After three jam packed months of finishing off my creative writing dissertation, I really didn't have any time to spare to write any blog posts. However, along the way, I found myself accumulating some tips and tricks for avoiding writer's block, as that was definitely one of the biggest hurdles that I faced while trying to write nearly fifteen thousand words.
So here are my top five ways to avoid or overcome writer's block if you're on a tight schedule and don't have time to wait for inspiration to strike.
1) If you find that what is blocking you is a certain page, scene, chapter or moment, simply move past it. This was a piece of advice that I'd heard all over the place, and I didn't think I could actually put this into practise during the writing process of my dissertation, as I had to write the opening four chapters of a novel. So I thought I barely had any room to skip forwards, especially if I was trying to finish one chapter to send off to my supervisor. But then I found a way. Even if you skip a paragraph, that can still work for you, and will still allow you to keep within the boundaries of having to write one chapter at a time. I was stuck on one particular moment once, and after sitting and trying to drag the words out of me for nearly twenty minutes, I finally took a step back, took a breath, and moved ahead literally one sentence. And it worked! I finished the rest of the chapter pretty quickly after that, and went back at the end and filled in the gaps. If you can read what is ahead, sometimes it comes to you in a flash what is perfect for that one little moment that you previously struggled with.
2) If you're used to writing out of order like I am, you'll find that if you're suddenly being forced to write in order for whatever reason, this can throw you off quite considerably. But what I found to help just a little bit, was for me to skip around within the chapter I was writing. So if I'm stuck at one bit, but I know how the chapter ends, or I have in my head a full scene that is supposed to be the climax or the drama for the chapter, I'll go ahead and write what I know. It's far easier to go back and fill in the gaps than it is to try and write aimlessly. Just make sure to mark the gaps whenever you skip ahead, forgetting about one is something you don't want!
3) If something isn't working, whether it be something as small as a character name, or something bigger, like a major plot twist or a key dramatic scene, you need to train yourself to take the personal bond you have with your writing, and stop being afraid to taking parts out or changing things. If it's not working, it never will, and the more you force it, the worse the writing will come across to the reader. Stop being precious about, and when redrafting or changing things, try as hard as you can to detach the writer side of you, and try to view it through the eyes of an editor or a reader. When you learn to let go, that's when the magic will happen.
4) If you're really stuck, and you don't have time to just have a complete break, go back and redraft the earlier parts of the chapter. While it's good to stick to writing a chapter completely before you start editing and redrafting, sometimes there's just nothing for it. And I found several times through redrafting earlier parts of my writing, it actually gave me new ideas if I changed parts, and it allowed me to move past the part that was blocking me, especially if it no longer needed to be there. Sometimes rules are made to be broken! Moving ahead can help to keep your mind in the space of your story, but it gives you room to continue to build on it, around the part that is blocking you.
5) If none of these work, and what you really need is a break, watch a TV show or movie about writing. Sometimes reading just doesn't cut it, and sometimes you just want completely out of the literature side of things. But that doesn't stop you from being inspired by different kinds of writing, whether it be how the show or movie is written, or what the characters are doing in their fictional world. Are they trying to write something? Are they being successful while you maybe aren't? Sometimes seeing someone else succeed in what you're trying to do can really spur you on to want to do better for yourself, and it might just give you the little push you need to get over this block, and get back to it. So even if you're restricted to a tight schedule, anyone would forgive you if you just needed a break to watch a tv episode. Just don't get caught in the loop of binge watching. That can definitely do more harm than good! Productive breaks are the key here.
I hope this helped you if you needed it! There were definitely a few difficult moments for me, but there's nothing like the feeling of looking at your word count, and knowing you're finished. Getting my dissertation printed and bound, and all ready to hand it in was such a proud moment for me, so I hope you all can succeed in whatever writing goals you have.
Lots of Bookish Love,
Rachel xxx
