After penning two books and a fiction novel and learning the secret Author Handshake, I’m officially qualified to call myself a writer. Now that I’m part of this secret society, I’m going to do the first thing anyone in my position would do—let you in on the secrets. You’re welcome.
Any writer out there can tell you that there are just some days when the words aren’t gonna flow. When people ask me how to write a book, I always tell them the same thing: treat it like it’s a job. You have to show up on time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t goof off from time to time. It reminds me of what I used to tell interns about how to succeed in corporate America: look busy and appear like you’re doing something important.
Ironically, today is one of those goof off days for me, which is why I thought it might be useful to talk about some tips for beating writer’s block and finally writing that dang book you keep putting off.
Stop Writing
No, not forever. Just for a little bit. If you keep trying to put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard as the kids do nowadays) without any luck, it’s okay to take a break.
Get up. Do the dishes. Play with your dog. Stare out the window at the barren snowy winter wasteland. Contemplate the vastness of the world. Imagine how to exploit capitalism for every single penny it’s got. Do whatever it takes to get your mind off of writing. Once you do, you’ll be amazed at how much easier it’ll be when you try again.
Also, it’s a well-known fact that taking a shower magically makes your brain more creative. Who’d have thunk?
“Get up. Do the dishes. Play with your dog… Contemplate the vastness of the world.”
Force It
If not writing doesn’t help, then writing’s bound to…right? Treat it like a jar that won’t open; run it under some hot water and then pry with all your might!
Look, the first draft of everything is going to be garbage. That’s just the way writing works. Stop trying to create your magnum opus and focus instead on just getting some dang words down on your paper. Ignore the misspellings and grammar mistakes. Just write it down. It’ll get you a helluva lot further than not writing at all.
This is especially good if you’re trying to live up to some sort of expectation. Got a report to turn in to your boss? Are you writing your acceptance speech for when you get sworn in as the President (slow down, buddy. You’ve still got four more years to write that one)? You’re probably dealing with a lot of pressure.
Just tell yourself whatever you’re writing isn’t going to be the final draft (even if it is). Slap some words down. Once you push through that block, you’ll be shocked at the brilliance that’ll come.
“Just write it down. It’ll get you a helluva lot further than not writing at all.”
Don’t Edit Yourself
This isn’t a comment on keeping your language pc. That’s a discussion for you and your readership (and everyone knows getting between that is like trying to get between a crazy cat lady and her nineteen felines).
There are two ways to write a book. Either you create an outline and plan out every step, or you just start writing and see what happens. It might shock you, but I’m one of the types that just starts writing without a plan. Still, no matter what your approach is, you’re bound to fall into loops.
What I’m talking about is a condition I’m going to call the Lethal Loop. What’s the Lethal Loop? I’m so glad you asked.
It goes like this: you write the first chapter of your book. Then, when you sit down to write the second chapter, you reread the first one so you remember where you’re picking up from…except when you read that first chapter again, you realize all the mistakes that need to be fixed. You spend all your writing chops fixing the first chapter and barely squeeze out the second. The next time you sit down to write, you reread the second to remember where you were. It’s trash compared to the first, so you rewrite the second. But then you realize how many things still need to be fixed in the first. By the time you’re ready to start the third, you’re exhausted. And you do this over and over and over and over and over…
It’s time to break free of loops. Swear off of them completely (except the cereal kind. Those are fine. Remember, I did work for Kellogg most of my adult life, and Toucan Sam sold a lot of Froot Loops)! Make yourself a promise not to edit anything until a certain date…call it your Fixin’ Friday or something.
Better yet, hire an editor. Then your typos can be their problem. Plus, by hiring one, you’re feeding the economy. It’s a win-win.
When all else fails, inspire yourself by reading some literature from another author. I just might know a place to start…