Stuck with your writing? Jenny Alexander looks at five kinds of writer’s block and how to power through them
Writers can feel stalled at any stage in the writing process, from planning to publication, but there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Blocks at different stages require different strategies to break through them.
Five stages, five blocks, five solutions
• The first page
If you’re stuck on the first page and can’t even get started, it’s possible you might just need to do some more planning, but the root of the problem is often hidden fear. You can use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to identify and change the limiting thoughts that are fuelling your fears.
Start by simply noticing your self-talk when you sit down to write, such as ‘This is a waste of time, I should be doing something useful’, ‘What if it’s no good?’ When you know what specific objections your mind is putting in the way, you can challenge them. ‘It’s not a waste of time doing something you enjoy. If I loved fishing or football, would I be thinking this way?’, ‘I’ll never find out if it’s good unless I write it.’
That’s the cognitive bit. The behavioural bit is simply doing some writing, any writing. Any kind of daily practice, such as ‘morning pages’ or writing from prompts can help you let go of the notion that you have to wait for perfect inspiration before you can begin.
Write for fifteen minutes once a day, whatever comes, to get the writing flowing. Then use this technique as required, any time you find yourself staring at a blank page. Giving yourself a little time for writing just for pleasure is a gateway to giving yourself enough to start the bigger projects.
• The stalled first draft
If you’ve got started on your book but are struggling to continue, first check your self-talk to see if you’re still getting in your own way. If your inner critic is piping up, silence it with Hemingway’s immortal words, ‘The first draft of anything is shit.’ The first draft is not supposed to be good; that’s the purpose of redrafting. The first draft is just to find the story.
If negative self-talk isn’t the problem, you might simply and literally have lost the plot. One key to recovering your momentum is to check that the main plot is firmly focused on the main protagonists and get to know your characters better, so that you have a thorough understanding of the kind of situation they’re likely to get themselves into, and what they wi
