Struggling With Writer's Block? Here's How I Handle It.

Written by Tony Ross

What do I do when my imaginary friends won't come out and play?

1) I appeal to my senses. What do my characters see, hear or smell? Are they touching or tasting anything? Emotions are helpful, too; what's the character feeling about this person, or that situation, or the current setting? Answering questions like that will often help me get a stalled scene rolling.

2) What happened with the character earlier in the story? I'll often review previous chapters, then ask myself what would logically happen next. That can be enough to get me going. It doesn't always follow the plot, but that's okay. More on that later.

3) I'll listen to music. Some people can't do it. I have to, in order to immerse myself in the scene. I have a nice CD collection (yes, I'm still old-school), and I'll cycle through several albums in a typical writing session. Generally, I'll look for something to fit the character or scene I'm writing: something fast-paced and driving when there's conflict, or quiet instrumentals for peaceful scenes. Finding the right music can put me in the proper mindset and get the words flowing. 

4) I don't stick to a plot outline. Sure, I'll plan out a few chapters, but I won't treat an outline like law. That can actually limit me. I've learned to let my characters step beyond the constraints of the plot and forge their own paths. They'll carry the story, everything will develop organically, and the end result is pretty much always better than what I had planned. 

Those are a few things I do to conquer writer's block. Do you do the same things, or something different? I'd love to hear about your experiences. 

Until next time, take care, and be blessed!

-Tony