Writing Tips for When You're Stuck

Aka, what should you do when you and your characters reach an impasse? This is a regular occurrence for writers, but it doesn't have to be a scary one. It's just part of the process!

Here are some tips to help you move forward without forcing it.

Don't add a twist just for the sake of progressing the story

Your first instinct may be to add something dramatic to raise the stakes, but this is the last thing you should do. When you rush into fresh problems, it often takes away from the main plot, or doesn't fit into the story. Instead, ask yourself thought-provoking questions. What does your character want? Are your characters avoiding anything in particular? What are you trying to get across by telling this story?

By answering these questions, you reach a more realistic approach to what happens next. It doesn't always have to be exciting. It needs to happen naturally!

Go backward so you can go forward

If you're having a problem with your story, it's probably because of something that happened previously. You might have rushed a scene or skipped an important emotional moment. Perhaps the forced nature of this scene affected your later scenes instead of vice versa. Sometimes, looking over what's already there can help you continue writing!

Write different versions

If you're waiting for the 'right' idea to come, you may never move forward. It's more often than not that you'll end up with a bunch of ideas that are half-baked, but who's to say you can't finish cooking them?

What I mean to say is, write out all the scenes that don't feel like the perfect one. Let the scene be boring, messy, or obvious. Sometimes, this can give you ideas of what you really want to happen. Writing a terrible draft, as we all know, can lead to a better version down the line.

Write the story from a different perspective

This is one of my favorite things to do when I get stuck on what I'm writing, especially as someone who loves to write in the first person POV. Use the opportunity to dive into other characters, or build on the setting of a previous scene. You can also write a scene that comes much later in your story. Examining these various viewpoints stimulates your creativity and could help you discover a concept you wouldn't have found on your own.

Let the story rest

I think a lot of writers are afraid to take a break from their story, but it's such an important process of writing. You're intentionally stepping away from the story. This is an opportunity to give your brain a break from thinking of the same character and story. You can find creativity by taking a break! Read more books, take a walk, stretch, shower, etc!

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When you get stuck in a story, it's usually not a block in your creativity. It's a sign that you should slow down and inspect the details to reveal your story's truth.

I hope these tips will help you continue to write and create! Thank you for reading, and have an amazing Saturday :)