Note: This is the fourth part in a 5-part weekly series on How I Write My Novels in a Month.
I really don’t want to write this. I don’t know what I could possibly say that will interest you and there are other things I’d rather work on. Besides, it’ll just be no good anyway – no one will read it. So why bother in the first place? I’ll just watch TV.
That’s pretty much how I feel about this blog post today and how many authors feel when they sit down at their computer. While these feelings might not creep up each day, you can bet you’ll be experiencing them at some point.
Sitting down to write is hard, and it’s even worse when you don’t know what to do. I’m not going to waste anytime with fancy words today, just give you 7 ways to get past a wall with your writing
I really don’t want to write this. I don’t know what I could possibly say that will interest you and there are other things I’d rather work on. Besides, it’ll just be no good anyway – no one will read it. So why bother in the first place? I’ll just watch TV.
That’s pretty much how I feel about this blog post today and how many authors feel when they sit down at their computer. While these feelings might not creep up each day, you can bet you’ll be experiencing them at some point.
Sitting down to write is hard, and it’s even worse when you don’t know what to do. I’m not going to waste anytime with fancy words today, just give you 7 ways to get past a wall with your writing
#1 – Take a Day Off
Be like Bueller Yeah, it sounds a little counterproductive, but sometimes just giving it a rest is what you’ve got to do. I regularly put in 3,000 to 5,000 words each day, and many times more. I rarely go less. But that also doesn’t mean I’m working on the same projects each day either.
Often I have 3 to 4 active projects going at once and several on the backburner. Today, for instance, I didn’t write at all on my novel The Hirelings, something I haven’t done in more than ten days. But do you know what? I just wasn’t feeling it today and I’m at the point where letting it sit for a day isn’t going to kill me (no matter how much I think it will).
Often I have 3 to 4 active projects going at once and several on the backburner. Today, for instance, I didn’t write at all on my novel The Hirelings, something I haven’t done in more than ten days. But do you know what? I just wasn’t feeling it today and I’m at the point where letting it sit for a day isn’t going to kill me (no matter how much I think it will).
#2 – Read a Book
You...can...go...any-where! As a ghostwriter, copywriter, and writer of my own stuff I just don’t have a lot of time. I do a lot of reading each day, but more often than not this is work-related, having something to do with research or writing.
But right now when I look over my left shoulder I can see a few paperbacks and big hardback that I got for Christmas staring back at me. I need to get reading more on those, things that can get my creative juices flowing unconsciously.
Well, there might not be any luck for me, but you should seriously consider it. When you read you really allow your subconscious to soak up new ideas, ideas you can then channel into your own writing, creating something new and exciting.
But right now when I look over my left shoulder I can see a few paperbacks and big hardback that I got for Christmas staring back at me. I need to get reading more on those, things that can get my creative juices flowing unconsciously.
Well, there might not be any luck for me, but you should seriously consider it. When you read you really allow your subconscious to soak up new ideas, ideas you can then channel into your own writing, creating something new and exciting.
#3 – Skip a Part
They're Skipping If I don’t know what’s going to happen next I’ll just skip that part. Somewhere down the line I know what’s going to happen – I can picture the scene in my mind. Usually I’ll just start writing out that picture, first with a sentence or two and then some paragraphs. After awhile I have a page or more and that scene I had in my mind starts to become so much more.
You need to do this to, skipping the parts that aren’t coming to you and going to those that are calling out to you. It might be hard for some of those linear writers, but let me ask you this – what’s harder? Staring at a screen for a day or more not knowing what to do, or compromising your artistic principles to get the job done?
Let me tell you a little secret – no one gives a shit about starving artists. Get your work finished and get it sold so you have the money to make new work, that’s all that matters.
You need to do this to, skipping the parts that aren’t coming to you and going to those that are calling out to you. It might be hard for some of those linear writers, but let me ask you this – what’s harder? Staring at a screen for a day or more not knowing what to do, or compromising your artistic principles to get the job done?
Let me tell you a little secret – no one gives a shit about starving artists. Get your work finished and get it sold so you have the money to make new work, that’s all that matters.
#4 – Start at the End of a Chapter
Sometimes when I don’t know what a chapter needs to be I’ll just start at the end. This of course works best when the next chapter is already finished or at least started itself. How did that next chapters start? All you have to do with the chapter you’re doing now is work backwards.
This is kind of a weird approach since you’re always writing forwards, or down the page toward that next chapter, and that’s why sometimes these chapters might get combined a bit during the editing process.
