Familiar with being stuck as you’re writing a book?
Feeling like you can’t seem to get unstuck?
It’s very common to get stuck many times in your writing projects.
Whether you’re stuck at a chapter, plot point, or the climax, things can really spiral into a loop when you can’t find a solution.
Not having a solution to your writing problem can be really frustrating and it can keep you blocked and stuck for many days until you do something about it.
So, what do you do when faced with a writing problem?
I’m going to share four tips to help you act quickly to stop the spinning thoughts that keep you stuck, and get moving again.
Are spinning thoughts sabotaging your writing?
Tip #1: Walk away
Walk away from the problem for a little bit.
Get some movement.
It could be exercise.
It could be going for a long walk.
It could even be something relaxing like a shower.
You know how Archimedes found his Eureka moment in his bathtub?
You can do anything that takes you away from the problem and lets you brain think about it while you’re NOT focusing on it.
But it’s important not to be hard on yourself at this time.
Give yourself a break.
Don’t force a solution…
The solution is very likely to come…
When you’re not thinking about the problem at all.
Or when you’re doing something completely different.
Tip #2: What-ifs?
Pick “What-if” scenarios for your problem and write them down.
Come up with 10-15 different ways to solve your problem.
I recomment using a pen and paper and writing down at least 10-15 ideas as quickly as you can without censoring anything.
The more solutions you can come up with, even if they sound really random, the closer you will be to finding a great solution.
Don’t stop even if you can’t go on!
Don’t reject or criticise any of the ideas you come up with.
Just let every idea, even the most ridiculous ones, flow onto the page freely.
Think out of the box!
As you go further and further down the list of ideas, something may come up that is really useful and it can help you solve your problem.
Tip #3: Brainstorm your idea
A great way to get unstuck is to brainstorm your writing problem with a friend.
Sometimes, talking to somebody else about your problem can spark an inspiration, or it can help really figure out your problem and give you a better perspective on how to solve it.
Tip #4: Pick any idea
One way to look at the solution is to pick any idea, even if does not sound great.
The not-so-great idea may look cliche to you, but it doesn’t matter.
Just know that you can pick even a cliche idea, give it a tweak or a fresh twist, and make it shine.
You can work with any sort of idea.
Even if it doesn’t seem ideal or perfect to you, just go with it.
Give yourself permission to pick an idea that simply helps get unstuck and gets you moving on your project.
You’ll figure out something on the way.
Bonus Tip: Write down what worked
Once you’ve figured out how you solved your problem or which tip worked for you, write it down so that you can use it the next time you have a problem.
Use it as your go-to solution to solve your spinning thoughts.
Just knowing what helps you get unstuck immediately can help you act quickly instead of spiralling into thoughts that keep you stuck forever.
Summary
So, whether it is brainstorming with a friend, or moving your body. Or, if it’s making a list of ideas or running away with an idea, use these tips to help you.
I hope these few, simple hacks help you get unstuck and get moving again.
To hear these tips, check out my YouTube video:
You can find all my books here at BOOKS.
I’d love to hear if you found this article useful!
You can write to me at sudha@sudhanair.com
