Does your writing flow like water? Like everything else in life, writing comes with highs and lows. Sometimes, your ideas and words run with ease; other times, you’ll wonder how you’ll ever get things moving again.
Writers, here’s a gentle reminder that building a writing practice and developing your craft is a marathon — not a sprint.
While it’s important to do the work and spend your time actually writing your story, sometimes stepping away from the writing process to focus on other things will support your creative development and get your writing flowing again.
The next time you sit down to write but find yourself editing the same paragraph for an hour without getting anywhere new. Take a step back and look for another approach.
Here are six proactive ways to get your writing moving when you’re feeling uninspired.
1. Write the parts that aren’t on the page
Julia Cameron’s morning pages require you to sit down and handwrite three pages. You can write about whatever is on your mind. For example, what do you want to have for dinner that night? Is there something bothering you? Maybe you’ll simply ponder a philosophical question that may not have an answer.
The point of this exercise is to loosen up your writing muscles and prepare you for the work that matters.
That’s why my next tip for you to get unstuck as you write is to focus on exploration. ✨Rather than work on your book, work around it.
For one or two days, forget the dialogue that’s been tripping you up or that plothole you can’t seem to connect. Instead, try these activities to relax your mind without interrupting the flow of your development:
???? Brainstorm story, character and setting ideas. (Challenge yourself to one idea per day!)
???? Outline your characters and story.
???? Outline the middle of your story in (more) detail to avoid the Second Act Sag — a screenwriting term that references when a writer loses the momentum in their story during the transition from the climax to the resolution.
???? Organize your scenes.
???? Create a list of potential scenes between different characters to have an arsenal of scenes to pull from and try out when you’re ready to write.
2. Release the pressure
As writers, we’re tough on ourselves. I’ve yet to meet one who wasn’t at least a little bit of a perfectionist who expected superhero-level greatness from themselves.
Plus, we set lofty goals for ourselves to meet — or else? *cue critical inner voice*
When it comes to writing, you likely push yourself to hit your daily or weekly word goals. And while some days you may reach those goals, others will fall flat.
???? On the days or weeks when writing feels like an uphill climb, give yourself permission to change your goal and, thus reduce the pressure you might feel to produce.
Sometimes, the best way to get things moving again is to take baby steps — write fewer words, read fewer pages or remove some of the items from your weekly to-do list.
If you push yourself too hard, you may end up avoiding writing entirely and make no progress at all. And instead of flowing like water, your writing stops altogether. Setting smaller goals allows you to continue your forward movement and still get the satisfaction of knowing you’re reaching your goals.
3. Improve your craft
There’s never an end to what you can learn to improve your writing.
That’s right — we’ve chosen an endeavor that requires frequent finetuning and re-education, because language and storytelling techniques constantly evolve. When writer’s block prevents your story from flowing, get unstuck by honing your skills.
To start, try these exercises. And if you’re feeling creative, make up some of your own:
- Do one (short) writing prompt per day.
- Take a writing or editing workshop or class.
- Join a reading or writing group that focuses on the craft of writing.
- Read books and articles outside of the genres you’re used to.
- Listen to podcasts!
- Attend relevant seminars at your local bookstore or library.
- Simplify your story’s main idea to one sentence, otherwise known as a logline in screenwriting.
- Practice writing excellent query letters.
- Keep fresh ideas churning with 15-minute daily brainstorming sessions.
- Boost your writing and thinking with journaling.
- Free-write something (short) that’s outside of your norm, like writing diverse characters and in the right way.
- Take your editing to the next level with my self-guided course!
You never know when a new idea or way of looking at your work will spark new inspiration — and suddenly, you’re back in the flow again.
4. Let other writers be your inspiration
Writing is a solitary act, and it’s easy to get lost in that solitude, even if you write from a coffee shop or another local spot.
????But here’s some advice: When you get stuck, let your writing tribe inspire you.
Look to meet new, like-minded writer friends or reconnect with old ones while you pause writing and idea generation.
The support, encouragement and (necessary) critique from a trusted writer’s circle can revive your energy to generate and expand ideas. On top of that, other writers can commiserate with you and understand why you might sometimes have the desire to shred your work-in-progress and compost it.
Being around people who share your experiences can enlighten you and ignite your passion. Get into the writing flow by sharing your work, while also giving and receiving feedback. It helps you see your work from a new perspective; it offers fresh ways to approach it.
When writer’s block prevents your story from flowing, get unstuck by honing your skills. Share on X5. Brainstorm S.M.A.R.T. writing goals
Have you ever asked yourself if your story ideas reflect the outcome you want? Can they really lead you to a completed book or story?
Rather than force-write your way through a creativity lull, get unstuck by analyzing your best ideas to ensure they’re clear, attainable and S.M.A.R.T.
Not smart; S.M.A.R.T.
An acronym used to guide goal-setting, S.M.A.R.T. is made up of criteria commonly attributed to management guru Peter Drucker’s Management by Objectives concept.
So, when your goals are S.M.A.R.T., they’re:
- Specific. Do you have a clear idea of what your story will convey? (Know the details!)
- Measurable. What does expanding this idea look like? If you can’t outline your idea thoroughly and break down the writing steps, it’s not fully baked.
- Achievable. Is this a realistic story to pursue? Can you access the necessary resources?
- Relevant. Why does this story matter to you, and why will it matter to readers and publishers?
- Time-bound. Reaching your writing goals takes time, but it doesn’t have to take forever. Set deadlines around your writing plan to keep progressing.
???? With actionable, clear goals lighting the path of your writing journey, it’ll be easier to get (and stay!) unstuck as you write and move toward those goals.
If you’re looking for some structure as you create your S.M.A.R.T. goals, check out my book, “The Writer’s Roadmap: Paving the Way to Your Ideal Writing Life.” For anyone who wants to design their ideal writing lives, here’s how to create your plan and make it happen.
6. Prioritize R&R
Close your laptop; no more writing. This final tip is your reminder that recharging, self-care and relaxation are just as critical to the development of your story as hammering away at it.
Whether you take a week to get lost in someone else’s story through TV or a book — which is also a useful way to learn about storytelling — or avoid anything even resembling a story, rejuvenating your mind is key to feeling refreshed and being ready to write your best stuff.
During this break, use your writing blocks as a time to take a nap, hike through the mountains or walk on the beach, get lost in a hobby you might have been neglecting or take an exercise or wellness class.
???? How you choose to revive your writing flow during this time is up to you.
As always, if you need help getting unstuck along the way, join me and other amazing and creative writers over at The Workshop, my mentorship writing community!
