If your an aspiring author like I am seeking to have your book publish, wether that be through traditional methods or going the self publishing route, that is an incredibly big journey. And if you are anything like me maybe you've found yourself browsing through some of the books at Barns and Nobles or at your local bookstore and found yourself lost in thought closing your eyes and for a moment imagining that your book was up there. Of course for us aspiring authors that’s the dream, but unfortunately writing that book doesn’t happen in your sleep. I would absolutely love if that were the case…anyone got any ideas to make that a reality?
Anyway recently I’ve been in a writing rut, which has been super fun…sarcasm is fully intended to be used in that sentence. But I’ve been doing some things to try and rediscover the joy of writing and I am so happy to say its been working. I am by no means an expert on this, obviously. I just wanted to share what has been helping me and what I've learned through conversation or watching videos from other authors and writers. So I hope you enjoy and I hope after this you will find a way to finish that looming chapter or scene in your future novel.
Number One: Try to get out of your normal setting
As I said before I had been in a writing slump. Like fresh out of ideas ready to give up on my current work in progress writing slump not too long ago. I had been trying to write this novel for the past 6 months and I have just entered into the grueling and dreaded revisionist stage and I just could not find the energy or the ideas to create a story. So as the homebody introvert I am I made the bold and rare decision to get dressed, grab my keys and actually leave the house. I found a coffee shop not to far away from me. It was cute and artsy, just the aesthetic I needed. I ordered a spiced chai latte and they gave it to me in a mug that made me feel like one of the Gilmore girls. Anyway I sat down put in my headphones in and began to write. And stuff was just coming out, like no joke it was like someone had turned on a switch and the ideas were just flowing.
Getting out of the house or wherever you regularly write might help you reset and sometimes its easy to get tunnel vision after hours of just starring at your story. And if you find the write aesthetic you almost feel like you have to write, to do justice to such a setting. It also is very validating and intentional. to say I am going to a cafe, park etc. to write. Just being honest most people who don't write don't know how much work it takes. To everyone else they might just see your work as a silly hobby or nothing of actual substance but its not. And sometimes maybe you don't even realize that but you've started believing that too. Being intentional about your space you choose to write can help you remember that your work is important and it deserves to be finished.
Number Two: Set realistic dead line
When I first started out writing I would set crazy unrealistic goals for myself. For example when I first started out writing I told myself I was going to write 2,000 words a day. Maybe that is a normal goal for you but for me it definitely was not. By the end of the month I looked back at my progress and felt super discouraged that I didn't get even close to my goal. It was the same routine, I would set a high goal, I woulnd't meet that goal, I would feel dejected and I might have even stopped writing for a period.
That's why this third tip is not just set deadlines, it is to set realistic deadlines. Writing a novel, writing anything from start to finish is a long process. It can take months if not years, and after a while it can feel incredibly draining. Setting small deadlines that you know you can accomplish, at least for me, act like small finish line in the marathon known as writing. When I started setting small goals, I felt more encouraged to continue writing and a month after setting these goals I was able to look back at how far I had come and I was able to be proud that I had accomplished all my goals.
Number Three: Writing by Hand
So I'm not sure how common this next one is. But recently I started writing by hand, obviously not everything because that would take forever. But if I am going out to a coffee shop I might just leave my laptop and just bring a pen and notebook. Since I've started doing this some things have just become easier to write. Like if I ever feel like I am having a mental block I would go outside or something and just try and write it out and the science behind why that works is actually really interesting. One thing I actually read was that writing by hand can help remove distractions and I totally feel that. Like when I write I feel totally zoned out to everything else aside from the pen and paper and story I am telling. On my computer I am always tempted to check emails and Pinterest, which I just reinstalled...I tried staying strong for as long as I could.
And when your writing you are actually using different parts of your brain than you would use when typing. If your struggling with writers block or just in a slump writing by hand could give you a break not jsut form looking at that same blank computer screen but it could give your brain a break and give a part of your brain that you haven't used much for your future novel and let it chime in.
Number Four: Mood Playlist
This is more of a fun, maybe arbitrary tip, but the right music can act like a partner in crime for writing the perfect scene. Like in my current novel, I found this one song called Mona Lisa by OBB Music and it has fueled so many of the scene that I've written. It also fits perfect because there is a large part of the book is attempting to actually steal the Mona Lisa. Another song that can really help me get in the right mood is the Taylor Swift Reputation album because I feel like so many songs on that album can accurately represent my characters because all my characters are morally grey, with less than admirable intentions and for them it feels good if they did something bad. Sorry that was a terrible pun but I could not help it.
So that is the last tip, it is just to find some kind of music, wether that is in the genre of pop, classic, or rock that you find really resonates with a story, scene, or character you are wrting. Don't udnerestimate the power of music...was that too cheesy a note to end on? Get it Music...note?? No...moving on I guess...
Anyway I hope this helps in some way, and I hope you had fun reading this. I wanted to make this as short as I can because I want you to spend less time reading this and more time writing your story that the world needs to hear. Feel freee to leave a comment down bellow on some of your tips you use to motivate yourself or just to say hi, and if you want subscribe to this blog you can get on my monthly newsletter or just send me a message! Now I hope you have a productive time writing!
Love,
JB
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