I’ve been listening to another book on writing - Save The Cat! Writes A Novel - and while I greatly enjoyed almost all of it, and found it very helpful, at the very end there was a phrase that made me want to punch the wall.
“There’s no such thing as writer’s block or plotter’s block. There’s only perfectionist’s block.”
The author, Jessica Brody, gave credit for this nonsense to another author, Emily Hainsworth, and I freely admit that I wished both of them great ill at this point in the book.
I’ve made posts on this subject before… I think?… but never mind, I’m going to do it again.
People who say ‘there’s no such thing as writer’s block’ or ‘just push through it’ are like people who say ‘there’s no such thing as PMS’ or ‘depressed people could cheer up if they wanted to’. Only someone who’s never experienced it would say something that stupid. And those of us who have tend to react something along the lines of ‘I HATE YOU, YOU SMUG BASTARD, I HOPE YOU DIE DIE DIE’. (One of my PMS symptoms is intensely homicidal thoughts! Fun!)
But I think part of the problem is that ‘Writer’s Block’ is actually a blanket term, like ‘mental illness’ or ‘chronic pain’. There are multiple types, multiple causes, and multiple ways of handling them. No one approach will work for all of them, and what works great for one will actively worsen another
Here are the four kinds I know about. There may be more, but these are the ones I’ve experienced personally.
Okay, this has nothing really to do with MBTI but, I need creative minds/writers or anyone to help me get off writers block. Thank you so much and I will try also posting more on here, just needed a little break
(I know this isn’t really an INFJ thing like I usually post, but I felt the need to write this to help others with this problem)
So, I have been writing book for forever it seems like, but, as a book writer, I could never finish a book because I was always having writers block, I never understood why I couldn’t finish it…
Until now.
So here are some things you should to to prevent writers block or get over one you are having without completely stopping your book writing process.
Don’t focus on the details. Remeber, this is draft one. You can always edit it later. So I tend to write only the dialogue and add in notes what I can image the character doing or thinking so when I edit it, I can add more detail to that part of the book and describe step by step after draft one.
Write down every idea. So, sometime, I get random ideas on what to write. Like, I’ll be eating breakfast and get an idea to write something that might happen in the book I want to add in the future. So I write it down. And the whole plot build because I write down every single thing I want to happen in the book, it’s the matter of arranging it in order.
No such thing as beginning to end. This is what really got my attention and made me realize my source of writers block is from the feeling I have to write the book from beginning to end when, in reality, that’s not how it works for most people. If I feel I can’t write anymore of one part of my book I am writing, I will skip that part and move on to either the closest part I feel like writing or, I might even write something that happens towards the end, so that way I can always edit it and it will flow smoothly while still keeping that idea I had beforehand.
Who are the characters. This kinda helped me a lot. If you do end up taking a break, this helps remembering which character is who and their personality. For instance, I like to use reference pictures to describe the looks of my character and I write the description of the characters appearance and their personality. I also to a background of their life so I know what they have gone through to be who they are today.
I don’t know if this would help anyone. I know this helped me a lot when writing and I’m getting closer to finishing my first book than I ever did before because of this method I decided to use. I hope this advice could help others with their writings! Let me know if this helped you!
A while back, I posted a compilation of advice that I’d received from other writers before trying to cut down my 120,000 word YA fantasy manuscript. Six months later, it’s at 100,000 – a far more acceptable number. It was a brutal task, but a necessary one and I’m here to share the key strategies that helped me cut the big chunks:
Cut Characters – Big cast? Remove subplot-only bois and mains who either don’t influence the plot or whose role could be carried out by another.
Cut Scenes – If they don’t directly advance the plot, cut completely. If they serve some purpose, try merging scenes to reduce intro/outro/location content. One long scene is shorter than two short scenes.
Reduce Locations – Within a chapter, visit as few locations as possible to avoid extra descriptions. This is also relevant across the book, as you won’t need to go into detail about a location more than once.
