Got Writer’s Block?

I never really know what to write about. I have a million-and-one story ideas floating about in my mind at any given moment, but if I were to actually sit down and start writing, my mind would go blank.

I’m sure you’re wondering how I could sit and write this, then. Well, jokes on you! I’m laying in bed.

But, really. I know it can be difficult for any writer to sit down and get a good grasp on what they’d like to write.

I thought it’d be a good exercise to preach to myself for a minute and give some tips on getting one of those million-and-one story ideas down on paper, and even making it stick.

Tip 1: Get comfy.

Choose a medium you like best. I work best with a laptop. I knew some weirdos in high school that wrote entire papers on their phones. Drove me up the wall, but if it works for you, do you boo.

Tip 2: Write something. Anything.

Literally anything. Write a wordle. A long and exaggerated sentence that tries its best to keep going for as long as possible while still keeping a cohesive train of thought, which can be hard if you yourself have a hard time keeping a cohesive train of thought in order, but it’s always best to try things out a few times since you never know what idea might come from one of these bad boys. Phew. I need to catch my breath.

Tip 3: Make a rough map.

If you’re someone unlike me, then you’ve got your whole life planned out day by day in a color coded bullet journal with a new theme for every week. You’ve probably got every chapter planned for your three book series already. Shoo, shoo. People like you make me jealous.

If you are like me, then you’ve probably got three or four paragraphs, maybe even a whole two pages of good content. And then you hit a brick wall. And that wall says REST OF STORY really big in scary letters.

My tip that always works for me is to make a rough map. Who’s the main character? Where do they go? What do they do? Why are they doing what they’re doing? These questions usually get the gears greased up enough to create a plot line solid enough to write for.

Tip 4: Revise, revise, revise!

Are you blessed with someone in your life that will not spare your feeings, not embarrass you in any way, and has a good taste in writing? Let them read your stuff! I can spend hours reading and re-reading my writing and change a couple of things. Give my old high school creative writing friends an hour with my masterpiece and it’ll come back with so much read ink you’ll think they used up two whole pens. That’s a good thing. Fresh eyes are essential to the revision process.

Tip 5: Trust your gut.

When you think it’s time to make a big change, either plot-wise or to the actual writing process, trust your gut. Time to end the story? Trust your gut. Time to kill this character? Trust your gut. Time for you and a writing partner to part ways for this project? Trust. Your. Gut.

At the end of the day, writing is, for most of us, a hobby. Don’t let it consume you. Don’t let it ruin your day. Don’t let what others say about your writing effect you too much. Write what you like, how you like, and when you like. Whether it become a New York Times bestseller or stays in your notebook on your shelf, just get it on paper. Get it out of your mind and into the tangible world in front of you. You’ll be happy you did.