But First Some Updates!
I started writing on Substack about a year ago, and I’ve been having a great time. My original idea was that every Wednesday, I’d send out a “Weekly Writing Workshop” with practical exercises/ advice and every Monday I’d send out a log of how my own writing went the previous week. I’ve grown a lot as a writer doing this for the past 11 months. The weekly writing reflection in particular has helped me assess my writing process more honestly and as a result, to feel better about my writing. The better I feel about my writing, the easier it is to write!
It's a virtuous cycle.
Compared to this time last year, I’m writing a lot more, and I’ve also taken on some additional clients who I’m helping with their writing. All of which means it’s becoming harder to write two substack posts per week.
So, I’m going to try out a new format.
Once a week, you’ll continue to get the Wednesday edition with practical advice about getting unstuck.
On the first Monday of the month, I’ll send out The TP Diaries, which will have a reflection of how my writing went during the previous month.
I will also send out monthly bonus content for paid subscribers!
And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming…
What to do when you get stuck
This whole substack is about getting unstuck and falling in love with your story again. Consider this post your “break glass in case of emergency” post. Here are the top ten things you can do when you are terribly, deeply, acutely stuck.
1. Don’t panic.
That advice printed on the cover of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy in big friendly letters applies here! Panicking about being stuck won’t help you get unstuck. It will just make being stuck feel worse. If getting stuck has you panicking, you might be putting too much pressure on yourself to produce, and that might be part of what is stymying your creativity. If you are feeling anxious about being stuck, take some time to remind yourself that there are no emergencies in publishing. The industry is slow as molasses. Then, spend some time doing whatever it is that helps you to relax. Which leads me to my next tip…
2. Take a break. (From everything.)
It’s hard to solve a tricky plot problem when you’re frustrated, stressed, anxious, and otherwise tapped out. If you’re very stuck in your writing, take a few days off from writing. (Or longer.) While you’re at it, consciously take the time each day to completely rest. Get some more sleep – sure – but also, just do nothing. Do something fun that doesn’t take a lot of energy and concentration. Indulge in something aimless. (If it brings you joy, is it really pointless?) Your brain might passively work on the writing problem while you’re away. Even if it doesn’t, you’ll feel better when you come back to the page, and that might be enough.
3. Write something else for a while.
Sometimes, you need to rotate the pans on your mental stovetop. If you’re stuck on a particular project, try writing something else for a while. Maybe shift gears to work on a different project while this one simmers. Try writing a different genre or category. You might have what I call “sandbox” writing, where you write a project that doesn’t have legs or structure, but you enjoy writing scenes for those characters. I recently heard some writers talk about their practice of “Fun Fridays” where they work on a primary project during the week but reserve their Friday writing sessions for something fun.
4. Write fan fiction.
Fan fiction is an ancient art. Most bodies of mythology are just fan fiction if you think about it. It’s the same heroes and gods, recast in new roles and new stories over and over again. Writing fan fiction for stories that you love is a fantastic writing exercise. It’s low stakes and gives you the chance to experiment with characters and worlds that someone else created. Sharing is optional. If you do decide to share, it’s a nice way to get some appreciation directly from readers. In a similar vein, playing D&D or any tabletop RPG is a great way to stretch your story-telling muscles.
If fan-fic and tabletop gaming aren’t your thing, try writing a fan fiction of your own characters. I know it sounds a little bonkers, but it’s one of my favorite things to do. It helps me see my characters in a new light and learn more about them. Plus, since the scenes are intentionally “not cannon” there’s no pressure for them to be “good.” Sometimes, these “fan-fics” turn out so well that they help me get unstuck and figure out a new, unexpected direction for my story.
5. Enjoy some low-stakes creativity.
Give yourself opportunities to be creative outside of writing. Draw. Cook. Make candles. Anything that will give you a chance to be creative without the pressure to finish or show anyone what you made.
6. Read.
I think most of us started writing because we loved to read first. Reconnect with words and storytelling by reading. Read what you love, not what looks impressive on your goodreads profile. Read often. You’ll probably find it inspiring/ energizing. Also, reading will help you to study and internalize storytelling techniques and structures that you find compelling as a reader, which will help you reproduce those structures on your own pages.
7. Change Your Routine
If you’re in a rut, try changing your routine. Write during a different part of the day. Write in a different place. Are there stressors in other parts of your life that might be affecting your writing and making it harder? Experiment with different routines and see what the changes knock loose for you. Look for routines that embrace joy and ease rather than ones that are punitive and harsh. Harsh and punitive are likely to entrench you more deeply into your creative rut.
8. Try to explain your problem to someone else.
You’ll notice that most of my advice has nothing to do with actually sitting down and solving a particular writing issue. That’s because any exercise to consciously work through a writing problem is going to be both easier and more effective if your mind is well rested and you have at least some harmony with your creativity.
When you do feel ready to tackle your problem head-on, try explaining the problem to someone else. You can do what KJ Dell’Antonia and Sarina Bowen call a “plot walk.” This is where you go on a walk with someone and explain to them where you are stuck in your book. If you aren’t ready to let someone else in yet, you can instead write a letter to someone explaining the problem. If you choose the letter approach, pick a specific person to write it to, but don’t send it.
Whether you take the plot walk or write a letter the point isn’t so much about getting the other person’s advice. It’s more about identifying what the problem is in the first place. (Although, your walking partner may have some great advice! See #10.) Knowing the problem puts you one step closer to solving it.
9. Interview yourself.
Imagine your book is published and you are being interviewed by your favorite TV/youtube/radio/podcast host. Write out the conversation you have with that person. What questions do they ask you? How will you answer? This exercise does several things. It gives you a chance to envision success. But it is also a way to investigate what you hope the book will do and what your fears about it are. It’s a chance to reflect on your writing process, the plot, the characters. It might help you diagnose your problem, and it might help you figure out a solution!
10. Ask for help.
I didn’t put this one last to imply it should be your last resort. I think we should all get more comfortable asking for help. Going on a plot walk is one way to ask for help. Asking for help might also mean reading some craft books, enrolling in writing courses, joining a writing community, or working with a book coach.
Far from being a last resort, I put this suggestion last because when you’re stuck asking for help is one of the most powerful things you can do.