Cut Pre Scene and Post Scene – This can either be by starting the scene later (getting straight to the point) and ending it earlier or condensing the pre and post scene content. As a rule of thumb, a pre-scene should be 500 max.
Have Clear Motivations – If your characters’ motivations are too complex, explaining/showing them will take up too much space. Nuance can grow over time.
Get to the Heart of Your Story – Carrying on from the last point, maybe try writing a pitch and synopsis so that you better understand what’s at the heart of your story, that way you can whittle down anything outside of that with the brutality needed for reducing word count.
Now, go forth and kill your darlings!
Then come back for part 2 where I’ll be talking about the line-level (micro) cuts that really do add up!
After some time off to finish uni and recover, the writing tips are back! I had some requests for this post so whether you’re new to writing or looking to start, here are my top tips.
1. Start a Passion Project
If you’re hung up over your first story getting published, you’ll start to hate it. Your first project should be something you love enough to finish it for you. I honestly recommend fanfiction as it’s a great way to get early feedback and become used to critique, but an own story is just as good as long as you join a critique group.
2. Join a Writing Community
Whether that’s on Instagram, Tumblr, a real-life society, or somewhere else entirely, there are many reasons to join the writer’s community with a platform of your own. It’s the best way to find Critique Partners (CPs), Beta Readers, as well as a wealth of tips that will improve your writing.
3. Explore Planning Methods
You’ll need to use trial and error to decide what works best for you. Try fully outlining, diving straight in, Beat Sheets, Flash Cards, Ten Steps Ahead, or even just making lists of what you want to show. One will work for you, but it’s different for everyone.
4.Write
Write as often as you can. Nothing makes writing stronger than practice. It doesn’t have to be “good” or neat or pretty, but words should go on the page. Don’t let your insecurities keep you from filling that blank page.
[If reposting to instagram please credit @isabellestonebooks]
Anybody else got that Evergiven sized writers block
“Where’s the next chapter?!” Well buddy you’re never gonna guess
What’s the comic sans trick?
I’ve also enjoyed the various forms of Ariel thinking that with tiny font of the narrow style a little mermaid is scratching the words into stone along with me and that only by switching to another Ariel style can I add or edit words but never remove them. So when the proofreading occurs I get to act like Sebastián with my lil claws and clip all the fogey out, leaving just my thoughts that Ariel helped write lol
Never delete. Never read what you’ve already written. Pass Go, collect your $200, and keep going.
This is the literal best writing advice I have ever read. Period.
Special note: “Kill someone” means kill someone in the story. Please do not kill random real life passers by every time you hit a block. My lawyer says misunderstanding writing advice is not an acceptable defense. See you all in 25 to 50 years.
This is so fantastic… You’ve helped me get over a writing block I’ve had for over a month!
I am slowly turning into someone I despise! I keep start Series without finishing old ones. If anyone has a cure to this illness PLEASE GIVE IT TO ME!!
WRITERS BLOCK 67: David and Rylend chat with Hall of Fame editor Shelly Bond about her past at Vertigo and Black Crown and her present running revolutionary Kickstarter campaigns and teaching classes to inspire the next wave of great comic creators… and the broadcast is interrupted briefly when the kindly Armenian Grandmother living next door to David brings over some freshly baked nazook.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Samsung Podcasts, and more!
WRITERS BLOCK 66: David and Rylend do a process deep dive with comic creator Don Walker (AGENT WILD and REAPER CORPS)… and then they get matching, wildly-inappropriate tattoos to celebrate the podcast’s Communicator Awards victory.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Samsung Podcasts, and more!
WRITERS BLOCK 65: David and Rylend sit down with 18-year-old wunderkind Saida Woolf, who started writing and drawing Scout Comics’ SOULSTREAM when she was just 15. Many Doogie Howser jokes are made and Rylend and David remember what they were like at 15… slamming Jolt Cola and burning G.I. Joe figures in Rylend’s case… debating which suit to wear to meet Mr. Chekov at the Mall in David’s case.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Samsung Podcasts, and more!
