Hi all,
As promised, this week I'm going to discuss ways you can get through writer's block. Every writer gets writer's block, it's an unfortunate reality of writing. There's nothing wrong with dealing with it, it could take months to come out of. Below are a few ideas that have helped me when I've hit writer's block.
Take a break.
Sometimes writing every day can cause burn out and you can hit a block with your writing. Take a few days off to relax and come back to your project with fresh eyes.
Work on another project.
Writing, editing or planning another project can help overcome writer's block. It means you can continue writing while taking some time away from your current project.
Read.
Take some time away from your project and read books in your genre. Not only will it help you relax, but holding an author's book in your hands could inspire you to keep going.
Edit your current project.
If you hit a wall with your project, go over what you've already written and give it a quick edit. It could help you move the story forward.
Free Write.
Choose a random prompt and write about what your characters would do in that situation. For example, Character A drags Character B into going hiking, but forgets to bring a map. This way you'll still be writing about those characters in a different scenario that could get your creative juices flowing.
Change your environment.
If you usually write at home, try going to a coffee shop and write. Sometimes a change in environment can inspire you.
Plot ahead.
Jump ahead in your project and plot what happens next, then keep going until you get to the ending. Work out how you can make it from where you are now to the end point.
Listen to music.
Listening to music is quite good for inspiration, as I can usually imagine scenes based on what music I listen to. If you're stuck on a fight scene, try listening to fast paced music. Love songs for romance scenes, etc.
Play with your pets.
This works for me quite often, as Rocky and Mishka are always happy to get some attention. Taking time away and thinking of something other than writing can make you feel better about your work and return to writing.
Next week I'm going to talk about why I chose dragons over any other mythological creature for my book series.
See you next week!