How do you get out of a writing rut?
I asked Google and wow, what strange advice
Hi and happy Friday,
Let me tell you what happened yesterday. It was so stupid it’s not even funny, but maybe it’s happened to you.
I was working on an article at Medium.
Pulling teeth would be more accurate.
My words sounded like a zombie robot. So I kept editing and rearranging. Then I glanced over at the time and realized I’d been wrestling with the stupid thing for THREE HOURS and it was time to start work. Sigh.
That would be day # 9 the same way.
Not even kidding. It’s been 9 days since I published anything on Medium. It’s not that I haven’t been writing. I have. Every day. Nine drafts. They all suck.
It’s like — there’s a story I’m trying to tell in each of them, but it’s missing the flow that feels like me. And I’m not sure why they sound so stilted.
So I Googled and wow, what bizarre advice I found…
One of the top results was a Medium post. Oh, the irony. lol.
First tip was don’t write something new. Just go edit one of your drafts. If you heard maniacal laughing yesterday, that was me.
There was a whole bunch of others. Another tip said to write some random word on a piece of paper (like freedom, frustration, nature, etc.) and then write everything that comes to mind. She promised it would get the words flowing.
I have no problem with words, just the way they’re going together.
This next one was funny.
It said don’t stop working on a draft until it’s done or you’ll never come back to it. That made me laugh. I come back to drafts all the time. Only time I ever wrote and published in one swoop was that unedited post I got lambasted for.
Apparently I need to re-find my North Star?
One of the tips said if you’re having trouble writing, you need to remember your North Star. lol. What?
Not even kidding. It said that means to “re-find your why.” Because surely if you remind yourself “why” you write, you’ll be able to write again.
Well. I write because if I don’t, I slowly go insane.
Because I can’t “not” write. It’s like that thing Kafka said. A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity. Yup. That’s me.
And I am writing. Every day. Just not publishing.
Occurred to me you are probably the solution…
First, because I email you ever Friday. It’s a promise I made and I’ve kept it for over a year. So, come morning, I’m going to hit publish on this.
But even more…
Every time I’ve asked you for ideas, you show up with a truck load.
I got a random email out of the blue from another Substack writer. He wanted to know why the heck my comments are so active here. I told him because all the best people are here. lol. Truth, every word. (He subscribed)
So, your turn. What do you do when you feel kind of stuck and the words aren’t flowing? Thank you in advance, and see you in the comments. :)
Because it’s the last Friday of Pride month…
P.S. If you’re reading in email, click the title to get to the online version where you can leave a comment. Click the heart to send me a thumbs up, too. :)
xo,
Linda
Lots of different ways depending on the problem. If I lack direction, I try to step back and remember what my point is. If it lacks personality, I relate a personal anecdote. If I'm really stuck and still can't find the spark, I'll ask a fellow writer friend who is familiar with my writing and she'll usually cut to the heart of it pretty quickly.
Sometimes, I just need to take a break. I'll go for a walk, or spend my usual writing time playing a video game, or get some dishes done while not-thinking.
Sometimes these things just have to percolate. To run with the coffee metaphor, if you're pouring hot water through used-up grounds, the result is gonna be weak at best.
A piece of advice I often give fellow writer friends in a similar situation to you is to take a day where you're not allowed to write at all. You can think about writing, or yearn to write, or make a quick note of what the problem might be if that inspiration comes to you, but you're not allowed to actually Write.
I hope something I've said helps, and that your mojo returns soon!
I take a nature break -- trail run, walk, ride my horse, go pull some weeds, whatever. Your brain needs that and the science backs me up. Do something that requires your full attention. Your writing brain will be spinning away without any input from you. Then you go back to your work with an entirely different mindset. Good luck. I hate sloggy writing periods! :-P