Writers’ Block - is it real or just an excuse not to write?
Well, here's the thing - just because someone hasn't experienced it, doesn't mean others haven't either, right? Here's my personal experience with being unable to write.
After having a break in writing, I've regularly struggled to come back to it and focus on a single story. Ideas aren't my issues - I have plenty. The problem is when nothing captures me. If the idea doesn't hold my interest long enough to plot and write the book, it's probably not going to interest any of you, either.
The trouble with this is my mood and life can often dissuade me from wanting to write a specific plot. At one point, I made a joke with friends about my ADHD causing issues with writing because I have issues concentrating. And, while it certainly is a factor, it's not the whole issue.
If you've ever written a plot, with key details which hit close to home, but you're not physically or mentally prepared to go through the writing process for it – you’ll need to accept it's just not the right time.
I've skipped plots detailing my abuse, the sexual assaults I’ve endured, and the bigotry I've faced. It's not because I'm not interested in those plots, but more so I wasn't ready to write them at the time.
Similar to my experience writing Highest of Priorities - the original plot was put together in 2015, a year after being assaulted and miscarrying at age 16. Was I ready to write Highest of Priorities then? Not even close. Yet I wrote the founding plot then, and came back to it over a decade later - once I'd gone to therapy and dealt with the facts of the situation I'd been in at the time.
What I'm trying to say is: whether the plot sounds good, if it's not interesting you right now, skip it. Write it down, put it in a folder with all your other unused ideas, and move onto something that’s grabbing your attention right now. It’s okay to not work on every single idea you ever produce.
Now, if you're in the middle of a book and you can't seem to get any further, I can say I had the same problem with Entwined Hearts; I was at the end of Volume Two and confused as to where I was supposed to go next. The way I got around it was through a method a lot of people don't seem to like, but it works: rewrite the last few chapters and replot. If something isn't feeling right, you can't move forward, or it feels stale, move a chapter or two into a "may use" folder and try writing again from an earlier point in the book. There's likely something written in the last few chapters which you don't like and want to change, without knowing it. I know there was for me; after removing two chapters and rewriting with a different angle, I immediately found a way forward. And it led to Volume Three being written.
If you're struggling to produce ideas, something I've seen people say is impossible – incorrect, by the way – I have a few good suggestions to get the creativity flowing [these almost always work for me]:
- Listen to music - sounds basic but listen to music you've never listened to before, LISTEN to the lyrics, and imagine a scenario they could be detailing. A lot of songs tell a story, yet they're generally up to interpretation. So, listen and see what you can come up with. Write it down. Then look up the lyrics and see how far off you were from the story - you might surprise yourself.
- Look at stock images - grab your phone and scroll through Unsplash, Pixabay, or Pexels. See if you can find an interesting photograph or illustration and come up with a scenario linked to it; it might not be good, or even writable, but the exercise itself will help you come up with an idea you might actually want to use.
- READ. This seems obvious because, as writers and authors, it's quite literally part of the job description. We should be reading the materials in our market and industry, whether for research, learning, or enjoyment. And that's not me telling you to read books on how to write; this is me saying to pick up a book in the genre/format you're going to be writing in. If you write murder mystery, read murder mystery. Write romance? Read romance. If you're going to be writing a subgenre, like dark romance, make sure to read it. Reading doesn't just help us get an understanding on the themes and tropes, but it also helps us come up with our own plots. Plus, it will increase your writing skill naturally. And if you're struggling with time, funds, ability, or motivation to read, find new ways of experiencing the media: eBooks, ARCs, Library Books, Audiobooks, and WebNovels all exist. And, if you're a visual person – Graphic Novels, Manga, Manhua, and Manhwa are great.
- This suggestion is probably a little controversial, but I think watching/listening to your genres are also really good ways to learn some of the tropes, themes, and conventions of your genre. It'll never be as good as reading, but it's still good for sparking plot ideas.
Finally, if you’re dealing with life, struggling with time restrictions, work, or disability – remember: there is absolutely no shame in not writing for however long. If you need to take a break, whether to deal with something happening in your life or to improve your health – DO IT. Please, you’re allowed breaks. I know a lot of people will tell you to keep at it, not to use your life or experience as an excuse, or to keep working in order to prevent writers’ block. But that is truly all bollocks.
- You don’t have to force yourself to work when you don’t feel like it.
- Your life/experiences aren’t excuses to not write, they’re reasons why it might be difficult – and it’s normal to need time to handle those things.
- Continuously working doesn’t stop writers’ block – if continuous work stopped issues from arising, then my damn boiler would be working right now [sorry for the bad joke].
Manage your writers’ block however you need to, and don’t let anyone make you feel inferior simply because they’ve never experienced what you’re going through – because the likelihood is nobody else ever will. We’re all different human beings – our lives are ours, only.
Add comment
Comments