There are days I don’t want to write. No matter how I struggle, the words don’t want to come. Every syllable I manage on those days feels forced onto the page like Sisyphus with his boulder. Those are the days I wish I had picked another profession, one where I could punch the clock, do my task and go home without another thought. I even look back fondly on those days in college when I worked as a waitress.
Luckily those days are rare.
They tend to happen when I don’t feel well or am feeling burned out from working too much. It’s when I’m stressed about something non-work-related or when I feel like I have nothing new to say on a subject. There’s always a reason.
Some people might call this writer’s block, but I don’t. I don’t like that term because it implies there’s some supernatural force withholding words from me until I make a sacrifice in its honor, which is not going to happen. I’ve watched Supernatural enough to know that’s a bad idea.
Writing is a creative act and sometimes the mojo isn’t there, not because of something external, but because of me. I am in charge and I firmly believe there are steps I can take to make things better.
Here are some of my favorite ways to get my mojo back:
Take a Break
If I’m sick, I take a break. Sometimes the words stop because my body is telling my brain it needs a break. Honor your body. It fuels your brain and, therefore, your ideas. Just don’t give into the idea that any excuse is a good one. It’s easy to claim fatigue, headache, sore back, etc. and skip work. The problems with that are many—no words, no pay; no words, no book or story. There’s a difference between needing to care for yourself and giving into easy excuses. Push through the latter.
Figure Out Why the Words Have Stopped
You can’t solve the problem if you can’t identify the cause. Stop and ask yourself why the words have stopped. Is it because you don’t know enough about what you’re writing or is it because your inner editor is spewing vitriol in your ear and won’t let you write? Knowing what is happening lets you come up with a strategy and tactics to get around it. We put too many obstacles in front of us when we face the blank page. Has cleaning the fridge ever looked so good? Resist the urge and keep trying. Sometimes all you need is to push through the issue.
Try a Change in Venue
I’ve found that changing where I write helps sometimes. Being chained to my office can feel like prison sometimes. It’s cut off and silent, which I normally love, but some days it makes me feel like the only person on the planet—no one but me and the cat and he’s asleep most of the time. When I feel stuck, I pack up my laptop and head to the park, a local cafe, coffee house—any place that offers renewed energy for the work. It helps to know I’m not alone in the world. Plus there’s nothing quite like overheard conversations in diners to energize my writing. You wouldn’t believe what I’ve overheard!
Pick Up a Book or Magazine
Not inspired? Read something. Anything. It can be a magazine, research, a novel. It doesn’t matter. Reading helps realign the brain into accepting words. It always inspires me to get back to it. When I feel iffy in my career, I pick up a writing book or magazine to remember why I love this profession. It never fails to work if I put a time limit on it. When I don’t do that, I end up saying “just one more chapter” until the day is done. Set a timer!
Go for a Walk
Moving is a great way to get the blood and ideas flowing. There’s something inspiring about getting out in the world, surrounded by nature. Walking gives me the chance to let my mind work on my writing issues. I nearly always come back with a solution and hit the keys with renewed energy. If walking isn’t your thing, do some yoga, ride a bike, hit the treadmill or gym. Just get the blood flowing.
Quiet the Inner Critic
That voice in your head that claims you can’t write or are gong to fail is never good. That voice happens to everyone, even the best writers of our day, but that doesn’t mean it should. Would you let anyone else attack you like that? Not likely. If you want to write, you have to learn to stand up to your inner critic who wants to hold you back. It has no role in your life. You must find a way to quiet it. Ignoring it tends to work. So does drowning it out with music or positive self-talk. It takes practice, but you can silence it…mostly.
Pause the Inner Editor
Sometimes the problem isn’t the critic, but the editor who wants to fuss with every word. Treat this voice with care. You will need that inner editor when it comes time for revision, but it can be a huge obstacle when you’re trying to get a first draft finished. Try pausing it. Wait to edit until your draft is complete. Letting this voice go silent will help you move forward. Use a muzzle if you have to!
Go Back to the Beginning
Return to your inspiration for your current story to help reconnect to your original passion for the project. [Hint: Try to write down your inspiration when it hits. I write whatever inspired my story or project in the front of my file notebook as a reminder. If it’s a picture, I paste a copy there. If it’s a quote, I copy it over. If it’s a movie, I try to capture the essence of why it touched me. I also write down the timecode of the moment I was inspired.] If you were inspired by a place, visit it. If it was a move, re-watch it. Whatever it is, try to recapture that moment you were inspired to write the story. If it was a dream (and for me it often is), I meditate or daydream the dream over again. I read my notes of that original inspiration. If I can’t revisit a place or connect in a real way, then I try to go somewhere that offers the same type of energy or feel as my story to get re-inspired. The idea is to reconnect with the source. Think of it as remembering what made you fall in love with the idea in the first place and recreate it.
Stay with Your Story
Dive into your story. Go deeper. Try coming up with small details to include. Write character sketches or scenes you could add. Write a letter to your character or from your character to another. Stick to the story elements and play with them outside of the story itself. This helps create new connections that translate over to the real work. The idea is to stay connected to the story in some way until you can transition back to the work itself.
Jump to Another Part
Try writing a different part of the story. Skip the beginning. Jump to the middle. Write a random scene. Start creating setting details. Just write. Stick with it.
Review Your Notes
When in doubt go back to your notes and research. Dive deeper into the subject. Read something new about an aspect of what you’re writing. Learn. It never fails to inspire new ideas.
Get Loud
Talk it out with yourself. Out loud. But DO NOT talk to others. It will sap the need to tell your story. I write is because I want to tell my stories. The moment I tell them, even to share them with an interested party, the urge to write is diminished. This includes talking about my stories before or while I write them. I don’t share until the story is complete. Only when it is in a somewhat fine draft phase do I ask for readers and opinions.
Have Faith
The words will return. If they don’t come immediately, keep trying. Keep writing. Don’t stop. It’s better to write something else than to take a break from the craft. The only reason I ever take a break from my writing is illness or family obligations. Otherwise, this is my job and I take it seriously. I work on it as I would any other full-time career. It is not a hobby. I can’t wait for an elusive Muse to appear and grant me words. If I have to, I will fight for every syllable. I hope you’ll join me in the fight.