Quick Fixes for Writer’s Block
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- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
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Fall is a busy time for many writers, especially with challenges like NaNoWriMo and #FinishUrBookFall inspiring many to turn to their pens or keyboards. But, while planning and starting a novel is invigorating and fun, you might also run into the issue of “writer’s block.” Writer’s block can feel completely discouraging, as it can make you feel like you have no more words or ideas to continue your story. To help you get over this hurdle and back into the writing flow, in this video I offer some tips to help replenish your creative energy and boost your motivation overall!
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GREAT BOOKS ABOUT WRITING/PUBLISHING:
Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer / amzn.to/3VE8dtt
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody / amzn.to/3Vyk2Bn
Before and After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum / amzn.to/3Z4at03
SOME OF MY FAVORITE NOVELS:
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones / amzn.to/3vvWItt
Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips / amzn.to/3CFz4Pt
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid / amzn.to/3CjFFi5
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MORE WRITING RESOURCES:
Destructive Writer Habits Holding You Back: • Destructive Writer Hab...
What’s the Difference Between Beta Readers and Book Editors?: • What Are the Differenc...
How to (Finally!) Finish Your Book: • How to (Finally!) Fini...
TIPS FOR FIXING WRITER'S BLOCK:
02:03 - Remove pressure
05:32 - Create space
07:13 - Ask yourself questions
08:38 - Connect with other writers
10:59 - Read something new
ABOUT ME:
My name is Alyssa Matesic, and I’m a professional book editor with 7+ years of book publishing and editorial experience. Throughout my career, I’ve held editorial roles across both sides of the publishing industry: Big Five publishing houses and literary agencies. The goal of this channel is to help writers throughout the book writing journey-whether you're working on your manuscript or you're looking for publishing advice.
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MUSIC:
Chilling by HoobeZa • [No Copyright] Chill L...
Charlie Brown by Smith The Mister smiththemister.bandcamp.com
Smith The Mister bit.ly/Smith-The-Mister-YT
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Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. - Jak na to + styl
Best advice for writers' block: go away and do something you love, whether that be watch TV, play a sport, cook a meal. It's a great recharge.
When I get stuck, I just take a break. Either watch something, play a game or sleep over it. This worked really well for me.
It's a combination of taking a number of small breaks while also remembering to stay focussed that really keeps me motivated. It's easy to get sidetracked and start working on other things, but keeping a goal in mind and constantly pushing towards it works for me.
Such wonderful ideas, Alyssa. One of the best tips I ever stumbled upon was to write a 500-word sentence when beginning a new scene. Just commas and dashes, phrases broken up with dialogue - maybe - and this free form, period-less ramble allowed me an outpouring of where my character was, who she was with, if they said anything or not. The 500 word sentence in comic sans? Damn. I'll try that!
What a fun suggestion!
Sometimes, all it takes is a little break from your WIP in order to refresh and recharge your creative battery. I'll watch movies, reread some of my favorite books, etc... getting a good night's rest is also important!
Other times, if I'm truly stuck, I'll go to my husband. I'll bounce ideas off him, or I'll let him read the part I'm currently working on, and almost every time he has an idea or suggestion that helps me get back into the story!
These are great suggestions!
Great tips. I like the one about changing your font. I've found I do some of my best writing while driving or in bed trying to sleep. I've learned to always have paper, pen, and flashlight at the ready.
I've turned this over quite a bit. Frankly, I've wondered if there isn't a hole in my writer's psyche because I don't get writer's block. Sure, sometimes I have to push myself, but in all the years I've been writing, I've never sat down and had the words fail to come to me. And many of the very solid suggestions everyone gives for these - I don't do those. It's possible that in the course of throwing something like a million words at the page, I just haven't been at it this long enough, but I think there's a different story.