You know how muses are usually portrayed as these beautiful, ethereal beings that glide about gracing people with inspiration while harps play in the background?
Well, apparently mine never got the memo. Because all my inspiration comes from something that is akin to a little gremlin that sits on my chest and refuses to let me do anything productive or even sleep at night. All the while it gives me the most incredible ideas for stories, and I get all excited and rush over to my computer with my fingers poised over the keyboard.
And the gremlin/muse only grins and laughs.“No words, only ideas!”.
Long story short I have writers block please send help.
Well, many of us are students, right? But we’re writers, too - doesn’t matter if we have a book published or not. If you’re here, you have an idea, and you love writing, then you’re a writer <3 and… a student.
I am, too! And I know it is difficult sometimes because you REALLY want to write that novel, but you want to graduate! Yeah, same.
So here are a few tips that might help you with that!
Disclaimer: this is about my personal experience, and just because it works for me doesn’t mean it will work for you. :)
Tips:
Schedule all of your assignments!!!
“Omg, so obvious…” yes (and no). I often forget to write them down in a calendar. I have all the due dates written in a sheet, but not scheduled, which makes it hard to manage my time.
Scheduling will help you to have an easy overview of everything you have to do for school/college.
Revise everyday
I’m sorry! But I find this SO important because this way you’re always up-to-date with your studies. It won’t be so hard when you have an exam or quiz approaching, AND it won’t take as much time as it would if you’re 100% lost.
Prompts, prompts, prompts
Is it overwhelming to keep working on your novel after a long day? Okay, don’t worry, I got you. Search for a nice prompt and write about it. It doesn’t have to be a long story (sometimes less than 1k can work just fine!)
Why do this? So that you keep writing every day.
Track your time
I knowww this is super boring for some of you, but please, this is life-changing!
I’ve been tracking my activities for more than a year now, and it really helps me to know how long I take to do a certain thing, and how much time I’ve spent on it (in a month, week, etc.)
I recommend an APP called TOGGL TRACK, and recently I’ve discovered ACTIE, which is almost the same, but it is more for you to work on your goals.
Set goals
Don’t write down “finish a 60K word novel”!!! Such a hugeee mistake. I did that and guess what?! I started losing motivation because the goal was TOO BIG and was taking ages to achieve.
Instead, set goals & routines like these (for example):
- Write 500 words everyday of [novel name];
- Work for 40 minutes on [novel name];
- Finish writing [number] chapters of [novel name];
- Reach 5K words;
- Write [character]’s biography / backstory;
- etc.
I hope you found this helpful! If you have more tips, feel free to add them here.
Also, if you’re interested, check out my blog on WordPress, where I publish my poems and soon will bring more content, such as some tips, resources (pdf sheets, for example), and some other nice things!
I’ve lost my words these days. They’re somewhere stuck in my soul, sleeping away. I hope I’ll be able to bleed them out soon, and let the red ink fill the pages. Let the truth be spilled, and be turned into poetry, into purpose. Until then I will stare at blank space, let my emotions take me to wherever they hide. We’ll find them soon and come alive.
I’ve written two drafts out of the six and the third one is almost finished. I wish I could say I was brainstorming the entire time and was able make some stellar plot but I really just got hit with writer’s block again.
I’m sorry for taking so long to finish the drafts and I’ll try to finish them faster.
Aldığım kararları, kurduğum hayalleri imkansız olsa bile benimle gerçekleştirmek isteyen biriyle hayatımı paylaşıyorum bence bu çok önemli bir şey sana inanıyor destek çıkıyor. Hayallerini ve sorunlarını küçümsemiyor seninle birlikte sorununu çözüyor ve hayallerine yol gösteriyor. Senin yorulup pes ettiğin yerde elinden tutup kaldırıyor. Olmaz başaramam dediğin zaman seni güçlendiriyor böyle insanları alın hayatınıza böyle insanlara anlatın hayallerinizi herkese anlatmayın sonra hayal olarak kalır. Yanınızda olup size köstek olacağına, arkanızda sağlam duracak insanlarla bir hayat paylaşın.
