The other day, I spent some time talking with my writing friend about what to do when stuck on a writing project. I was surprised to hear that it happened to her too: the creative faucet, inexplicably, just stopped running. We discussed the ideas of reading more, looking over old material for inspiration, freewriting, and brainstorming. Through talking with her, I was able to break through some of the difficulties I’d been having over the summer (mainly it boiled down to my lack of reading any new books and being inspired). But getting stuck on a larger scale made me think about the inevitability of getting stuck in the middle of a manuscript on a minor plot point or turn of events. In fact, for those of us who are “pantsers” and do not plot in advance, getting stuck in the middle of a manuscript is almost guaranteed. True, some of the joy of writing is having that “yes!” moment, but what if that doesn’t come quickly enough?
If you’re stuck, or anticipate becoming stuck at some point, I’ve put together a list of ways to keep moving forward with a writing project. These are techniques that have aided me in the past or I’ve learned about through other writers or in writing classes. A few are experimental methods that some of us might find useful. As always, I welcome your comments. Let me know your advice when getting stuck in the middle of a writing project!
TIP ONE
Make a List: “10 Things that can Happen Here”
Basically, this plan involves pulling out a notebook and jotting down every crazy thought that occurs to you. What happens between the characters? Does something go wrong in the background? A weather event? A phone call? Just keep filling the list until you find something you can work with in your novel.
TIP TWO
Listen to Music
The best way to do this is through headphones when you’re alone. Pretend the music is the soundtrack of your novel, and make sure to note where you are stuck. Have the characters move forward in time along with the music and see what happens. You might have to change the type of music, but I would recommend some new age or world music to get you started. Try to meditate on the melody.
TIP THREE
Read a Book
This is probably the best way to get inspired. Buy a new book or pull out one of your favorites. Maybe the book is in your writing genre, maybe it’s a book outside of your normal writing genre, but either way, it should be written well for best results. Break it down. How is the book structured? What surprises are in store for the characters? How does the author handle twists and turns in the plot? Can you take a scene and morph it to your own? Get inspired through other writers.
TIP FOUR
Read Poetry
Similar to reading a great work of literature, reading poetry is a fantastic way to get words and language moving through your mind. Whenever I’m stuck with phrasing or even a specific word, I don’t turn to the thesaurus but to a book of poetry. It’s amazing how the use of words in poetry can inspire a struggling writer. Find a word that intrigues you or is unique and try to set it into your scene somehow. Build around it, playfully, until a new scene or phrasing emerges.
TIP FIVE
Put the MS away for a while
Really at a loss? Put the manuscript away and let your subconscious work on it for a bit. This is a tough one, because us writers feel as though we need to work constantly. But perhaps working on something else or even giving your mind a break will trigger something. Once, I thought of a different way to structure my plot a whole year after I’d given up on a manuscript!
TIP SIX
Writing Workshops
Joining a writing workshop not only helps you learn about the craft, it sets you up with other writers who will be willing to help you with your project or even your writing troubles. We can all identify with a creative block, and perhaps here, others have a prescription for writer’s block or even ideas for your story!
TIP SEVEN
Read the entire MS back from the beginning
I’ve used this one in the past, and even though it takes some time (depending on how far along you are), it really does help. Make connections in the narrative, find missing information or holes in the plot you can fill, and explore the history of the story. Another way this helps is that when you reach the point you’re stuck on, your mind can’t help but try to keep the narrative going. By that point, you should have something to work with.
TIP EIGHT
Keep Going!
Keep writing, even if it sucks. You might get something useful out of it once you chip away. Even the best authors admit to tossing pages of writing away—often an entire day’s work. Sometimes, the writing will be horrible. We all have those days. But if we push on, something will inevitably come up.
TIP NINE
Writing Prompts
A quick Google search should lead you to some helpful writing prompts. While these might not have anything to do with the project you’re working on, if you step away from the project and keep writing, you might find the gears start turning again or you can use the material somehow in your current novel. Try to find prompts that match your genre. For example, you might search for writing prompts for horror writers (I just found this one: http://www.bryndonovan.com/2016/09/19/50-spooky-writing-prompts-for-horror-thriller-ghost-and-mystery-stories/).
TIP TEN
Balloon Chart/Mapping
This one is a favorite in English classes and some Creative Writing courses. Many writers use this method, and if you’re not familiar with it, the basic idea is that you jot down a word and then connect ideas through “bubbles.” Here is an example of a simple balloon chart:
So, for example, if you’re stuck on a scene involving a ship, you would jot down “SHIP” and connect all your ideas—the first thoughts that pop into your head—until something springs to life: passengers, water, storm, drowning, shipwreck, Gilligan’s Island, etc. If nothing else, this method is fun.
TIP ELEVEN
Exercise
Do chores, take a shower, go for a long walk in nature. More than any of the above methods, this one should help clear your mind and get you back in balance. It’s amazing the ideas that spring to mind when I’m doing the dishes (although then my hands are wet and I can’t write down the ideas!). But never underestimate the power of stepping away for a little while to spend time in the outdoors or let your mind wander while doing some tedious cleaning.
I hope you found these tips useful. Let me know if you do! Good luck!
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