Since the boat is unstuck here’s some ways to become unstuck while writing. For me, most of it is planning • ask yourself a question you haven’t answered about the scene or storyline then answer it (helps w overwhelm) • solve the scene structure (beg,mid,end & pivots to each)
•Ask how can this reveal character psychology or objective, stakes or progress story/plot? • Ask: what would REALLY happen? (Not what’s convenient for me to get to my next plot point) • Cut it and see if it has any consequences • Reduce the characters in the scene to vitals
• Read and research stuff you’re interested in, related or unrelated. • Take a walk, drive, wash dishes, nap• Set shorter goals • Find music that evokes images or feelings • Quickly toss out ideas without judging them or yourself • Change the POV of a scene to someone else
Take a break• Find something funny, sexy, visual, absurd, emotional, suspenseful, interesting, psychological that wasn’t there before. • rethink structure • think of your autobiography that’s relatable • find something aspirational from your hopes and make us feel that
Remind yourself why you started writing it to begin with. Is that there? If not, how can you show it or tell it? • What is on your mind in current events? Can someone say that? • Make things go worse • Make them more clever • Show why they care
I’ll try to think of more, but these are some strategies I’ve tried that helped me. Have a great week, writers!
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