November 11, 2023 • 8 mins
Episode 39
Every writer gets stuck now and then. It's part of the journey. Getting stuck doesn't mean you need to stop, though, and it isn't just about pushing through. I have 8 strategies to help get you past 'Writer's Block' so you can move forward with your writing.
(Read along on the WriterSpark blog)
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Books and Other Resources Mentioned in this episode:
- Silent Obsession
- Visit Melissa Bourbon's Website: http://www.melissabourbon.com
- Visit WriterSpark Academy: http://www.writersparkacademy.com
- Learn about WriterSpark Courses: https://writersparkwritingacademy.teachable.com/
Thanks for tuning in to The WriterSpark Podcast!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Writer's block.
Is it real or is it not?
That's a good question.
I personally don't really believe in writer's block when I get stuck and I can't move forward.
I know it's because I've gone wrong in my plot somewhere or I don't know my characters well enough,
I don't have a plan for what's supposed to happen next.
So how can I move forward?
That's where outlining is very helpful.
(00:22):
But whether you call it writer's block or whether you call it just being stuck and not being able to move forward at this particular moment,
I do have some strategies for you and that's what I am talking about today.
These strategies can help you move forward in your writing project,
whatever that is because we all do get stuck from time to time.
(00:43):
Hello?
Hello.
I'm Melissa Bourbon.
And this is the Writer Spark Podcast where business creativity and the craft of writing converge.
Welcome.
15 years ago,
I was an avid reader but not a writer.
I didn't know anything about the actual craft and I knew next to nothing about the publishing industry,
(01:04):
but I had dream to become a published author and I set out to learn everything I could.
Now,
I'm a number one Amazon and national best selling author of more than 35 novels I've published traditionally and I've recently plunged into the world of indie publishing and I teach people like you how to grow in their craft and find success in this ever changing industry.
(01:26):
I'm an ordinary person,
a wife,
a mom,
a daughter,
a teacher living in a small North Carolina town through Writers Spark.
I am doing what I love more than anything in the world which is teaching and helping others on their writing journeys.
I'm here as your partner,
as you navigate your own writing journey.
I'm here to help you understand the essential elements of the writing craft,
(01:49):
to build your confidence and to help you find the success you desire.
Welcome to the Writer Spark podcast.
Hi,
everyone.
If you are suffering from writer's block,
don't worry.
First of all,
I don't really believe in writer's block.
If I get stuck,
usually it means that I've gone off track.
(02:10):
I've gone off on my plot somewhere gone wrong.
I haven't planned enough or I don't know my story well enough when that happens,
I use one of these tactics that I'm going to share with you today here to get past that stall.
So whether you call it writer's block or something else,
try one of my ideas to reignite your creative flame,
keep your storytelling momentum alive.
(02:31):
First,
embrace the chaos of free writing allow your thoughts to spill onto the page without restraint,
disregard structure,
grammar,
coherence.
Don't worry about any of that.
The goal is to let your mind roam freely to explore untamed ideas.
You truly will be surprised at how uninhibited this approach is and how it can lead you to unexpected breakthroughs in your story.
(02:55):
You never know where it's gonna lead you.
So just kind of let your brain your mind wander.
Next is time bound.
Writing sprints.
The Pomodoro technique really works.
So in other words,
writing sprints,
set a timer for a short burst of focused writing,
say 15 minutes,
2025 minutes,
whatever you feel like is gonna work for you during this time,
(03:15):
immerse yourself entirely in that narrative.
So disregard the quality of what you're writing,
don't edit,
try not to get distracted by other things.
So short intense bursts can kick start your creative flow.
I do this when I feel distracted by social media,
by chores by bills,
kids,
whatever else is happening in my life that is interfering with my ability to just sit down and write.
(03:39):
So I set my phone timer,
minimize everything else on my computer screen except for my project and write it really can be effective.
Next is to write out of order,
we can sometimes get stuck when we don't know what to write next.
As a workaround to that I write out of order,
my ability to do that only started for me when I switched from writing in word or pages to scrivener,
(04:04):
the structure of a project within the binder of Scrivener,
which is where I write scenes rather than chronologically or linear,
linearly.
That's a hard word.
Really freed up my brain.
You can still write out of order no matter what kind of word processing program you use.
Start a new scene,
set,
the one that's blocking you or that you're stuck on a side and see what else you can come up with.
(04:28):
Write what you do know is going to happen at some point in your story.
So jump around,
there is no rule that says you have have to write your story as it unfolds in a book.
Next change your writing environment,
shake things up by writing in a different setting.
A change of scenery can stimulate fresh ideas.
Whether it's a cozy cafe,
a park,
just another room in your house.
I go from room to room to room,
(04:49):
a new environment can invigorate your creativity.
I love to write on my deck in the backyard when the weather is nice,
which it is now,
which is where I am doing this video.
And I'll be writing today.
A change of scenery can really just put you in a different state of mind.
Next is mindful breaks and physical activity when the words refuse to co-operate,
(05:10):
step away,
take a breather,
engage in physical activities like a walk.
