I have been meaning to post on this topic for a while, and was prompted to finally bite the bullet this morning by a well meaning message about a new service called Plinky. Plinky it seems is a new prompt for bloggers to overcome writer’s block, it asks questions like ‘what gets better with age?’ or other such random things, and you reply. You can even post it to your blog.
Can I be honest? It sounds a little naff. If you don’t have a clue what to say, then the conventional wisdom is to say nothing. Why blog about meaningless rubbish when it wasn’t something you wanted to talk about in the first place? Sounds a lot like facebook to me.
Anyway, onto what I actually wanted to talk about. Writer’s block. Or as I like to think of it, ‘the problem formerly known as writer’s block’.
I hear about writer’s block a lot, from those who don’t believe in it to those who feel it can seriously affect your output as a writer, and can be really hard to get rid of. My own personal view is that writer’s block doesn’t exist. Naming our enemy gives it greater credence than it deserves. Infact, I don’t even think of it as an enemy, but a sign that I need to take a different direction, think about something else for a while.
Let’s face it, writers (particularly novel writers) have to maintain an entire world of fiction in their head as though it is real. Perhaps several worlds. It all has to make sense. As though it were a play on the grandest stage, an author needs to write, cast, direct and play all parts. And manage the stage. This play never ends, by the way. It performs day after day, week after week. So let’s give ourselves a break here. It’s reasonable to expect that we all have off days when our brain has had enough and wants a holiday. The brain is voting for a change of scenery, a sun lounger and a pina colada.
So how do we negotiate with that? I have seen some useful advice out there, including a recent post by writer/blogger Rohini Gupta.
I like to think of this issue as being about right-brain/left-brain. I work full-time in addition to writing, as many unpublished authors do. During the day my brain is working in a different way, it’s more about logic, problem solving, organization and working within a system. That’s an entirely different way to how I write creatively. But I learnt that I can use that way of thinking to complement the creative stream of thoughts. A fantasy world needs structure, logic. So if your usual creative right-brain approach to solving ‘writer’s block’ doesn’t work, try taking a step back then coming at it in a left-brain way.
Suggestions for dealing with writer’s block:
First, remember that writing is your business
You have to find a solution to the problem or you are out of business. A vague sense of malaise is unacceptable, as it would be in your day job. You are not a writer if you do not write.
Remember that this is a temporary state
Of course it is. Because you are a writer, the one with ideas. See rule 1 above. Don’t trip over this brick and think it’s a massive wall. Just keep going and you will get through.
Diagnose your problem
Is it related to a particular character? Plot related (either small or big picture)? Something about the flow of your writing not quite right? Or is it nothing to do with your writing at all, but personal circumstances? I am not the best person to advise on the latter, but these things can affect us all. Be analytical, understand your enemy.
Stop reading, re-reading and editing what you just wrote
The answer isn’t there. And it certainly isn’t in the words of that last paragraph, that are going spiralling around in your head again and again as you look for the next bit. Leave them be. Keep going forward and let the words flow, even if they aren’t great at first. They will come good.
Think of your writing as an ideas engine
I don’t know the slightest bit about engines but go with me on this. For your writing, you put raw material (fuel) in, you get ideas out. So if there is a problem, you could have a blockage, a misfire or you need more fuel. All can be solved.
Character problems
You may not understand your character well enough. Work on them outside your manuscript. What are their likes, dislikes, what past experiences may have coloured their outlook on life? What are their values? What do they think about the other characters in your story? They may tell you how they would react and how you get past your block.
Or is the problem that your character is telling you what you want, but that contradicts your plan? It’s happened to me too. You need to let the characters go their own way. They are real people, with feelings. Or you can find another external influence on the character that may make them toe the line, but be careful it’s not overdone or you can lose your reader’s sense of belief.
Plot problems
Often these are mixed up with character problems. Not sure where things go from point X? Does the story not ring true and feel too contrived? Back away and examine the cause and effect that has brought the story to this point. As always, ask your characters first what their natural inclination is. If that doesn’t provide an answer, ask yourself ‘what if’? Start mind mapping through different scenarios, starting from a basic ‘what if’, to see where these might lead you. Most of the ideas could be rubbish, but you only need one good one.
Add more fuel
Running out of inspiration? You can add fuel of several kinds to your ideas engine. Some of my favourites include:
- Reading non-fiction, e.g. history, world cultures, anything interesting really that isn’t in your genre. Be very aware when drawing inspiration from within your genre as ideas can get a bit too similar.
- Read inspiring prose, writers who have a way with words which takes your breath away. Learn what you can from them, the flow of writing, their choice of words, description, use of metaphor.
- Watch a good film or programme. I love historical dramatizations, the natural world, History Channel type material. It’s amazing what ideas they can present to a writer.
- Listening to inspiring music – no writing, just listening and letting ideas bubble up
- Trying to build up the background of your novel. The behind-the-scenes things which can exert a powerful influence but only when you know they are there in the first place. E.g. the town of Blogheimer which the characters find themselves in, what is it really like? Who lives there, how is it organised, who is in charge and what is the power dynamic? Find out these things and you can light a spark which helps your story take off again. A protagonist from an unforeseen direction. A plot which threatens to waylay the characters. Or an ally that helps them reach their goal.
If all else fails, time sometimes really is the best option. Maybe the story isn’t ready to come out yet. But it will, come back to check. But speaking personally, I have never had to do that. I have been building my stories for ten years now, and I can say hand on heart that ‘writer’s block’ has never beaten me yet. So have faith. Try these ideas out. What have you got to lose?