10 Ways To Get Out Of Writer’s Rut
Stuck in a writing rut? Try these 10 practical ways to get moving again, overcome creative blocks, and make progress on your writing.
I don’t believe in Writer’s Block. I think writers simply get stuck.
There are many reasons why this happens. In Writers Write, we always encourage writers to plot their books before they start writing. You need to know where you’re going before you begin.
I have also interviewed more than 100 published authors. Most of these writers have a plan, they have a writing routine, they are open to learning, and they know how their book is going to end.
They don’t believe in waiting for the muse. They believe in hard work.
Why Do Writers Get Stuck?
These are some of the most common reasons why writers stop writing:
- We can’t get beyond one story – usually an old one.
- We talk about writing but never start.
- We avoid writing uncomfortable or difficult scenes.
- We can’t get beyond the synopsis – or the story idea.
- We haven’t written a synopsis – or a blurb.
- We can’t seem to finish anything.
- We don’t know how to start the book, the next scene, or the next chapter.
- We keep on repeating what we’ve already written.
- We write our characters into corners. (This happens when there is no plot.)
- We write, edit, rewrite, and edit the same scene instead of moving on.
Once we identify the problem, we can do something about it.
10 Ways To Get Out Of Writer’s Rut
1. Change Something
If your story isn’t moving, change something. Change your antagonist, setting, or a character’s goal. Change the sex of your protagonist or antagonist. Sometimes one small change is enough to open up a new direction.
2. Change Your Point Of View
Try writing the scene from another character’s perspective. If you usually write in third person, try first person. If you write in first person, try third person. You don’t have to use the new version. It may simply help you see the story differently.
3. Commit To Your Writing Routine
Writers write. Set a time to write and stick to it. You can commit to a certain amount of time or a number of words. Don’t wait until you feel inspired. Even 20 minutes of writing can move your story forward.
4. Learn Something New
Read a book about writing. Join a writing group. Take a writing course. Try a new writing exercise. Sometimes we get stuck because we have been looking at the same story in the same way for too long. Learning something new can give you another way into the story.
5. Give Your Character Something To Do
Make a to-do list for your character. Where do they need to go? Who do they need to see? What are they avoiding? Put two characters together who should not be together and see what happens.
6. Play The ‘What If?’ Game
Ask yourself: What if? What if your character makes the opposite choice? What if they tell the truth instead of lying? What if they leave? Keep asking questions until something interesting happens. If you’re still stuck, go back to the last point where the story was working and take your character in a different direction.
7. Give Yourself A Reward
Promise yourself a reward when you reach a writing goal. It could be a good meal, a walk, a film, a new book, or an afternoon doing something you enjoy. Break a big goal into smaller ones and celebrate when you reach them.
8. Stop Editing
Carry on writing. If you keep going back to edit every paragraph, you will never finish the book. The first draft is where you tell yourself the story. You can fix it later.
9. Use A Timer
Give yourself 15 or 20 minutes to write the scene you’re avoiding. Don’t edit. Don’t research. Don’t check your phone. Just write. You can fix the scene later. Sometimes the hardest part is simply starting.
10. Write A Synopsis
If you don’t know where your story is going, stop and write a synopsis. What happens at the beginning? What does your protagonist want? What gets in the way? How does the story end? You don’t need a perfect synopsis. You simply need to know where you’re going.
The Last Word
Getting stuck is part of writing. You don’t have to wait for inspiration to rescue you. Try changing something. Ask a ‘What if?’ question. Write a synopsis. Set a timer and get the words down. The important thing is to keep moving. Writers write.
Create a writing habit with Hooked On Writing: 31 Days To A Writing Habit
by Amanda Patterson
© Amanda Patterson
Are you looking for more inspiration? Read these posts:
- Beat Writer’s Block With Help From The 4 Elements
- 10 Perfectly Practical New Year’s Resolutions For Writers
- What Is Your Writing Element? Air, Earth, Water Or Fire?
- 10 (Amazingly Simple) Tips to Get You Back on The Writing Track
- 13 Ways To Start A Story
- What does it take to write a book?
- How To Write A Beginning And An Ending That Readers Will Never Forget
- Plotting – 10 Basic Dos and Don’ts
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0 thoughts on “10 Ways To Get Out Of Writer’s Rut”
Hey, this is so good! Can I take this to my blog and translate in my language? I will post the source, I don’t need any credit.
This article might have more credibility if the author either knew how to spell “enroll” or at least knew how to use spell check.
Knowing when to use quotation marks instead of italics might be helpful as well.
Justin, you might have more credibility if you didn’t assume everybody used US spelling.
Hi! I find this very helpful, as I am often times “stuck” in my writing. I would like to ask permission to repost this in my blog. I promise to quote the source and not to change anything.
I thought this would be a stuffy boring piece from some over-confident codger/writer. After all, isn’t writer’s block the same as getting stuck? However, I found the article refreshing. Some of the suggestions I have considered, but not changing the sex of a character. I have found for me anyway one of the most important parts is to write the synopsis. That has helped tremendously. @ Justin- we all make mistakes.
I am very curious about what is meant by “minimum of eight rewrites.” How extensive do you consider each rewrite to be? Is it a complete reimaging of the story, beginning to end? Is it a rewrite each time you change a chapter significantly? Enquiring minds want to know.
@K.M. Wilbanks – I can’t speak for the author of the article, but for myself I go through the story at least eight times from beginning to end after I’ve finished the draft. I look for story continuity first, to make sure everything is still accurate (some dynamics change as I develop the story). I also check for scenes that I forgot (it has happened before). I make sure the characters are consistent. I then print it out and edit by hand (much better than doing it on the computer screen). Once that is done I do a grammar check and send it to the editors who find more issues and errors for me to correct. All in all, between me and editors, we probably go through the story more than 8 times. Sometimes major rewrites are needed. Frankly, it takes me longer to edit than it does to write the darn thing.
These are all great suggestions. My problem with being “stuck” is when I have multiple ideas for the plot and I am too afraid to commit to one or the other. If I use Plot A and then find out 5 chapters in that it’s not working, I would have to scrap everything I just wrote. That scares me to the point of paralysis…I just stop writing. 🙁
1st excuse my english, I am a french native speaker
then @diane
I do understand what you’ve said. I’ve been in this situation often: believing that I’ve found the right plot, starting writing then realizing that everything has to be redone because of a character’s reaction I haven’t expected. I don’t believe so much in ploting. It has to be done, but at minima, just to have the strong markers of the story and avoid getting stuck, but also to start the reflexion about your world and your characters. Because, at the end of the day, they are the one who will be writing the story, not you.
I do believe in the writing transe, the power of automatic writing and the auto emergence of a story.
then, you could use Vogler’s and other ploting theories to rewrite.
because you’ll be rewriting whatever the writing method you use ^-^
Good luck and don’t be afraid of anything! Just keep writing, ploting and editing!