7 Ways to Get Those Words Flowing When You Don't Know What to Write
When you're stuck in your writing, how do you fix that? Do you set it aside and go back to it later? What about when you're on deadline and you must finish it? Here are some ways to get those words flowing that have worked for me.
Allow Yourself to Write a Bad First Draft
Do you have your article planned out in your head, but it doesn't come out right on paper (or word processor)? It happens to the best of us. The good news is, there is an easy fix: Just write it. Allow yourself to write a bad first draft. It requires a mindset shift for the perfectionists out there, but getting it down, even if it's really bad, will get you moving forward. Then just revise it into a great, polished piece.
Close Your Eyes
Staring at a blank screen can hinder your writing productivity. Close your eyes and think about what you want to say. Then just write it down.
Imagine You're Speaking to Your Reader
Imagine you're having a conversation about your topic with your reader. What do you tell him? Write down the conversation and revise later.
Use an Outline
Having an outline isn't always necessary. However, when you're stuck, go back to the drawing board and outline the information you want to share. This will give you a better idea of how to start and organize your writing.
Set a Timer
When you give yourself a limited amount of time to complete a task (i.e., your first draft), you're more likely to complete it. Just remember to be hard on yourself. Don't give yourself a second opportunity to work on it. Don't let yourself finish it during your "editing process". Some of us need a strong motivator, either a major consequence or a high-value reward. Do what works for you.
Write on Paper
Writing on paper usually helps me get my writing down. Paper is easier on the eyes and taps into my creativity. If it doesn't work for you, try writing in mind mapping software.
Write in a New Location
Moving to a new location can often spark creativity, especially when distractions such as the Internet and Twitter are present. Go outside, sit in a closet, write at the kitchen table. Find out what works for you and use it as a backup when your office isn't working out.
How do *you* get the words flowing? Share your techniques with us in the comments section below.
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Ahh! Thanks Jody. When I get stuck I go do something physical like take a walk, mop the kitchen. It seems like I am moving the ideas start flowing.
Excellent post! I do many of these things myself, even if slightly different, 🙂 Much of my original novel writing was done in college in a funky notebook with a holographic cover. Transcribing from handwritten word into type on a screen can give you a great chance to reasses what you came up with and add to it. After all, most of us can type much faster than we can handwrite. Also, while I’ve come to really appreciate the natural flow of a story when I come up with things on the fly, sometimes I need to step back, stop, and see where a story is going before I write out everything that happens. And sometimes, I don’t outline specifically, so much as I just write out literally what happens in a skeleton paragraph. “Okay, so this happens, so-and-so goes here, he says this, [VERY IMPORTANT TO ADD BLAH BLAH], he leaves, gets in the car” etc. Literally just like that. And it really helps to give my story a direction to work towards, 🙂
Most recently, though, I’ve come to work on a WIP that has great promise, however occasionally I’ve gotten discouraged that a work that I’ve grown really fond of isn’t as good as I think. But I’ve only just started it! I have about 30 pages in MS Word and I’ve barely gotten to the first of likely many climaxes. So it can’t be perfect! I’m doing my best to say this to myself over and over so that I keep moving in the writing process. When I’m done, I can always go back and beef up scenes that are a little flimsy in those off-the-cuff backstory reminisces, environment description, etc. 😀