Do some yoga,
do a workout exercise is not the only thing that you can do.
You can also bake,
which I like to do,
do a little knitting,
whatever,
whatever frees your mind up and nudges you towards something different.
I walk the dogs.
(05:30):
I listen to podcasts or an audio book.
I go to yoga class.
I bake something.
Anything to get my mind off of my project which allows my subconscious then to work.
And then when I come back,
usually I can move forward in some way.
Next is to create an idea repository.
If you are feeling stuck in your current narrative,
(05:50):
start to jot down new ideas or scenes that come to mind even if they don't fit into this current storyline.
I keep a note app on my phone where I jot down ideas all the time,
things that I come across or spark when I'm out,
I come back to these because they are a treasure trove of inspiration for either what I'm working on now,
some future chapter or some future project altogether.
So it's a great way to just keep track of ideas as they come to you and you never know where you'll be able to plug something in.
(06:17):
Next is to dialogue with your characters,
have a conversation with them,
explore their motivations,
their desires and their fears.
Sometimes reconnecting with the essence of your characters can reveal new pathways for your plot.
You can do this by writing a journal entry from their point of view.
I used to do this with my middle school students all the time to help them understand characters and what we were reading or throw them into a random scene.
(06:41):
You haven't yet planned to see what happens.
You need to know how your characters will react in different situations.
So put them into some different situations,
whether or not they factor into your book,
writing,
some of these can help you know them better and it can reveal a new idea.
Also.
Maybe you like that thing,
you just threw them into use a prompt.
(07:01):
That's the next one.
There are so many writing prompt books and websites with prompts,
use those to see if an idea sparks.
I can think of one particular instance when that really worked for me.
I wasn't really sure where it was going to go in this story.
Silent Obsession is the book.
So I flipped over the prompts book that I had and have one line scenarios and photographs and one picture in particular caught my eye.
(07:25):
It was a collection of shoes lined up by a door and bam just like that.
I had an idea.
My villain was going to have shoes by his door and the protagonist was going to walk in and see them and that was going to spark something for her.
So it allowed me to pull some ideas together just from that picture I had seen and it was,
it was great.
(07:46):
So y'all remember writer's block or being stuck,
whatever you wanna call it is just part of the journey.
Nobody can write all the time without running into obstacles.
But it does give you an opportunity to explore different angles of your story.
It allows you to let your imagination roam and it challenges your creativity.
Your story is waiting to be told.
(08:07):
So don't let a temporary blockade dim your writers spark,
stay determined.
Keep writing and unleash that creativity because you have got this,
these tactics can help you move past moments when you get stuck.
Thank you so much for listening and spending your time with me today,
everyone.
I'm Melissa Bourbon and this is the Writer Spark podcast.
(08:31):
Take a moment to visit our website at www dot writer spark academy dot com.
Check out our courses,
our resources and all the content there and I will see you next time until then happy writing.
Writer's block.
Is it real or is it not?
That's a good question.
I personally don't really believe in writer's block when I get stuck and I can't move forward.
I know it's because I've gone wrong in my plot somewhere or I don't know my characters well enough,
I don't have a plan for what's supposed to happen next.
So how can I move forward?
That's where outlining is very helpful.
(00:22):
But whether you call it writer's block or whether you call it just being stuck and not being able to move forward at this particular moment,
I do have some strategies for you and that's what I am talking about today.
These strategies can help you move forward in your writing project,
whatever that is because we all do get stuck from time to time.
(00:43):
Hello?
Hello.
I'm Melissa Bourbon.
And this is the Writer Spark Podcast where business creativity and the craft of writing converge.
Welcome.
15 years ago,
I was an avid reader but not a writer.
I didn't know anything about the actual craft and I knew next to nothing about the publishing industry,
(01:04):
but I had dream to become a published author and I set out to learn everything I could.
Now,
I'm a number one Amazon and national best selling author of more than 35 novels I've published traditionally and I've recently plunged into the world of indie publishing and I teach people like you how to grow in their craft and find success in this ever changing industry.
(01:26):
I'm an ordinary person,
a wife,
a mom,
a daughter,
a teacher living in a small North Carolina town through Writers Spark.
I am doing what I love more than anything in the world which is teaching and helping others on their writing journeys.
I'm here as your partner,
as you navigate your own writing journey.
I'm here to help you understand the essential elements of the writing craft,
(01:49):
to build your confidence and to help you find the success you desire.
Welcome to the Writer Spark podcast.
Hi,
everyone.
If you are suffering from writer's block,
don't worry.
First of all,
I don't really believe in writer's block.
If I get stuck,
usually it means that I've gone off track.
(02:10):
I've gone off on my plot somewhere gone wrong.
I haven't planned enough or I don't know my story well enough when that happens,
I use one of these tactics that I'm going to share with you today here to get past that stall.
So whether you call it writer's block or something else,
try one of my ideas to reignite your creative flame,
keep your storytelling momentum alive.
(02:31):
First,
embrace the chaos of free writing allow your thoughts to spill onto the page without restraint,
disregard structure,
grammar,
coherence.
