In this article, we'll consider:
The obstacles to writing that cause writer's block
Strategies to cope with a downturn in productivity
Other ways to boost creativity
Reflecting on your process and visualizing success
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You were doing so well, progressing at a good pace, building your story world, and meeting your targets. Now, suddenly, you've hit a brick wall, your mind as blank as the screen, the cursor blinking expectantly for the words that just won't come.
A nuisance. A challenge. A curse. No matter what adjectives (or cuss words) you use for writer's block, there's no doubt the feeling of being stuck is frustrating, disheartening, and disruptive. Any sentences you manage to get down feel clunky and forced, and the harder you try the worse it gets. Is this it? Is it all over? Have you emptied the creative tank?
Well, yes. And no.
Firstly, don't panic. You've written before and you will again, but something is holding you back. So let's step away from the desk for a moment and consider some of the things that may be blocking your progress.
Obstacles to writing
You've written yourself into a corner, or lost your way This is a narrative-driven issue. Either you've "pantsed" your way to a stalemate, or you've veered from your plan, or it's just not working the way you'd hoped. Something in the plot or characterization or dynamics of your story is stopping you from moving forward.
You've become overwhelmed The sheer vastness of the task of completing your novel, of ensuring everything ties up and is engaging and intriguing, is causing you to subconsciously hesitate and question if you can really do it.
Fear has set in Writing and publishing is dogged by fears. The deeper into your work-in-progress you get, the closer to the surface those fears rise. Fear of failure, of rejection, of criticism, of not being good enough, of not meeting your goals. Fear of success, of exposure, of vulnerability, of not sustaining success.
Life events have pulled your attention away Life stuff, no matter how big or small, has required your focus and attention to the point you're drained of the mental headspace needed for you to disappear into your imagination and write without interruption.
Strategies to cope with a downturn in productivity
Identifying the reason(s) for your writing struggles can be enough for you to assess what you need to do next. But sometimes there doesn't seem to be any reason at all.
Rather than tie yourself up in knots about the cause, focus instead on the strategies that can help you get past it.
Take time out This applies to all of the above obstacles that may be causing your block. If it's an issue with the narrative itself, stepping away for some downtime will enable you to better identify what the problem might be when you return to it. The problem and solution may even occur to you when you least expect it, when you haven't even been thinking about it. For overwhelm, fear, and life stuff, some distance from the work will do you good mentally and allow you to get a better perspective on things, so that you can return fresh and more productive when headspace allows. If you ignore these mind perils and keep pushing through regardless, you risk burnout. Mental health must take priority over deadlines. Indie authors, adjust your schedules to allow for periods of rest and play. Traditional authors, keep a line of communication open to your agent or editor - let them know if you're struggling and need a break; they are human and will understand.
Change your writing routine If only temporarily, consider readjusting your writing schedule. If you usually set aside two hours per day, how about making that an hour or just thirty minutes instead? If it's an hour squeezed in first thing in the morning before work or late in the evening prior to bed, what about reducing it to fifteen minutes? If 1000 words is your target daily word count, consider dropping to 500, 200, or even 100 - just until you feel like writing more. Or leave it open - you'll write as much as you're able; if nothing comes, so be it. This way you maintain consistency of a writing practice, the habit of sitting down to write, but with less pressure on results. Achieving incremental progress - turning up, trying, 50 words - can build momentum and make the process feel less daunting.
Switch tasks Can you do something else related to the project you’re working on that isn’t actually writing? How about more research, delving deeper into your setting, or psychological, emotional, or physical traits of your characters, or specialist knowledge required for the plot or genre? Perhaps editing tasks would be less daunting than creating new text. If you're self-publishing, you might be more productive working on publishing tasks, such as designing promotional images, or brainstorming the book's blurb, or researching categories, keywords and comparative authors. It's worth noting, of course, that any one of these tasks could unlock the inspiration you need, or rejuvenate your enthusiasm, to get back to your writing.
Change your environment Writing in the same room, at the same desk with the same view, may be restricting your creativity. If you're able, try a change of scenery. A comfortable café, a park, or even a different room in your house. New surroundings can stimulate fresh ideas and perspectives, or simply just revitalize your creative energy. Same goes for exercise. We all know by now the benefits of fresh air and exercise on the body - particularly for those of us who spend much of our time at our desks - so I won't repeat them here. I'll simply say: When the brain won't go, move the body instead.
Free writing or morning pages Unconnected to your writing project, set a timer for ten minutes and, in that time, write whatever comes to mind. Forget grammar, structure, and making sense, just lay it all out there, from brain to paper. The idea is not to mine for gold amongst the rough, simply to empty the contents of the head. Morning pages are a similar concept, except - not surprisingly - done first thing in the morning before you've even got out of bed and still have one eye gummed shut. No one will read these blatherings but you, so just let all that sleepy, incoherent, dreamy content decorate the page. Both of these techniques are a great way to unburden and declutter your mind, from which clarity will hopefully emerge and occasionally even interesting ideas.
