Whether you’re filled with ideas all the time or have to scrape together character traits and plot points to form a cohesive story, eventually, you’ll come to a point in your writing life where none of your backpocket projects sound like something you’d enjoy writing right now.
I know this because it’s happened to me.
As a matter of fact, it’s happening to me, right now, in the present tense.
It’s not that I don’t have any ideas. I have notebooks and Pinterest boards and digital folders full to bursting with plot bunnies and the beginnings of character profiles. It’s just that none of them intrigue me right now. I don’t get that buzzy, fizzy feeling when I look back at them.
I couldn’t tell you why this is happening to me. I’ve always been the writer who flitted from story to story because absolutely everything excited me. It’s a little disorienting to be in this position, frankly, but I’m nothing if not a problem solver! I have brainstormed seven ideas for conquering this unique form of writer’s block that I’m happy to share with you.
#1: Plan a mini writing retreat.
I just wrote a blog post about this! Though my own mini writing retreat has changed dates a couple of times now, I have much more solid plans now, and I’m getting more excited by the day.
I go into more depth in the blog post, but suffice to say that a change of venue can refresh your thinking—not just when it comes to your writing life, but all aspects of our thinking.
#2: Take an assessment of your most viable ideas.
It’s true that none of my ideas are speaking to me right now. But that doesn’t mean they have nothing to say.
By analyzing the ideas you currently have, you might find some common threads or other hints at what kinds of ideas could interest you in the future. For example, I recently discovered that a disproportionately large number of my ideas had something to do with one particular setting. Now I know that’s something I need to probe and explore further!
#3: Read something you love.
Listen, I love to read. But I also will never read if left to my own devices. Part of the reason why is the very reason why I should pick up a book right this second: I can’t get past the first few pages of a book without wanting to put it down and pick up a pen.
If you’re anything like me, it’s time to pull something out of your TBR pile—or maybe even an old favorite. And if the book you choose doesn’t spark joy, it’s okay to put it back on the shelf and pick something else.
#4: Follow your obsessions.
Okay, so writing might not be doing for you right now in general. So ask yourself: what are you actually being pulled to do right now?
Is it a creative hobby like painting or knitting? Then pursue it. Your brain might need the break from generating words. Sometimes expressing your creativity in other ways can refill your cup more quickly than anything else.
Is it a piece of media? Can you just not get enough of a particular show (like Gilmore Girls, Jane the Virgin, and Community for me right now), or have the urge to watch the same movie (in my case, The Devil Wears Prada), or play the same video game (Stardew Valley)? Indulge in that media, then! You never know when something a character says or a particular subplot could inspire a new story.
Is it a sport, an activity, a game? Well, then go have your fun! The page will still be there when you get back!
#5: Break out the writing prompts.
Confession: I rarely use writing prompts anymore. Not ones that I don’t think of myself in the moment, anyway. My Pinterest board full of #writespo and the writing prompt books I’ve received for holidays are just sitting there. I simply couldn’t open them before now because, well, what if I liked what I wrote that day? What if I got absorbed and abandoned my current WIP?
Well, right now, a new WIP is just what the doctor ordered! It’s the perfect time to break out the writing prompt stash!
#6: Take a break.
This might be the hardest piece of advice to follow, but if you’re burned out, trust me when I say there’s really nothing you can do except take the time to recharge. We want to fix the problem now. We want answers now. But now is not gonna happen if you mentally check out every time you open a fresh document or pull out your usual writing instruments.
I hate taking breaks. I hate admitting that I cannot be a 24/7 content-producing genius machine. But I cannot. I am only human, and humans need to rest.
#7: Examine who you are as a creative.
While I think #6 is the hardest, #7 can be the scariest.
We all think of ourselves a certain way. We think of what we write and why we write a certain way. But it could be that you’re experiencing this block because these preconceptions are holding you back.
So, one way I’m combatting this is giving myself permission to start over. If I’d never written a day in my life, how would I approach the page? Who would I be as a writer? Not who would I be expected to be as a writer, but who would I want to be?
And how about you?
(Psst! Eva Deverell has some excellent worksheets about this topic if you’re interested!)
