"second novel'. Yippie!!!
Wonderful Post Leanne!!
I've suffered with writers block and it was not fun. And the more you force yourself to wrire, the worse it is. I find walking away and doing something else helped.
Great post, Leanne.
Physical activity, most notable, physical labor really helps me. I think I do some of my best writing while mucking out the horse's paddock.
Great article!
Those steps are often things I do to try to kick out of writer's block. Physical activity is also a great way for me to work out plot kinks. My very best way to keep writing is to set mini goals each month between my writer's group meetings.
I just had a small writing epiphany while taking a walk. Hope the momentum does not die down. These are some great points. Thank you.
AWESOME article- I've found some of these helpful- and the ones that I didn't think about, will certainly try next time. Thanks!