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[michellefrostwrites]

#207: On Being Stuck

Being stuck sucks. I hate it. After being stuck many times before, I know why I usually get stuck on a project. I’m also aware of several methods to prevent it from happening. Alas, every once in a while, I find myself back in the same old place, unable to make a move. It’s one of those things.

I remember the very first story I ever worked on. In the opening scene, the protagonist basically rushed down the elevator inside a tube station. It took me a few paragraphs to capture that. And that was it. I spent weeks reworking, rewriting and perfecting that single scene. I never made it past that. I was dead stuck.

There are many reasons why you might be stuck on something: plot holes, lack of inspiration, perfectionism.

When I’m stuck, ‘perfectionism’ is usually the issue. I don’t feel like what I’m doing is right, but I don’t know how to fix it yet.

The Irony

Fear is also a major factor when you’re stuck. Maybe you love what you have so far, and you don’t want to mess it up.

Another form of fear is being afraid of not living up to your own expectations. Instead of writing something that isn’t good enough, you fumble around until you have enough excuses to never finish the story in the first place.

The irony is, of course, that your fear will become what ultimately causes you to fail. The story won’t be good enough because it won’t exist at all. It’s a real shame.

How to Not Get Stuck?

At the time of writing, you can’t swap your brain for a different one. You have to deal with what you’ve got. If your inner critic is an asshole, you’ll have to work around that.

To make your brain quit yapping, don’t give it a chance. Move so fast that second thoughts become impossible. Fast drafting means ploughing ahead even if you think the whole thing is a mistake. Some writers call these vomit drafts. You write first and think later.

NaNoWriMo goes like that for most people. You have to commit and power through. The more you think about what you’re writing, the less likely it is that you’ll finish.

Another widely practised method is no editing while first-drafting. That way, you at least have a full draft by the time you start second-guessing everything.

You can also learn to lower your expectations. It can be done, but beware, it may be a lot harder than you think it is. It happens mainly through practice. The more stories you finish, the easier it will be to trust the process.

How to Get Going Again?

Go for a walk? Take a shower? Make a coffee? Read a book?

While these are nice to clear your head, they don’t solve the underlying issue. Start by asking yourself why you’re stuck in the first place? What’s wrong? What’s missing?

The tools I use to get going again are mind maps and journaling.

When I’m stuck, I’ll open my journal and write about it. I’ll describe the options that I’ve explored and compare them. Then I’ll remind myself how irrational it is to abandon a story because of wanting it to be perfect. Compromises have to be made.

When things get really bad, I’ll create a mind map. I’ll capture everything into a diagram and just keep staring at it and moving things around until a decision have been made, and I can move on.

What do you do when you’re stuck on a project?

About the Author

Hi, I’m Radek 👋. I’m a writer, software engineer and the founder of Writing Analytics — an editor and writing tracker designed to help you beat writer’s block and create a sustainable writing routine.

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Past Editions

#206: 4 Reasons to Keep a Journal, August 2021

#205: It’s just Writing, July 2021

#204: What Will Your Story Look Like?, July 2021

#203: It Will Take Longer Than You Think, July 2021

#202: What Should You Focus on as a Writer?, July 2021

[michellefrostwrites]

[michellefrostwrites]

Writing slumps are unavoidable. Instead of trying to prevent them from happening, learn to get back on track when it happens.

This is what I do when I’m feeling stuck.

[michellefrostwrites]

Apparently a lot of people get dialogue punctuation wrong despite having an otherwise solid grasp of grammar, possibly because they’re used to writing essays rather than prose. I don’t wanna be the asshole who complains about writing errors and then doesn’t offer to help, so here are the basics summarized as simply as I could manage on my phone (“dialogue tag” just refers to phrases like “he said,” “she whispered,” “they asked”):

“For most dialogue, use a comma after the sentence and don’t capitalize the next word after the quotation mark,” she said.

“But what if you’re using a question mark rather than a period?” they asked.

“When using a dialogue tag, you never capitalize the word after the quotation mark unless it’s a proper noun!” she snapped.

“When breaking up a single sentence with a dialogue tag,” she said, “use commas.”

“This is a single sentence,” she said. “Now, this is a second stand-alone sentence, so there’s no comma after ‘she said.’”

“There’s no dialogue tag after this sentence, so end it with a period rather than a comma.” She frowned, suddenly concerned that the entire post was as unasked for as it was sanctimonious.

