Amanda T. Fox

            If there is one thing every author can agree with, it’s that there are no two words worse than this: writer’s block. Like a curse that’s made just for us, it becomes daunting when all we want to do is create, and we know it’s right there waiting for us to find it, but we can’t seem to see it through the fogged glass of our minds. It’s frustrating and hard to push through, to the point where some of us just want to throw down the proverbial, or literal, pen and call it quits on that book that we’ve dreamed of writing for so long.

            But what if I told you that hitting the wall of writer’s block doesn’t mean it’s the end?

            Every method is different for every author, but there are some ways I’ve learned to push through writer’s block to find the story on the other side of the wall. Not only things I have done, but things I’ve learned other authors have done just to find their story. For some, it’s taking what they know has happened in their stories, or what they have planned so far, and putting it on sticky notes to put on the wall or on paper to pin to a board. Something about visualizing the story as a whole, from what they already know about their characters and the plot, can really put it in perspective so we can connect the beginning to end the way we want.

Some go back to what inspired them in the first place, be it a movie, a book, a place, a circumstance, or even visiting a place that reminds them of their story to get a true feel of what it might be like to live it. Sparking that inspiration is an excellent way of jarring the hold writer’s block can have, inspiring us to go through to the next scene.

In my case, there’s a few ways I combat writer’s block. Sometimes, I simply take a break from it, some time to breathe and edit my other books. By editing my other books, my mind is still creating and thinking about my work in progress, but it’s using its creativity to add to another story. There have been many times where I’ll be editing one of my books and as I’m doing so, inspiration strikes, and I have to run back to write it down before I forget it. Oftentimes, this is what pushes through that wall in my mind and allows me to find the path my characters are meant to follow.

Another method I employ is just to take a day or two, or several, away from the laptop and the story, to just get my mind off things. That space allows my mind to consider the story in the background while being occupied with something else. Maybe it’s time we go to the movies or drive an hour away to do some book shopping and have dinner. Maybe it’s time to catch up on a good book or catch up on some chores and run errands.

If neither of these work, and I’m really struggling, the last method I use is simple: I find a comfortable place to sit, lean my head back, and go back a few pages. Okay, this is where we started this scene, she’s in a tough spot after this thing happened, and now we’re here. If it were me, what would I do next? I’m sure it sounds easier said than done, but putting ourselves in our character’s shoes can really open some doors into our imagination. Would we fight or run? Let ourselves fall in love, or keep fighting against it? Does he choose door number one or two?

Which would you choose, and does it feel right to the story?

As with most things, the best solution to writer’s block is to remain calm. It’s easy to panic about never getting through it, but one of the true signs of an author is struggling with the biggest curse of the business. Every author is different, and different methods work for different people, but it’s far better to try new methods and new ideas than it is to simply drop something we’re most passionate about.

I’d love to hear other stories about writer’s block, and perhaps how other authors have overcome their struggles with it in the comments. 😊 Tell me a story, and I will gladly read every one of them!