Famous writers have also complained about the difficulty of writing. The worst thing that any writer can ever experience is what is commonly referred to as writer’s block. But what if this frustrating roadblock is actually a message? Is it possible that your inner storyteller is just being a bit of a drama queen/king and wants to play? As a seasoned writer and editor (and yes, even I’ve been there!), I’ve observed a pattern: procrastination in writing is usually a sign of other problems that are yet to be solved. Now let’s discuss the causes of the problem and how to unblock the creativity well.
1. Loopholes in the Basic Framework of Your Story
You may know the start and the finish of your story, the main characters’ temperaments, and their reasons for actions. However, there can still be gaps in your understanding. These are the gaps that are the driving force of any good story.
In my storytelling course and coaching sessions, I focus on these core aspects: the character development of the protagonist, the narrative sequence of the plot and the characters’ wants and their motivations.
Over and over again, I have seen (and suffered from) the fact that vagueness in any of these aspects results in writer’s block. At the worst, you might guide your story in the wrong direction, becoming more and more confused and annoyed. This is because your inner storyteller is trying to convey to you that the framework of the story requires reinforcement.
2. Details that are not included in a scene or chapter.
Sometimes you may have a general idea of how the entire story should be written, but when it comes to a particular scene or chapter, you may be stuck. The greater the importance of this section, the harder it may be to compose.
This can result in hours of sitting in front of the screen, typing, erasing, and rewriting in a seemingly endless cycle. Negative self-talk often creeps in during these times: ”What is wrong with me?” “Why can’t I write this?”
In my opinion, this is another way your inner storyteller is speaking to you. They are informing you that this specific scene or chapter requires more work.
The Power of Prewriting
The answer, in this case, is to stop forcing the writing and try to use the prewriting strategies that are effective for you. This could be writing notes in the process notebook, mapping out the characters’ feelings and motives at this stage of the plot, or sketching out the story by hand, which is always good for experimentation and changes. After that, you can come back to your computer and make the language more precise after you have tried all these options.
The next time you find yourself struggling to write, give this method a go and you might find that the scene or chapter you have been struggling with is much easier to write.
3. Re-evaluating Your Assumptions
At times, you may be sure of the course that the story or a particular scene is taking, and still, the process of writing is laborious. This can lock writers for days. Writers are often characterized as persistent, but sometimes, when one continues to write, the result is a section that just does not sound quite right.
These sections are usually the ones that are rewritten over and over again – adjusting, eliminating, and experimenting with the language, the connection between ideas, or the perspective. Still, there is something that does not seem quite right. We grow fond of these sections as Faulkner said about a part of the manuscript that has to be cut no matter how dear it is to the writer.
Sometimes, the parts that are challenging to write or edit just do not fit the story no matter how hard we try to make them fit. They may undermine the set up, prevent the intended conclusion, or simply not give the reader a positive experience.
Here, your inner storyteller is saying to you: ‘Stop, you are getting it all wrong, let me help you look at the story in a different way.’ Perhaps there is something that you are missing? Is there a better way to write this part of your novel?
Have you ever experienced such a type of writer’s block? Please share your experiences in the comments section.