On the flip side is just starting at the end of your book. Personally I love to get my ending out of the way around 20,000 words or so in. You know the goal you’re reaching for, now it’s just filling in the pieces.
This is kind of a weird approach since you’re always writing forwards, or down the page toward that next chapter, and that’s why sometimes these chapters might get combined a bit during the editing process.
On the flip side is just starting at the end of your book. Personally I love to get my ending out of the way around 20,000 words or so in. You know the goal you’re reaching for, now it’s just filling in the pieces.
#5 – Start a Fight
I love just writing a scathing line of dialogue and then a reaction to that. I’ll keep it going, and my fingers will fly as I type as quickly as I can think. Next thing I know I’ve got a page or more of some pretty juice nuggets of dialogue.
Conflict is one of the best and easiest tools to use to get your story going. I like verbal battles myself, but for this fantasy novel I’m writing now it’s pretty easy to throw some creatures in there and let the characters have at ‘em for a few pages.
Perhaps it’s not what’s needed now, but I know I’ll need it later. And let’s face it – on those days or nights when you just don’t feel like doing a damn thing sometimes writing out something quick and easy for use later is the way to go.
Conflict is one of the best and easiest tools to use to get your story going. I like verbal battles myself, but for this fantasy novel I’m writing now it’s pretty easy to throw some creatures in there and let the characters have at ‘em for a few pages.
Perhaps it’s not what’s needed now, but I know I’ll need it later. And let’s face it – on those days or nights when you just don’t feel like doing a damn thing sometimes writing out something quick and easy for use later is the way to go.
#6 – Watch a Film
When I was writing Tarot Card Killer I got stuck a lot. This was the book I wrote for NaNo 2013 and that meant I had to do 1,667 words each day. I did that and got a novel for my efforts.
But some of those days were tough. One night I watched some scenes from an old Clint Eastwood movie, The Enforcer. It got me in the right 1970s mindset to get a few good pages later.
I did the same thing when I was writing Black Walnut. I needed to have a character that was angry, and one that wanted to shoot some things up. So I popped in Taxi Driver and a few other action movies with bloody scenes and got some inspiration. The next day I was able to get out some words pretty easily.
But some of those days were tough. One night I watched some scenes from an old Clint Eastwood movie, The Enforcer. It got me in the right 1970s mindset to get a few good pages later.
I did the same thing when I was writing Black Walnut. I needed to have a character that was angry, and one that wanted to shoot some things up. So I popped in Taxi Driver and a few other action movies with bloody scenes and got some inspiration. The next day I was able to get out some words pretty easily.
#7 – Choose Your Times
My productivity goes down as the day goes on and I bet yours does too.
That’s why I get down 1,000 words first thing in the morning, before I even get online. I like to do this on my own projects, usually the novel I’m working on at the moment.
Sometimes I might work on a novel at night as well, but it’s much more difficult. I’m better at writing when I get up (around 1 PM) than shortly before I go to bed (around 5 AM). I know this, so I plan my writing times accordingly.
A long-term approach to not hitting walls with your writing is to have set writing schedules and routines. Yeah, it might not be for some, but that’s how things get done. Perhaps you do a lot on one day and little on others, or maybe you do a little each day. I do a lot each day, and I suggest you do the same.
Well, that’s 7 ways to get past your writing wall. I didn’t really want to write this article, but I did, and managed to get up to 1,200 words or so in three sit-down sessions. The only walls are those you make for yourself.
Tomorrow we'll conclude this series with Editing and Proofing Your Novel Fast.
That’s why I get down 1,000 words first thing in the morning, before I even get online. I like to do this on my own projects, usually the novel I’m working on at the moment.
Sometimes I might work on a novel at night as well, but it’s much more difficult. I’m better at writing when I get up (around 1 PM) than shortly before I go to bed (around 5 AM). I know this, so I plan my writing times accordingly.
A long-term approach to not hitting walls with your writing is to have set writing schedules and routines. Yeah, it might not be for some, but that’s how things get done. Perhaps you do a lot on one day and little on others, or maybe you do a little each day. I do a lot each day, and I suggest you do the same.
Well, that’s 7 ways to get past your writing wall. I didn’t really want to write this article, but I did, and managed to get up to 1,200 words or so in three sit-down sessions. The only walls are those you make for yourself.
Tomorrow we'll conclude this series with Editing and Proofing Your Novel Fast.
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