 Just like in any other job, writers get burnt out. Being creative is the way our brain works but sometimes we hit the bottom of our creative barrel and we need to recharge. Sometimes we hit what writers like to call writers block. Ah this is so stressful!!! Especially when we want to move forward with our story and we are feeling like we have nothing to write other than. I hate this, or what are words? First of all don't feel like you are a bad writer if this happens to you. It happens to us all. Secondly don't give up. Remember, "Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it!" ~Anne of Green Gables~ You might feel like hitting your head against your laptop or notebook today, but that doesn't mean it's time to quit all together.
10 Tips to beat Writers Block! 1. Do a task that requires a minimal part of your brain, and think through the spot of your story that you are stuck at. Something like hand washing dishes, mowing the lawn or taking a shower work great. 2. Refill your writers bucket by reading a book that is NOT the same Genre you are writing but you still enjoy a lot. It can be a novel you love or a new book or even a book you are beta reading for another author. 3. Refill your writers bucket by reading a book that IS in your Genre. Pay attention to the story beats and see if it can clue you into what you might need to do next. 4. Take a trusted friend out to lunch and hash out the part of the story you are stuck on. A phone call also works, but it's less fun. 5. Spend a hour on pintrest looking up clothes your character would wear, the environment they are in, the costume or ball gown, or weapon they need soon. Use the time to build excitement for writing not as an excuse for why you're not writing. 6. Watch one of your favorite T.V. shows. Laugh, relax and then think about why you love it. Can you use that element in your story? Spend a few minutes writing about that. 7. Play the What If... game (also fun with a friend) Think of the silliest, craziest, scariest, funnest things that could happen next. Not only is it fun but you'll probably find your answer. 8. Do a timed write exercise. Set your timer for 20 to 30 minutes and write about whats wrong, where you need to get too and all the ways you could force your characters in that direction. If that feels to long 10 minutes is absolutely acceptable too! 9. Make your favorite desert. Something that when sitting there is super hard to resist. Then reward yourself for writing a chapter or a certain large word count by earning some of the desert. #motivation 10. TAKE a bubble bath and relax. Ask yourself questions about your characters background and why they are the way they are now. Two good things comes from this. More knowledge about your characters and sometimes something you learn about them will help you with where you are feeling stuck ***BONUS: Search for a song that represents your book or character and play it before you sit down to write ***BONUS 2: Let the stress of the block fade into the back ground. Go to bed. Wake up, exercise, eat something filling, drink a large glass of water, stretch then sit down to write with your favorite music. Get yourself feeling good, with endorphins pumping thorough you and go for it! I hope you find these helpful. Good luck and happy writing! Cassie!
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 Truth: You can start writing a book without really knowing who your character is and how they need to change, but... will you write the right book for them? Even if you are a discovery writer it helps to spend at least a little time thinking about who your character is, what they want, what they need, how they act and how their life needs to change. If you are a plotter or a planster spend some time writing things down about your character. You will be glad you did!
Writing as a mom isn't always easy |
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Writing with a Newborn: Writing when you have a super new baby is a hard thing to do. But when you are a writer, you still want to do it. You still have that urge and that need. And if you have a deadline then you really need to be able to do it. Here are a few things to keep in mind when writing with a newborn.
TIPS:
TIPS:
- Make smaller goals for the month your baby is due and the next two months after.
- You can easily read books about writing or in your genre while you feed the baby.
- Write a little bit after baby goes to sleep, then take a nap too. If you are exhausted its hard to be creative.
- Maybe do more research then writing during this time.
- Try typing one handed.
- Use a pen and notebook instead
- Try using a microphone on your computer or phone and have your voice do the typing.
- Give Daddy extra snuggle time with baby so you can sneak in a little writing time.
- Maybe plan on doing more world building and Character sketches or outlining during this time.
- Your baby loves to hear your voice. Talk your story out with baby. They make great What if… partners,
- FORGIVE YOURSELF!! You will be tired, you will be healing and adjusting to life with your new little one. If you can’t get done what you wanted too, let it go! It’s okay. Snuggle your baby and let yourself try to fit your writing time in another day. Tomorrow might be easier you never know!
