23 Oct
23Oct

I feel like I need to start off with a note that what works for me is not going to work for everyone. Shoot, what works for me at times isn't even consistent! However, I'm hoping people will find something useful amongst what I do to employ or adapt in their own writing. If it helps, I've written every single day for almost 2 years now, and some days I've managed several thousand words using these techniques.


1. Write what you're passionate about. If you're bored writing it, it's no wonder you're struggling. And if you're bored, your readers will be bored. this may seem like an obvious one, but I've seen people trying to "write to market" with no passion for the subject, and it shows.


2. Have multiple projects you can skip between. I know this isn't for everyone, but it can genuinely be helpful. My incredible CP said she always liked to have a WIP, one in revisions, and one that was finished to query. Having that balance can enable you to skip around and work on whatever is pulling your attention the most at any given moment.


3. Always keep reading! I'm constantly having small ideas for my WIPs that come from some small moment in another book I'm reading. (And I don't mean copying what they've done. It can be a cool word you want to use, reading a description of a place and realizing you never described what a certain scene looks like, etc).


4. Skip around where you are in your story. I've had some stories I've written straight through (or mostly straight through), but recently I've gone to writing whatever scene is stuck in my head. That usually allows for my best creativity and easiest time getting words down on paper. I always make a note to myself for where I need to fill in more details later on.


5. When I was new to writing, I had to do an activity first to get myself in the right concentration mode. For a long time that was Mahjong Dark Dimensions. It requires intense concentration, so I'd play that through--or until I lost--and immediately switch to writing. I don't have to do that anymore, but it helped for a long time while I built the habit.


6. Write every day. Train your brain to build a writing habit just the same way that you build any other habit. Make it a part of your routine and, if possible, keep things consistent in where/when you write.


7. Make notes of ideas that come to you throughout the day (and night sometimes lol). Yes, this helps you remember your random thoughts, but it also gives you something to jump into writing right away when you get the time.


That's all I can think of right off, but I'd love to hear more from others on what you do to stave off writer's block! Comment on the post or send me a message if you feel so inclined.


Happy writing!


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