I’ve just spent almost ten years alternately fighting and using writer’s block. I’ve never before written so slowly… Each time I thought I had found a way to tell the story that I wanted to tell, I would hit another wall—or the same wall.
Octavia Bulter via Writers Digest
Everyone’s found themselves in a slump at some point (or several) in their lives, whether creative or otherwise. That includes even the most prolific of writers. Even the great Octavia E. Butler, has famously spoken about having to face writer’s block.
Through my writing journey, I’ve grown to recognize some of the things that help me the most when it comes to getting out of slumps. And while, admittedly, I am still learning how to better pull myself out of those slumps, the suggestions below are often my go-to’s. Here are 5 tips for getting out of a writing slump that work for me, and will hopefully work for you, too.
5 Tips for Getting Out of Your Writing Slump
1.Change Your Medium (Or Your Device)
I work full time as an Editorial Director, which means I spend the majority of my days staring at a computer screen. Because of this, it’s often extremely difficult for me to open my laptop and do the exact same thing when I get home. My solution for this is the Notes app on my phone. I’ve been able to get out entire scenes while writing on my phone where I’ve struggled to get out single sentences on my computer. Yes, it’s still techically me staring at a screen, but by changing my medium (or in this case, my device), it makes writing my stories feel a lot less like work.
If you find youself stuck in a slump no matter what device you use though, try switching from an electronic device to the ever-faithful pen and paper
2. Read or Watch Something New
Inspiration is everywhere you look, even in your favorite media. You’d be surprised just how much watching a good movie or reading someone else’s work can fuel motivation.
For me, I’ve often found that well-written speculative fiction books (like P. Djeli Clark’s The Black Gods Drums) or shows with amazing storylines (like Fullmetal Alchemist and more recently Interview With the Vampire) really do the trick. As a matter of fact, I’ve even found myself inspired to write after finishing immersive video games like Mass Effect and Bioshock Infinite. That’s because they inspire me to want to tell a story that’s just as well-written and just as captivating.
3. Do Some Worldbuilding
Spend some time getting to know your characters and your setting a bit better. If you’re a speculative fiction writer and you’ve found yourself faced with writers block, it might just be because you haven’t given enough time to developing the world your story takes place in.
Apps like Milanote and OneNote are really helpful for fleshing out characters, figuring settings and timelines, and even creating intricate lore. And while much of what you write won’t actually make it into your book, worldbuilding is an important part of brining your story to life.
4. Work on Something Else
I’m often working on multiple writing projects at a time. Depending on what kind of writer you are, this might not be the ideal solution for you (and might even seem insane). If you’re good at keeping things separate, however, (meaning that the style and theme of one piece of work won’t start seeping into another), it can be a good way to keep things fun and to keep the creativity flowing.
Tip: Not good at juggling multiple projects? Then try working out of order. If you know what happens in scene B but aren’t sure yet how you get from scene A to B, then by all means work on scene B first.
5. Accept That Taking a Break Is Okay
It goes without saying that there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a break – from writing, or from anything else for that matter. Sometimes, the only way to truly break out of a writing slump is to just exist with it for a while. Last year, I wrote an entire blog post on how, sometimes, living and expriencing life is a part of the writing process, and those sentiments still stand true today.
From dirty dishes caked with grease to freshly made fry jack dough, letting things rest for a while can make life a whole lot easier.
Khaila A. Gentle 