- Know that instead of writing for a nice long sitting its okay to write in little segments of time. Might not be how you are used to working, but if you can adjust then it will be easier to do both.
- Keep an eye out for signs of postpartum depression. Depression can make it hard to not only take care of your home and family, but also make it hard to work on your writing. Get some good sunlight, exercise, eat well and get the best rest you can! Writing can wait a few days, take care of you and your new baby first!
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Writing with Young Kids: When you have zero kids, you can basically write whenever, while juggling normal life and a job. Add the kids and the main thing you have to do is adjust your time. You might become a night owl, and work on your writing then. You might become a morning person and find your writing time before the kids wake up. Seems easy enough, but remember just like when you finally figure out your babies sleep schedule, it changes, your perfect little schedule you will figure out will change too. As they grow their schedule will change, and yours will need to change too. So this time adjustment thing never goes away. To make both work you need to be willing to always be tweaking how you do things.
TIPS:
1. Let them help feed your motivation by telling them what you're working on! I love it when my kids ask me what book I'm writing.
2. Write during nap time or when they are in school.
3. Get things started in the house. A load of laundry done, a load of dishes, then sit down to write. When they need switched out you probably need a break anyway.
4. Let them help choose character names. Kids love this!
5. Request your books that you need to read so that when you take your kids to the Library you can simply pick up your stack and focus on helping them find books of their own.
6. Play hard with them for 30+ minutes so that they are more willing to play nicely together while you get a little work done.
7. When they are watching their favorite show that you can't stand anymore, bring your writing out and work right next to them.
8. Ask if they think this plan or that plan would be better for your character. This works for any genre but they will be the most excited if it is kid lit. But no matter the genre they will love being involved.
9. Ask your partner to take the kids on an adventure and leave you at home. An hour or more is best. I recommend two to three if possible. Then switch with your spouse so they can work on their own dream. Then you can have some fun one on one time with the kids. This is good for everyone!
10. Make family trips research trips. Take pictures of your hike and think if you could use the setting in a story. Observe a city and think about how any details might help in your writing. If you want to place your next book at the grand canyon then plan a family trip. Fun and research all in one!
11. BONUS!!! Let them scribble all over the pages you are revising. It makes them happy and you might get some cute keepsakes in your manuscripts pages.
TIPS:
1. Let them help feed your motivation by telling them what you're working on! I love it when my kids ask me what book I'm writing.
2. Write during nap time or when they are in school.
3. Get things started in the house. A load of laundry done, a load of dishes, then sit down to write. When they need switched out you probably need a break anyway.
4. Let them help choose character names. Kids love this!
5. Request your books that you need to read so that when you take your kids to the Library you can simply pick up your stack and focus on helping them find books of their own.
6. Play hard with them for 30+ minutes so that they are more willing to play nicely together while you get a little work done.
7. When they are watching their favorite show that you can't stand anymore, bring your writing out and work right next to them.
8. Ask if they think this plan or that plan would be better for your character. This works for any genre but they will be the most excited if it is kid lit. But no matter the genre they will love being involved.
9. Ask your partner to take the kids on an adventure and leave you at home. An hour or more is best. I recommend two to three if possible. Then switch with your spouse so they can work on their own dream. Then you can have some fun one on one time with the kids. This is good for everyone!
10. Make family trips research trips. Take pictures of your hike and think if you could use the setting in a story. Observe a city and think about how any details might help in your writing. If you want to place your next book at the grand canyon then plan a family trip. Fun and research all in one!
11. BONUS!!! Let them scribble all over the pages you are revising. It makes them happy and you might get some cute keepsakes in your manuscripts pages.
Once upon a time, I thought that to be an author you had to have a special magical place to write. A place where if you sat there words and stories would come to you magically. That the space you wrote at was the key to success. Then I became a mom. Guess what, I have a desk and it is extra special writing time if I get to sit there, but if I waited until I could sit at my desk to write, I would't ever get any writing done. I can't be picky about where I sit if I want to hit realistic goals. I can't balance my writing life and my mom life. So if you are struggling for time, for the perfect environment I would ask you one thing. How much does it really matter to you where you write? For some it might be huge, and they will have to make it a priority, for others it might not matter as much as you think it does. That was my case. As a mom I have to write in what ever kind of environment I can get, while balancing my 5 kids and their schedules. That might mean sometimes I will write outside, in the car, in the living room, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in my kids bedroom. Seriously I write everywhere. I cannot rely on that magical place. I have to make every place magical. And guess what you can too.
