4 Things To Do When You Feel Stuck in Your Writing

Mindset

23 Jan

Do you ever feel stuck in your writing? The words are flowing, you're feeling good, and then — you hit a wall. Suddenly the scene you're writing just feels impossible to get through and the end of your novel feels so far away.

Before I jump into 4 ways to help this, it’s important to note that these writing slumps are normal. Motivation and inspiration can ebb and flow and sometimes we don’t feel creative. This is normal and not something you should beat yourself up over. Sometimes, it’s OK to just take a step back and have a break from writing if you feel it’s what you need.

So, here are 4 ways to feel unstuck in your writing.

#1 Rewrite the scene/chapter

Sometimes the reason your writing feel hard is because it's being written wrong. You might be starting in the wrong place, writing from the wrong POV, or the scene may be going in a direction you didn't predict which has thrown you off.

Take a moment to assess the scene or chapter and try rewriting it from scratch. Start in a different place, introduce different actions and dialogue, and if you have multiple POVs then try a different perspective.

Often we can find ourselves struggling to write because we’ve written ourselves into a corner or into unknown territory we hadn’t plotted for. If you feel this happening, take a big step back and try it again to see if it flows.

A fresh take on the scene may be just what you need to get your momentum back.

#2 Skip it and move on

Alternatively, if rewriting isn't working out, skip the section and move on. While it does mean work for your future self, it allows your present self to just focus on telling the story.

Don't let yourself get bogged down by difficult scenes. What matters is that you get the story out so you can come back and revise it.

Taking a break from the scene and writing what comes next might also help you figure out how to write that scene so it better transitions and sets up future plot points.

#3 Add more conflict

One of the ways our writing can feel boring or difficult to us as we're writing it is when there isn't enough conflict.

When I say "conflict" I don't necessarily mean "action".

Conflict could be a physical threat, but it could also be the protagonist struggling with their goal due to conflicted morals, it could be a significant and enlightening conversation between the protagonist and a secondary character, or even a sense of urgency and a ticking clock — eg: "we need to make it through the mountain pass by sundown".

You might be feeling in a rut because your scene has no oomph to it — nothing to drive the story or connect the reader to what's happening.

#4 Talk to others

One of the best ways to feel unstuck in your writing is to talk to others about it. This may mean turning to fellow writers or just trusted friends and family. Whatever you choose, talk through why you’re struggling and what you’re struggling with. Sometimes just saying it out loud can help you identify factors behind the struggle and formulate ways to overcome it.

Reasons you may be feeling stuck:

Impostor Syndrome has reared its head and you’re overthinking and doubting yourself.
You’re not writing from the right perspective.
Work and life are distracting you and making creativity difficult.
There is something wrong with the scene — such as content or pacing.
You’ve written yourself into a corner and now you don’t know where the story should go. If that’s the case, backtrack to see where you might have veered off course.

Questions to ask yourself:

Do I feel stuck because of the scene? If so, why? Is the scene lacking something? If so, what would make it more interesting?
Is this just one of those scenes I know I struggle to write, so it’s not the scene it’s me? If so, can I skip the scene and come back to it later?
Am I feeling stuck because of something outside writing? Is there a lot on my plate right now and the best thing for my creativity and peace of mind is to take a break?

Feeling stuck and hitting a wall in writing is normal. If you find this happening be sure to treat yourself kindly and take what you need to help your creativity.

If you’re finding it difficult to make progress in your book, the perhaps it’s time to consider getting support. Stay motived and accountable by planning and drafting your book alongside me during the 16-Week Planning & Drafting Coaching, or receive structural feedback and a clear guide for revisions with my Chapter-By-Chapter Critique.