How to Keep Writing When You’re Stuck

Whether you’ve set a predetermined goal or you’re just writing as it comes to you, getting stuck can be frustrating. The infamous “writer’s block,” comes in many forms, but the outcome is the same: you not writing.

Diagnosing your writer’s block is one of the first steps to resolving it, but before that, we need to set some expectations to prepare you for the inevitable.

Manage Your Mindset

A problem will almost always compound if you react negatively to it. And I can tell you right now, you’re going to run into roadblocks as you write your novel. Every writer goes through this, so you are not alone.

Plan to Get Stuck

In part 1 of this series on writing a novel in a year, I talked about creating an “if/then” plan, so go check that out if you haven’t yet. In addition to that, make sure you build in buffer time in any goal or schedule you make for yourself.

One thing I recommend to my clients is to figure out your own pace and set goals in accordance to that pace. If you’re the type of writer that can churn out 1000+ words in 30 minutes, maybe you can write an entire draft in a month or less. If you typically write less than that, you may need a little more time.

But here’s my caveat to that.

I have a marketing background, so I’ll all about the data. But when you’re crunching numbers to set a deadline for yourself, don’t forget to build in buffers for when you inevitably hit a block.

For example, if you figure you can write 1000 words a day, 7 days a week, you might set a goal to write about 30,000 words in a month. But you haven’t factored in any buffer time to plot, reassess, or restructure when you get stuck. And that is immediately setting yourself up for failure.

The amount of buffer time will depend on your personal goals and circumstances, but make sure you give yourself some when setting any goal.

Don’t Catastrophize

Catastrophizing is the equivalent of making a mountain out of a mole hill. It’s taking a tiny problem and blowing it way out of proportion.

• This character’s background makes no sense > this draft is trash and I should just start over.

• This plot point is boring > I’m a terrible writer and no one is going to want to read this.

• The world I’ve built isn’t complex enough > this idea is dumb and I should try something new.

Does any of this sound familiar?

Don’t let one problem color your opinion of the rest of your novel.

Also, don’t try to solve too many problems at once. If you recognize that you have a lot to work through, make a list and decide what item in that list you’re going to tackle today. Allow yourself to focus fully on that problem without worry for anything else. Who knows—you may end up inadvertently solving one of those future problems while addressing an earlier one.

Manage Your Ideas

Okay, now that we’ve mentally prepared ourselves for the inevitable writer’s block, it’s time to actually problem solve. Let’s break down the various reasons you might get stuck while writing and what you can do about it.

If You Don’t Know What Should Happen Next

This is probably what most people think of when they hear “writer’s block.” You get to a point of the story, and you just…blank.

In early drafts, one of my favorite tactics to recommend is adding a new character. Whatever scene you’re writing, have a new character pop up. I don’t care how remote the scene is; materialize them into existence.

What this does is it forces your characters to have a little recap. Have them introduce themselves to this stranger and tell them what their problems are. What are they trying to do? Why can’t they do it? This brings these topics to the forefront so you can focus on what’s important.

Then, have the stranger offer them a solution. “Oh, you need to track down this ancient artifact in order to reverse this dangerous spell? I know someone who can help.”

“Really? Who?”

“They’re a few day’s journey away. I’ll take you there.”

We now have a direction, and we have a new character to get creative with. Who is this person? Where did they come from? Why are they willing to help? Will they want something in return?

You may not end up keeping this character in future drafts—the point is to give yourself a direction to keep you writing. You might get stuck again when the group gets to this other character, but you also might discover an exciting new plot point instead.

If Your Plot Is Unraveling

Whether a beta reader points it out to you or you come to an unfortunate epiphany, there are problems that can quickly snowball as you realize just how pervasive they really are. One plot detail that you missed might have a domino effect, completely toppling everything you’ve set up to this point.

Don’t panic.

In cases like these, it’s tempting to catastrophize, but try to stay calm. If you’re feeling emotionally spent, set aside time for the next day to work through it and take a breather.

When your next work session rolls around, set this goal: resolve the problematic plot detail or make the decision to change something else.

The idea is to put this plot snag into a concentrated think tank and decide if there’s hope to resolve it. Give yourself a set amount of time to review this. It could be an hour, two hours, or even two work sessions split across two different days.

If you haven’t come to a resolution by that point, it’s time to start looking for other things you can change. For example, if this plot detail makes your climax impossible, then it’s time to change the climax. Spend a work session brainstorming possible ideas, and then dedicate future sessions to thinking through them.

When your plot feels chaotic, the best thing you can do is exert control over it. Making decisions on what you’ll review and when you’ll review it gives you back some of that control. This helps your mind stay clear and focused for the problem solving you need.

If Self Doubt Creeps In

Self doubt is normal for any writer. It can make you question the validity of your entire novel or even your skill as a writer.

If you’re feeling self doubt while your plot is unraveling or when you get stuck, take a day or two off. Then, start employing the tactics I recommended above. As you solve problems, you’ll likely gain confidence, and your self doubt might resolve itself on its own.

If you feel self doubt with no other plotting issues, see if you can push through it and just write. Scale back your daily goals (write for 30 minutes less or 500 words less than you planned, for example). See if you can do something.

Sometimes the most effective remedy when we feel like we can’t do something is to do it anyway. I cannot count how many times my confidence rebounded when I pushed myself to do something I didn’t think I could do.

If You’re Feeling Peer Pressure

Anytime you’re trying to achieve a goal, it’s a good idea to surround yourself with others who are reaching for the same goals. This can be through in-person groups, online groups, and social media. With social media, you may not even interact with these people—just following their journey is enough to keep you going.

But sometimes this can backfire. Somedays, seeing the actions of others can make you doubt that what you’re doing is the right thing. If you’ve been working on a fantasy novel for a while, maybe you have some world building notes jotted down on a note on your desktop. But then you come across a friend who has created a “story bible” with detailed world building folders and research, and you start to feel insecure. Are you doing something wrong? Should you be doing what she’s doing?

Maybe you should. But maybe you shouldn’t. It’s great to be inspired by the ideas and methods of others, but it may not work for you. And it doesn’t invalidate whatever approach you are using.

Did you doubt your world building process before you saw that story bible? If not, then consider sticking with what you’ve got. Don’t apply a solution when there was no problem to begin with.

And if the pressure is hitting you especially hard, take a break from social media. This is usually where a lot of the writing peer pressure happens.

Don’t Give Up

If you don’t hit your goal, it’s okay. And it’s also okay to not be okay. Allow yourself to feel whatever negative emotions you might be feeling. Then, take what you’ve learned and make a plan for what comes next. Need help? Check out my coaching services to learn more about working with me.