How I Get out of Writing Slumps
After a book launch, it can be very hard for me to get back into the groove of things with writing. On top of that, sometimes I spend too much time in author Facebook groups that are a lot more “business” oriented as opposed to “creative” oriented. All the talk about numbers and marketing can really burst my creative bubble and make me ask “why do I do this again?”
Recently, I went to Gatlinburg with the expectation that I would write a lot on the porch. Though I did a lot of fun brainstorming and some outlining, I didn’t write a single word. I was too stuck.
A picture I took on my phone the morning we took a 3-mile hike
Right now, I’m working on another series in the Lady of the Colum universe, and it can be really hard for me to write some days after the release of Atticus. I’m so excited for this character and story, but am struggling with some of the themes, which has put me in a slump.
So I’m compiling my list here of the things I do to foster my creative writing spirit, not only to help others, but to remind myself of what I need to do.
1) Making Spotify Playlists for My WIP(s)
Music can be so connected to emotions. So much so, it’s my #1 way to really get into it. I like to save songs that describe characters as opposed to scenes, though I do that too. After writing Atticus, I realized how easy a book can be to write if you really know who your character is on a soul level before you ever start typing.
2) Dressing in clothes inspired by my characters
For Margot, I liked to wear black yoga pants and sports bras. For Atticus, throwing on a gold snake ring helped. It makes me feel more connected to them and easier to write.
3) Writing in a mini diary from my character’s POV
I did this for this other WIP I’ve been working on passively, but doing daily entries that follow a miniature story can be quite helpful, especially if it parallels the events of your books. I struggle a lot with internal dialogue, so this is a game changer. It’s something I wish I could have done with Margot, though writing a character with amnesia adds its own set of roadblocks.
Atticus was the only character I haven’t struggled to write internal dialogue with, so I don’t have any for him. (Tbh, he doesn’t like to shut up when I type.)
4) Drinking drinks from the universe
In Lady of the Colum, they drink a lot of moon tea, so I liked to make chai tea with a load of froth on top.
5) Talking it out with someone you trust
My husband is also an author, so if I’m struggling, brainstorming with him can be really helpful. He doesn’t necessarily give me new ideas, but the open dialogue with him can help me figure out where my writing wall is. Often, I need to “kill my darlings” and axe a scene or a character. He isn’t afraid to ask me the hard questions, which is why he content edits my books.
Sometimes I realize the problem isn’t with my book but with external forces. For instance, once I realized that writing inside my house was causing a barrier, taking my writing over to Biggby helped me meet my high word counts when writing Atticus. Also, if you have a lot going on with your personal life, that can impede things. Your writing block can be a signal to something you need to work on or remove from your life.
6) Fantasizing when falling asleep
This is how I came up with the idea for Lady of the Colum. I was just daydreaming as I was trying to fall asleep about the scenario that happens during the flashback scenes.
7) Reading Well-Written Books
Sometimes my slumps come from forgetting how to write decent prose and falling into “telling” as opposed to “showing.” You’re going to write what you read, so if you’re reading books with bad writing, your writing is going to be bad. I really like to read Holly Black’s books when I’m struggling.