Your Turn Challenge - Day 5 - Get Unstuck

Day 5: What advice would you give for getting unstuck?

Imagine this: You've had an idea for a great novel forever. It's creative, it's compelling, and when you pitch it to your friends they seem to love the idea. You're no stranger to writing, and nowadays there are so many different support networks out there that can help you get your novel written, so you think "Hey, why not? Let's write this thing!"

So you sit down at your computer and you bang out a first draft, or part of a first draft, or some pages, and then... nothing... Maybe you've written yourself into a plot hole a mile wide... maybe you just can't think of what should come next... maybe you find it's more rewarding to outline and map out your story, but when you go to write it your fingers freeze and you find yourself unable to get the words out in the order you want them in.

Every writer gets stuck once in a while. Whether it's because you're just not sure how to fix a plot problem, or you're too scared that you're going to mess up your brilliant idea... we've all been there. Fixing the problem is easier, and harder, than you might think.

Here are some quick steps to help you get unstuck:

1. Change focus. If you keep focusing on the problem at hand, you're likely to bind yourself up in it. Stop. Breathe. And look somewhere else first.
2. Keep writing! Just because you're changing focus doesn't mean you should stop writing. Just pick something else to work on for a little while. A short project, something to break up the block, to give you something else to think about for a little while.
3. Don't beat yourself up. If the solution isn't coming right away, don't give yourself a hard time. Wait for it. It'll present itself.
4. Keep writing! I know I know, I already said that, but it's so important. Do daily writing prompts. Post on your blog. Whatever it takes, keep words flowing from your fingers, even if it's only for 15 minutes every day. Working on these smaller, less significant pieces will help oil the machine, and it will free up your mind to focus on your main manuscript without all the added pressure of "OMG I'm writing a novel and it has to be the best thing ever!"
5. When the solution finally hits you, dive back in with gusto! This goes without saying. But relish the joy that writing brings you. And, if it doesn't bring you joy, maybe consider doing something else!

What do you do when you're stuck?

Day 2: Your Turn Challenge - The what

Day 2: Tell us about something that’s important to you

For my second entry in the Your Turn Challenge I'd like to talk to you about resistance.

Most of the people I work with, people that are in a creative industry, face resistance every day. Here are some examples: Our ideas are too "out there" for a mainstream audience; they'll never amount to much. (Who will ever even read that novel?) We should just get a real job and stop pretending that what we do is worth someone's hard earned money. (Why would someone pay to read anything that you write?) Someone else does it better, has more experience, does it cheaper, does it quicker, etc. (You're self-published? Oh.)

Add that to the voice in your head telling you that you're an impostor, that it's only a matter of time before people discover the truth and tell everyone else... and that's some pretty strong resistance to the idea that you can achieve your dreams.

But what I'd like to propose is that those frustrating, depressing thoughts that make you want to give up... they're not resisting you, you're resisting them. The pressure you feel as you talk yourself into sitting down to write again today is a direct result of you not taking that bullshit, you refusing to believe the people who want you to quit. By not giving up, YOU are resisting, pushing through, pushing back against all of the naysayers. They're just standing there. You're the one in motion.

Don't listen to the bad talk and the people who tell you you can't do what you have set out to do. If you don't know something that you need to know, learn it. Find someone who does know and who will help you. Surround yourself with cheerleaders and people who will help you solve the practical problems rather than just pointing out that they exist. If you don't know anyone else who will support you, e-mail me! I would love to cheer you on to your dreams.

Be the resistance. Fight back. Make your art. Tell your story. Find your voice.