I love writing, especially drafting, and take joy in it. I wonder if that's something that gets missed in advising writers. The majority of writers (like 99%) will not make money from it, so it really should be fun. Unfortunately, I don't know how to turn this into very useful advice. If you don't find the process of crafting a story, getting to know imaginary characters, and pouring words out onto a page-I don't know how to tell you to fix that. Other than to say, give yourself permission to enjoy all these things and maybe think a little bit about what you do enjoy in the process.
Switch your font to comic sans when writing. Seriously. I thought it was a joke when I first heard about that trick. Then, I gave it a shot in a moment of desperation. I'm still blown away by how well it worked.
I don't use comic sans anymore; instead, I found a font that's cramped and extra curly which makes the vowels practically illegible. The whole idea is to use something that keeps you focused on the next idea you're putting down instead of rereading what you've just written.
@@dueling_spectra7270 that's an awesome idea. If you remember the name of the font, do you mind sharing? I would definitely like to try that one!
Thank you A. Very helpful. When writing it can help to write on multiple fronts - don't restrict yourself to pursuing a single linear line. Look at the story from different viewpoints so there will be always be lots of places to engage and take ideas further. That might also provoke new leads, ideas, characters, approaches. There's always something to do, somewhere to go.
Well said!
@@AlyssaMatesic Thanks for that A. Funnily enough I've just mins ago
hopefully finished my own first book effort. Wow it's like grappling with a bear! The trouble is I'm a perfectionist Take care.
I ask myself questions to get unstuck too, but the ones I use are different. They're focused on the next scene.
I make a point of going into the document every day, to see where I am, then ask,
What do my characters need to do next to accomplish their next objective? Do they need to go somewhere for that? Do they need to learn a new piece of information for that?
Are my characters going to have personally conflicts in the next screen? What are my character's motivations and emotional state?
Should it be slow or fast paced for where it is in the book?
Is the block, my subconscious saying that there's an alternative way for this to play out that'd be better?
And if I get through the questions and still have nothing, I ask, is this really writer's block or has the brain fog kicked in?
Can I just say when you start thinking of your writing as art,
I just love the idea. Because I love to draw but when I put expectations on it it doesn't come out as well.
This is what I needed. Thank you. I'm about 1/2 through my first draft, and I'm in the middle slump, trying to get things moving again.
Best of luck, Joshua!
I've forgotten who, but there is a famous author who once said, "I only write when I feel like it, and I feel like it at 6:00 am every morning." A habit is a powerful thing. I don't think I've ever had writer's block, possibly I'm not creative enough for that 😀 What I do struggle with is finishing the revision process, partially because I'm really good at shutting down my inner editor when I draft, so what I do needs lots of editing. But I think I'm also a little afraid of what comes after I finish revising. Then I get to go through the querying process and start the process of marketing myself as an author. The second particularly intimidates me. Maybe I need to develop a habit for it...
I would like to try to write a book
Just do it. I had no idea either what I was doing. I just started. There are groups on Facebook where you will find support too. That's how I learned more and more. Improving my writing a lot.
Awesome video thank you. I myself usually just leave writing if I can’t bring myself to write something new, I always find my motivation when I listen to music and the lyrics can really inspire me. (Usually songs I’ve never heard before)
Is anyone else on here writing? My dream is to be a published author and I’m currently working on a potential debut manuscript. Let me know if you’re in the same boat and if you wanna talk about it 🙂
I think it take s a break. I'm going through a depression because of fighting with my own writing, and you need to take a step back and live life and read.
I do agree with reading in different genres though. It can really be a spark of new life.
My advice is to just keep writing. A professional can't afford to stop just because it gets hard, unfortunately. Unless you're George RR Martin
Not only can GRRM afford to stop, he can afford to stop, start another book and then not finish that one either.
@@BoneistJ Bahahah so true
Frankly, I think there are far too many "writers." If you're struggling to death to come up with ideas, then why have you chosen a creative profession? If ideas don't easily flow for you, then stick with journalism, or biography, or research, or non-fiction, all which can be very rewarding in their own right. Overall, I think far too many people want to be a writer out of vanity and arrogance, and don't naturally enjoy anything about writing itself.