Use writing prompts If the blockage concerns ideas for your narrative, try prompts to kickstart your creativity. There are gazillions of them available online (just search novel writing prompts), from which may spring surprising results that will invigorate your current work-in-progress. Using prompts to get your juices flowing could result in: new plot or subplot ideas that give your story the spark of drama it needs; unusual, unique or intriguing personality traits that add depth to your characters and bring them to life; a change of setting that better aligns with or enhances the mood and tone of your book.
Set aside perfection One of the biggest barriers to writing is the sense you need to get everything right on the first try. This is an impossible and therefore hindering standard. Regardless of how much writing talent and experience you have, your first draft won't be flawless, or even necessarily much good. Writing a novel is a process of iteration - it requires multiple drafts and rewrites, through which it evolves. So give yourself permission to write poorly, knowing you'll be revising and improving later. In the meantime, talking about your writing with friends, family, or fellow writers can be helpful during the stages where you're writing alone. Sometimes, verbalizing your thoughts can make them clearer, solving problems you weren't aware existed, and leading to breakthroughs.
Other ways to boost creativity
As we've mentioned, sometimes the best way to overcome writer's block is to step away from your work. But this doesn't have to mean you're not still "working".
Do you remember when creative activities in the school classroom meant playing? That's because you were encouraged to let your imagination expand and roam freely without limitation. As adults, we're less inclined to play (being a grown-up comes with "rules"), but that's exactly what creativity demands.
It's easy when you're writing to get so caught up in word counts, structure, plot points, timelines and grammar rules that you forget about the play part. But luckily there are plenty of other ways besides writing that can help you unlock that inner magic door back to Narnia...
Painting landscapes, colouring mandalas, sketching still life, quilting jackets or knitting scarves, weaving baskets, repairing clothes or mastering embroidery, cooking French delicacies or baking tiramisu...
Strumming the banjo or listening to thrash metal, completing 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles or assembling Star Wars battleships, making mugs out of clay, building sandcastles (and calling it sculpting sand art, why not?), dancing the cha-cha, decorating pebbles with sequins, growing vegetables or landscaping the garden...
And on and on.
Books too, let's not forget. Reading widely can provide inspiration and a new perspective. Whether it's a book in your genre, a poem or an article, other writers' work can spark ideas that motivate you to get back to your own writing.
In short, by engaging in other, playful, no-pressure pursuits, you can free up the mental capacity for your fiction-writing creativity to re-emerge.
As David Nichtern, author, songwriter, and Buddhist teacher, succinctly puts it: "Leave some space."
In his book, Creativity, Spirituality & Making A Buck, Nichtern considers space as it relates to Zen Buddhism's "emptiness" - where the mind isn't filled to the rafters with content, and life's experiences don't require the mind to be constantly making sense of everything. "In the Buddhist way of thinking," he explains, "creativity itself arises from space and dissolves back into it."
Without adequate mental space, creativity is at best constrained, and at worst entirely absent.
Reflect on your process and visualize success
Periodically, take time to review and reflect on your writing process, as well as your writing business practices. This will help you identify any specific patterns or triggers that lead to writer's block, such as too many long hours without breaks, or an inflexible schedule that's difficult to sustain.
Understanding your habits can help you develop strategies to avoid difficulties in the future. Be open to testing new ways of working that may suit you better.
Visualize what success looks like to you. Visualization may sound like woo woo, but it's a powerful tool. Think of it this way - if you can't picture yourself meeting your goals, if you're unable to perceive what that will feel like, you're already subconsciously telling yourself it's unlikely to happen.
Spend a few moments, daily or before you begin writing, vividly picturing yourself completing your book successfully. Imagine the sense of achievement. Physically feel the satisfaction and pride that will come from getting published and holding your novel in your hands.
This positive imagery, and the feelings it provokes, can motivate you to better manage obstacles or blockages when they arise, including making sure you're taking care of yourself along the way.
Writing books is like running marathons. Some will go better than expected, others will be a chore from start to finish, and a few may never be completed. But each will require mental and physical preparation, strength and resilience, respect for the endurance required, and preservation of health and energy.
And, importantly, all will be a learning experience that inch you ever closer to your goals.
Finally...
Writer's block is a natural part of the creative process - the words won't always flow easily - but it doesn't have to be a permanent roadblock. By trying out different strategies, rethinking your writing routine, scheduling playful downtime, and finding what works best for you, you can overcome these periods of stagnation and continue your writing journey.
Remember, every writer experiences these challenges. What matters is how you respond, putting your health first, and remembering why you started writing in the first place. To play, right?
Nichtern, D. (2019), Creativity, Spirituality & Making A Buck, Wisdom Publications, Somerville, MA
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Tina Williams of Fiction Yogi is a copyeditor and proofreader who works with writers at all stages, giving them the tools to improve their manuscript and level up their writing so they can meet their publishing goals.
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