A mood board is a collage of images, text, colors, or materials. that are used to “to evoke or project a particular style or concept”. Basically, it helps set the “mood” for whatever you are working on. Mood boards are often used by interior decorators and artists but can also be used for writing. I love creating mood boards for each of my characters. It helps me get a a feel for the character I am writing. For example, one of my characters is an elven swordswoman. For her mood board I used images of trees, flowers, decorative swords, and artwork of elves. It really helps when I’m trying to write from her perspective.
To create a mood board, simply find images or text that remind you of your OC. I use google images or even pinterest to find images. Its easy and fun.
2. Take Quizzes for Your Characters
Okay, this may seem a little silly but it totally works. Take a quiz from your characters point of view. Select the answers you think your character would select. I personally like doing this with personality quizzes such as the Myers Briggs tests because I can use the results as a foundation for my characters personality. It’s fun, effective, and actually productive.
3. Create Playlists
I listen to music a lot because it gets my creative juices flowing. So, if I find myself stuck on a particular character, I make a playlist of songs that remind me of that character. I actually like doing this before I start working on a character so I can listen to it while working on them. It sets the mood and gives you better results. Give it a try.
4. Study Some of Your Favorite Characters
Sit down, take out a notebook, and start taking notes on some of your favorite characters from literature, TV, or movies. What made you attracted to this character? What made you hate this character? What is your favorite thing about this character? Answering these questions will help see why you feel that way towards your favorite or least favorite fictional characters. Use your notes as a guideline on how to make readers either hate or love your OCs.
5. People Watch
Yeah, this sounds creepy but it is very effective. Go to the park, take a walk, or simply sit at the window and observe the people you see. Take notes on the little things that they do. Do they walk a certain way? Do they stand up straight or do they slouch? What quirks do they have? Do they drum their fingers while sitting? Do they tap their foot while waiting in line? Write down what you observe and you can apply the results to your characters. It will give your original characters a more realistic touch.
A mood board is a collage of images, text, colors, or materials. that are used to “to evoke or project a particular style or concept”. Basically, it helps set the “mood” for whatever you are working on. Mood boards are often used by interior decorators and artists but can also be used for writing. I love creating mood boards for each of my characters. It helps me get a a feel for the character I am writing. For example, one of my characters is an elven swordswoman. For her mood board I used images of trees, flowers, decorative swords, and artwork of elves. It really helps when I’m trying to write from her perspective.
To create a mood board, simply find images or text that remind you of your OC. I use google images or even pinterest to find images. Its easy and fun.
2. Take Quizzes for Your Characters
Okay, this may seem a little silly but it totally works. Take a quiz from your characters point of view. Select the answers you think your character would select. I personally like doing this with personality quizzes such as the Myers Briggs tests because I can use the results as a foundation for my characters personality. It’s fun, effective, and actually productive.
3. Create Playlists
I listen to music a lot because it gets my creative juices flowing. So, if I find myself stuck on a particular character, I make a playlist of songs that remind me of that character. I actually like doing this before I start working on a character so I can listen to it while working on them. It sets the mood and gives you better results. Give it a try.
4. Study Some of Your Favorite Characters
Sit down, take out a notebook, and start taking notes on some of your favorite characters from literature, TV, or movies. What made you attracted to this character? What made you hate this character? What is your favorite thing about this character? Answering these questions will help see why you feel that way towards your favorite or least favorite fictional characters. Use your notes as a guideline on how to make readers either hate or love your OCs.
5. People Watch
Yeah, this sounds creepy but it is very effective. Go to the park, take a walk, or simply sit at the window and observe the people you see. Take notes on the little things that they do. Do they walk a certain way? Do they stand up straight or do they slouch? What quirks do they have? Do they drum their fingers while sitting? Do they tap their foot while waiting in line? Write down what you observe and you can apply the results to your characters. It will give your original characters a more realistic touch.