Don't worry about any of that.
The goal is to let your mind roam freely to explore untamed ideas.
You truly will be surprised at how uninhibited this approach is and how it can lead you to unexpected breakthroughs in your story.
(02:55):
You never know where it's gonna lead you.
So just kind of let your brain your mind wander.
Next is time bound.
Writing sprints.
The Pomodoro technique really works.
So in other words,
writing sprints,
set a timer for a short burst of focused writing,
say 15 minutes,
2025 minutes,
whatever you feel like is gonna work for you during this time,
(03:15):
immerse yourself entirely in that narrative.
So disregard the quality of what you're writing,
don't edit,
try not to get distracted by other things.
So short intense bursts can kick start your creative flow.
I do this when I feel distracted by social media,
by chores by bills,
kids,
whatever else is happening in my life that is interfering with my ability to just sit down and write.
(03:39):
So I set my phone timer,
minimize everything else on my computer screen except for my project and write it really can be effective.
Next is to write out of order,
we can sometimes get stuck when we don't know what to write next.
As a workaround to that I write out of order,
my ability to do that only started for me when I switched from writing in word or pages to scrivener,
(04:04):
the structure of a project within the binder of Scrivener,
which is where I write scenes rather than chronologically or linear,
linearly.
That's a hard word.
Really freed up my brain.
You can still write out of order no matter what kind of word processing program you use.
Start a new scene,
set,
the one that's blocking you or that you're stuck on a side and see what else you can come up with.
(04:28):
Write what you do know is going to happen at some point in your story.
So jump around,
there is no rule that says you have have to write your story as it unfolds in a book.
Next change your writing environment,
shake things up by writing in a different setting.
A change of scenery can stimulate fresh ideas.
Whether it's a cozy cafe,
a park,
just another room in your house.
I go from room to room to room,
(04:49):
a new environment can invigorate your creativity.
I love to write on my deck in the backyard when the weather is nice,
which it is now,
which is where I am doing this video.
And I'll be writing today.
A change of scenery can really just put you in a different state of mind.
Next is mindful breaks and physical activity when the words refuse to co-operate,
(05:10):
step away,
take a breather,
engage in physical activities like a walk.
Do some yoga,
do a workout exercise is not the only thing that you can do.
You can also bake,
which I like to do,
do a little knitting,
whatever,
whatever frees your mind up and nudges you towards something different.
I walk the dogs.
(05:30):
I listen to podcasts or an audio book.
I go to yoga class.
I bake something.
Anything to get my mind off of my project which allows my subconscious then to work.
And then when I come back,
usually I can move forward in some way.
Next is to create an idea repository.
If you are feeling stuck in your current narrative,
(05:50):
start to jot down new ideas or scenes that come to mind even if they don't fit into this current storyline.
I keep a note app on my phone where I jot down ideas all the time,
things that I come across or spark when I'm out,
I come back to these because they are a treasure trove of inspiration for either what I'm working on now,
some future chapter or some future project altogether.
So it's a great way to just keep track of ideas as they come to you and you never know where you'll be able to plug something in.
(06:17):
Next is to dialogue with your characters,
have a conversation with them,
explore their motivations,
their desires and their fears.
Sometimes reconnecting with the essence of your characters can reveal new pathways for your plot.
You can do this by writing a journal entry from their point of view.
I used to do this with my middle school students all the time to help them understand characters and what we were reading or throw them into a random scene.
(06:41):
You haven't yet planned to see what happens.
You need to know how your characters will react in different situations.
So put them into some different situations,
whether or not they factor into your book,
writing,
some of these can help you know them better and it can reveal a new idea.
Also.
Maybe you like that thing,
you just threw them into use a prompt.
(07:01):
That's the next one.
There are so many writing prompt books and websites with prompts,
use those to see if an idea sparks.
I can think of one particular instance when that really worked for me.
I wasn't really sure where it was going to go in this story.
Silent Obsession is the book.
So I flipped over the prompts book that I had and have one line scenarios and photographs and one picture in particular caught my eye.
(07:25):
It was a collection of shoes lined up by a door and bam just like that.
I had an idea.
My villain was going to have shoes by his door and the protagonist was going to walk in and see them and that was going to spark something for her.
So it allowed me to pull some ideas together just from that picture I had seen and it was,
it was great.
(07:46):
So y'all remember writer's block or being stuck,
whatever you wanna call it is just part of the journey.
Nobody can write all the time without running into obstacles.
But it does give you an opportunity to explore different angles of your story.
It allows you to let your imagination roam and it challenges your creativity.
Your story is waiting to be told.
(08:07):
So don't let a temporary blockade dim your writers spark,
stay determined.
Keep writing and unleash that creativity because you have got this,
these tactics can help you move past moments when you get stuck.
Thank you so much for listening and spending your time with me today,
everyone.
I'm Melissa Bourbon and this is the Writer Spark podcast.
(08:31):
Take a moment to visit our website at www dot writer spark academy dot com.
Check out our courses,
our resources and all the content there and I will see you next time until then happy writing.
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