My Writing Cycle
When the writing bug hits, I have a compulsion to write, and I set a timer and write as fast as I can. Even if I know I should be editing and tweaking existing content, I have to write the first draft of new content. And I just keep writing scenes until I reach that point of being overwhelmed. Here’s my writing cycle:
- I create an outline
- I write lots of content
- I start to get overwhelmed and get writer’s block
At this point I take a break from writing and revisit my outline and reorganize my content, then it’s back into writing-mode.
- I write more content
- I get overwhelmed again and get writer’s block again
- I take a break from writing again and reorganize my content
- RINSE AND REPEAT
I like to leave these scenes to percolate and mature, so I’ll choose another scene to write, and repeat the same timed writing session. But I always reach a point where I’ve fast drafted a lot of rough first drafts, and I get overwhelmed by the rough and silo’d nature of them all.
My Writer’s Block Solution
I don’t immediately realize that I’ve hit a wrier’s block, because I still manage to write or edit content. But what ends up happening is that I start hopping around different sections, and I stop being as productive. I start getting annoyed with myself that I don’t seem to be able to get into the writing groove, and that’s when I realize I have to step away from writing, and focus on content organization instead.
I used to try and ignore the block, or at least to just plough on through it. But I’ve discovered that if I don’t spend some time working on the content structure and organization, it becomes a distraction and impedes my writing.
As soon as I take a break from writing, and focus on the content structure—moving sections or creating a connection between the different sections, my writer’s block is solved.
My approach to writing has to be a balance between content creation and content reorganization, or I’ll hit a road block. It seems counter-intuitive, but in order to write more, I have to stop writing.
Have you discovered why you get writer’s block, and what you need to do to clear it and keep writing?
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Yeeeesssss! When my mind is pre-occupied, I can’t write. I have to clean something I’ve been meaning to clean, backup something I’ve been meaning to backup, etc. Thanks for putting this into words for me.
I think we have to listen to our hearts and minds, and when the creativity gets blocked. We have to find the source and find a way to overcome it, rather than powering through it and failing.
I tend to be of the ‘just push through it’ camp. I feel horrid if it’s a writing day and I don’t manage to get anything written. I’ve noticed that if I push through, I’ll often need to edit more but I do get the words down.
At the end of the day, it’s the getting words on a page that’s the most important. It doesn’t matter how you get there, it’s just important that you have something to edit. You can’t edit a blank page.
I have a really similar writer’s block loop. It’s so frustrating. And one of the worst things is that it seems to be seasonal. I write like crazy all through fall and winter, but as soon as spring and summer hit, it’s like the creative side of my brain just packs up and goes on vacation. So, I’ve started to capitalize on that and use spring and summer for plotting, planning, and other nitpicky activities instead. That way, when September strikes, I’m ready to roll!
That’s really insightful. And a great example that you can’t fight your natural writing rhythms and tendencies, you have to find a way to navigate your way through them.
Great post! It’s important to find our balance, for sure.
Finding that balance will defiantly boost creativity.
Thank you. Your solution makes sense. I believe I have that need for balance with writing and organization. But I never thought of it as a block. I do leave the story alone if I’m floundering and return later or white a short story. Something to make me forget about it.
JQ Rose
That’s a great approach .. you can’t force that creativity. So it’s best to take a break or do some different type of writing, and then go back to it fresh.
I’m not sure if I should admit this but I have only suffered writers block once! I tried to write to the ‘romance novel template’ (Harlequin etc) and the restriction of making sure each point was included in the format stumped me entirely. So I’m back to free-flow writing and letting my characters direct my plot and story line. If I am tired or stressed I tend to leave writing alone. It can affect my characters emotions.
Free-Flow writing is the way to go – no matter what you’re writing.