10 Tips to making any space your magical writing space:
1. Bring only what you need. Balancing extra stuff will get annoying quick.
2. Set your kids up with whatever activity they will be doing, and then get to work. Advanced preparation here is key.
3. Headphones and writing music is great as long as you don't need your ears for anything else. Its great to keep your writing mood and drown out some of the background noise.
4. Bring something to drink. Seriously I always get thirsty when I am writing. Same with any writing snacks you love.
5. Try to have internet access for quick research or the use of a thesaurus or dictionary.
6. Accept that you will get interrupted, and learn to be okay with that. There will be some distractions when you aren't sitting at your desk but are out in the world.
7. Make good use of your time. Turn off all the distractions that you can choose to get lost in, and make your writing time as effective as you can. Hint hint, Social Media.
8. Be flexible!
9. Have back up pens if you are editing with a hard copy.
10. If you scoot your chair back in the car your lap becomes a great desk.
BONUS: Not planning on writing but the opportunity comes up. ALWAYS keep a small notebook and pen with you. Then you can sneak in some writing when the unexpected time presents itself. I always have writing stuff in my car, for when I end up waiting for my husband or kids for longer than I expect. Your google doc app on your phone is also good, if you don't mind working on your story with your tiny phone keyboard.
BONUS #2: Use a recording app or get one of those recorders for lectures so that you can talk the book and type it up later. Could be useful if you can't really use your hands like on a long drive, where you are the driver. Just pay attention to the road. :D
One last thing. Forgive yourself if you don't get a lot done. That is normal and fine. Just celebrate what you do accomplish, even if it is only two sentences, Or one page edited. That is still more than you would have gotten if you didn't take the spare moment. EVERY WORD IS A WIN!
Happy Writing!
10 Tips to making any space your magical writing space:
1. Bring only what you need. Balancing extra stuff will get annoying quick.
2. Set your kids up with whatever activity they will be doing, and then get to work. Advanced preparation here is key.
3. Headphones and writing music is great as long as you don't need your ears for anything else. Its great to keep your writing mood and drown out some of the background noise.
4. Bring something to drink. Seriously I always get thirsty when I am writing. Same with any writing snacks you love.
5. Try to have internet access for quick research or the use of a thesaurus or dictionary.
6. Accept that you will get interrupted, and learn to be okay with that. There will be some distractions when you aren't sitting at your desk but are out in the world.
7. Make good use of your time. Turn off all the distractions that you can choose to get lost in, and make your writing time as effective as you can. Hint hint, Social Media.
8. Be flexible!
9. Have back up pens if you are editing with a hard copy.
10. If you scoot your chair back in the car your lap becomes a great desk.
BONUS: Not planning on writing but the opportunity comes up. ALWAYS keep a small notebook and pen with you. Then you can sneak in some writing when the unexpected time presents itself. I always have writing stuff in my car, for when I end up waiting for my husband or kids for longer than I expect. Your google doc app on your phone is also good, if you don't mind working on your story with your tiny phone keyboard.
BONUS #2: Use a recording app or get one of those recorders for lectures so that you can talk the book and type it up later. Could be useful if you can't really use your hands like on a long drive, where you are the driver. Just pay attention to the road. :D
One last thing. Forgive yourself if you don't get a lot done. That is normal and fine. Just celebrate what you do accomplish, even if it is only two sentences, Or one page edited. That is still more than you would have gotten if you didn't take the spare moment. EVERY WORD IS A WIN!
Happy Writing!
Sometimes I write at my beautiful desk(which I love a lot), with all of my writing books and my notebooks all in order. Sometimes I write at my desk with my headphones on. Sometimes I have to leave my house to write and sometimes my husband takes my kids on daddy adventures when I write. And quite often I am on a blanket outside in the shade while my kids play. It is all about balancing and finding a way to make your writing time and your writing place work together.
What about you? Where do you end up writing?
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