[michellefrostwrites]

“Short stories are tiny windows into other worlds and other minds and other dreams. They’re journeys you can make to the far side of the universe and still be back in time for dinner.”

— Neil Gaiman

[michellefrostwrites]

When you're writing and you suddenly realize you don't know what happens next

[michellefrostwrites]

“If you can tell a story as briefly as possible, it’s more dramatic. If it’s too long, then it has the problems of pacing, it could get a little slow. But the shorter you can make a story, the better.”

— Joyce Carol Oates

[michellefrostwrites]

We’re live! Do you want to own a copy of Commit to the Kick to have and to hold and cuddle as your very own? This is the time!!

[michellefrostwrites]

Cover Reveal: Carry and Drag [The Open Wound Series]

by Author Michelle Frost

Lift. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.

Qualifying to compete on a national level is all that’s on power lifter Dagen Rourke’s mind. After an injury sidelined him the previous year, his only goal has been to overcome the physical challenges and mental demons to get back in the game. Falling into bed with the new artist at his brother’s tattoo shop was never part of his training schedule. Now he has to find a balance between the time he wants to give Ollie and the brutal training for what could be the most important competition of his life.

Run. Tattoo. Doze. Keep going.

Oliver Vos jumps at the chance to work at Vidar Rourke’s award-winning tattoo shop, Open Wounds. Getting out from under a nasty mentor and making it on his own is all Ollie has dreamed of for years. Unbeknownst to him, the room Vidar offers to rent him until he’s back on his feet would have him sharing space with tempting gentle giant, Dagen.

Living together is an adjustment, and when the heat between them morphs into something more will old insecurities and new tests drag them apart? Or will they find a way to carry the weight of their burdens…together?

#Gay #Romance #Goodreads #ComingSoon #Joandisalovebooks #JoAndIsalovebooksPromotions #CantWait #MM

(at New York metropolitan area)

[michellefrostwrites]

Into the Mystic, Volume Three is now available for pre-order from @ninestarpress! It’s an anthology filled with nine lesbian/bisexual paranormal short stories - including one from yours truly! Dance With Me is the first work I’ve ever had published and I’m super excited to share it with everyone! 

 Pre-Order here and get it on May 4th! 

[michellefrostwrites]

i want a netflix original about a gay teenage goddess who’s a little confused about the mortal world as a whole and her cute gf who’s just trying to survive high school and make sure no one fucking finds out she’s dating a literal goddess who still doesn’t know how to work the microwave 

[michellefrostwrites]

Writing Tip:

If you don’t feel like actually writing, prepare for writing:

Open your WIP Word doc

Read the last page again

Scribble notes on what happens next

Once you’ve done this, you might just find yourself wanting to continue after all. And if you don’t, no worries. You’ve made it easier to jump back into it later. 

[michellefrostwrites]

A quick overview of some of my events for 2018! Stay tuned for more details, especially about ECCC panels and where you can find me in Seattle after the con!  More about events More about my books

[michellefrostwrites]

I am beyond honored to have my debut book, Running with Lions, included n this list of future LGBTQIAP+ books by incredibly talented black authors! Thank you @ya-pride for creating this list in celebration of Black History Month!

[michellefrostwrites]

We asked twenty strangers to kiss for the first time…. (x)

[michellefrostwrites]

“And so, when a person meets the half that is his very own, whatever his orientation, whether it’s to young men or not, then something wonderful happens: the two are struck from their senses by love, by a sense of belonging to one another, and by desire, and they don’t want to be separated from one another, not even for a moment.” ― Plato, The Symposium requested by anonymous 

[michellefrostwrites]

Finished reading Two Man Station last week (after missing half a night's sleep over it XD). Picked it up the day before and just couldn't stop reading. You didn't pull any punches with poor Gio (how do you pronounce that name, btw?), did you? :P The Australian vocabulary tripped me up a few times, but whenever I looked up the meanings I went "awww, cute". ;) Loved the book. It's the 4th of yours I read in January (the other 3 were the "Playing the Fool" series). Got any more of this kind? :)

Aw, thank you! 

I guess if you’re after something mostly light and fun (with a teensy bit of angst!) then I’d suggest Adulting 101. Other than that, I think most of my others veer very sharply into serious angst territory! 

And Gio is pronounced jee-oh (with a soft g)!