Whatever label a writer may give it, writer's block happens. And it's no fun. Writers can find themselves sitting at a screen for hours on end, having given themselves an ultimatum: "I'm not getting up from this seat until I've written a thousand words!"
That's all very well, but the result can be a thousand words of flat, dull prose, or a thousand words of dialogue so boring that the reader is likely to go to sleep. Yes, the writer can edit those thousand words later... but face it: some words are just not salvageable. Worse still: the very process of trying to make something of those words can make a writer feel even MORE desperate.
There are several things a writer can do to get past the hurdle, other than giving up writing altogether (which is always an option if it is just not fun anymore.)
1. Take a Short Break From Writing
This can mean either doing something that's pure enjoyment and has nothing to do with writing, or doing something writing-related away from the computer. Some suggestions:
- Go to a movie with a friend, or go to a movie with the intention of seeing how the plot unfolds. (What is at stake? How does the tension build? Were there any scenes that slow the movie down and could have been cut?)
- Go out to lunch just for a break, or go out to lunch somewhere different to study the menu, look at and taste different food, and look at the ambience/layout of the restaurant. Use this as a setting.
- Go shopping purely for retail therapy, or go shopping for characters. People-watching is fun, and with a notebook in hand, writers can end up with a treasure-trove of new characters. Make notes about clothes, expressions, hairdos, and interaction between people.
2. Work on Marketing Aspects of the Novel or Article
A novel is not all about creative writing. Authors need to write query letters, create a synopsis, and research markets. These are all legitimate activities that need to be done anyway. They can provide a break from trying to come up with scenes and wrestling with characters. Engage the left brain and start doing some necessary 'grunt work'.
3. Do Some Writing Exercises That Will Help the Words Flow Again
There are countless sites on the Internet that give ideas for writing prompts and writing exercises. Alternatively, writers can look for a new book of writing ideas/prompts for their professional library. Some suggestions:
- Write about a scene from the past: the strongest memory from high school years; the most embarrassing moment; family celebrations; family trauma.
- Write about a familiar setting from two different viewpoints – someone who loves it; someone who hates it.
- Write a 'twisted fairy tale' - take a familiar fairy tale and give it a new ending, or make the hero into an anti-hero.
4. Do a New Writing Course or Class
A writing course not only gives writers valuable feedback and new insights; it galvanizes them into action by giving them due dates for writing tasks. There's nothing like a deadline to get things moving. Some writers might prefer a course that has nothing to do with the work that causes their writer's block; others will welcome a course that lets them continue with the work in progress. This is a good way of injecting new life into a project.
There is always a way to deal with writer's block. Whatever name it is given, it boils down to one thing: the words have stopped flowing. It's up to the individual writer to find a way to get things moving again.
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