Getting Unstuck
- Ayishah Hasni
- Aug 19, 2020
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 14, 2020
There are things that I wish I had known while writing my first manuscript, things that I ended up learning through the years of trial and error, editing, research, and of course, finding who exactly I was as a writer. Throughout this blogging journey, I want be able to share as much as what I've learned with you, but today, I'm focusing specifically on overcoming writer's block and what might be holding you back from being able to put words onto paper.
The Dreaded Block
I truly believe writer's block is inevitable for everyone. Sometimes, you have amazing ideas that you're super thrilled to write about, but you just don't have the ability to put said ideas into sentences, and other times, you simply have no inspiration to form any ideas. Both of these are examples of having some sort of block. I will explore the reasoning behind both of these types of blocks, as well has how to overcome them, but first, I want to acknowledge one thing: quarantine.
Personally, I've been finding that spending most of my time at home due to the restrictions of Covid-19 has limited my number of ideas. Although I'm currently editing one of my manuscripts at the time, I still have been experiencing blocks, especially when it comes to coming up with new ways for how to make my manuscript even better (new scenes, plot changes, etc.) I believe that this is due to a lack of getting inspiration from being busy, such as with going to school or spending time with friends. That's why I think this article is as helpful for me as it is for you!
Putting Ideas into Words
For me, first-drafting is probably my favourite part of writing manuscripts. I enjoy letting my ideas spill onto paper, and trying to write as freely and naturally as possible (without worrying about word count or chapter lengths, etc.). This also means that I'm not doing any editing as I go along---instead, I take notes on what I want to edit so that I can return back to them later---but I always, always write to the end of the story first. This also helps me to save a lot of time (as in, I don't spend time worrying about how the plot flows), because I instead let myself worry about such details during the editing process. Once I've completed the first draft, I have every idea that was in my head down on paper, and I can figure out exactly what I want to keep and what I want to remove.
However, it wasn't always as simple as this. During the process of writing my first manuscript many years ago, I constantly worried about one thing---audience. I worried about how readers would judge my writing, how friends and family would react to my writing, and whether publishers would accept my writing. This was, of course, due to a lack of self-confidence, since I had always wrote smaller stories for myself or for my friends, as well as a lack of understanding for how the publishing process works.
To elaborate, first-drafts are by no means the same as a fully published book. There is so much editing that goes into a book before it can be presented to an audience, and not just editing done by you as the author, but by professional editors working for the company that is publishing your novel as well. Even literary agents offer an array of suggestions before they submit your work to any publishers. And you can't forget beta readers giving you advice, either.
So, in my opinion, there's no point in stressing about how your readers are going to judge every single word that you write. Of course, you can consider what readers might be interested in, but ultimately, write for yourself. That was a piece of advice given by one of my favourite authors, V.E. Schwab, and it was advice that really helped me to come out of my writing shell and be confident about what kind of story I was telling. Now, I feel like there is no restrictions to what I write---I simply write whatever comes to mind, whether it's bad or good, and save the technicalities to the editing process, when I'm actually ready to submit to a literary agent or publisher.
Remember, you're also the only person who sees your work before you choose to show it to someone else. So, perhaps avoiding the blank page is simply a matter of avoiding disappointment in yourself. But like any art, there is not only one way to write, so use whatever process works for you, even if that means writing in a different order, such as writing the ending first. Setting goals is also another way to get writing done---for example, challenging yourself to write 1,000 words a day, or giving yourself a specific time when you will sit down and write. Feel free to experiment---no one is judging you except for yourself. And just make sure to have fun!
Finding Inspiration
Even if you're at home, there are a lot of ways to get inspiration in order to help you form ideas for your writing. My number one recommendation would simply be to read, since books both expose you to the creativity of different authors, as well as the technique and structure of what a published novel should look like. This doesn't mean that you just have to read books within the genre of what you're writing---I also find it very helpful to familiarize yourself with different genres so you know exactly what you enjoy and do not enjoy, and therefore what you should write about. Reading anything is good for improving your skills and for expanding your understanding of the world, whether that's through fiction or non-fiction.
I also find TV shows and movies very inspiring for my writing, since they tend to be very immersive and get me excited to invent my own immersive feeling through writing. Also, listening to music, whether it is instrumental or non-instrumental, usually causes me to picture scenes in my head that might lead to ideas for new stories or changes to add to one of my manuscripts. Recently, I was inspired to make some edits to my most recent manuscript after watching Hamilton the musical on Disney+, since the poetic language of the songs, the exciting plot, and how it all came alive on stage was exactly the motivation and inspiration that I needed.
I tend to come up with ideas before I sleep as well---in that moment between lying down and actually sleeping---since it is perhaps the darkness, or the lying still, that makes my mind wander. Another thing I enjoy doing is simply opening up to a blank page in one of my journals and waiting, and though that might not seem very effective, ideas often begin flowing through my mind. Once again, I believe that has to do with stillness---by letting your mind focus on one task, you are able to give yourself the chance to think and be creative.
Honestly, inspiration is everywhere, and I trust that you will find it if you just take the time to observe the world around you.
Once again, remember to be confident in yourself and in your writing, because no author is born an expert---writing takes practice, and for everyone, there is always room to grow and improve. But you'll never know what you're capable of unless you open that blank document and write what you love. Do not give up, and do not avoid that blank page forever. If you just give yourself a chance to let your thoughts escape, I think you'll be surprised.
~ Ayishah
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