Having helped writers for the past 20 odd years in many different capacities (as a teacher, coach, and colleague), I have worked with many frustrated and blocked writers. Also, I have written 17 books and have encountered many obstacles in writing that I had to overcome.
Along the way I have developed five favorite shapes to successfully tear down those obstacles and continue the writing journey. Join me as we explore these strategies.
One day you will realize … you may not realize that you are facing an obstacle. All you know is that you can’t write or don’t know where to start. Or maybe you can’t imagine how to make the writing gel convincing on the page … These, my dear fellow authors, are all different forms of obstacles. Don’t be fooled, there are many obstacles you will encounter along the writing journey. However, the good news is that the strategies we develop, the success momentum we build by conquering even these top five, will strengthen us for the marathon ahead. This article will help you buzz by those obstacles to progress towards success.
The obstacle countertrategies that I share in this short article take the form of techniques. In fact, I reveal some of my trade secrets that I use to help students, professors, and business people break the cold deadlock between keyboard and blank screen. Be diligent, keep this list handy, try these strategies, and be ready to choose a remedy when you encounter your next writing emergency. This is your survival kit. Therefore, you should get acquainted with it in a non-stressful situation; Consider the following points.
Fingers are placed on the keyboard … and begin …
Barricade 1: I can Tell that, but I can’t write it. Sometimes a piece we are writing is more apt to be told. Sometimes we are more talented as storytellers or speakers than as writers! However, when we have to put that same account in writing, what should we do? A solution is so simple that people lose it because of that point. Say the piece out loud! You can use a tape recorder, voice-activated software, or maybe a good friend takes notes or transcribes. Basically, the process is the same in all three methods: talking about the project, rather than writing it. It’s amazing how this strategy can undo the writing hurdle for people. Some authors even find that it drives them to develop better writing skills over time.
Barricade 2: Who is my audience? Route 2 blocking often lurks in the thick of Route 1 blocking. However, many of us never learned (or in deference to our English teachers do not recall learning) about hearing. Without this understanding, it is very difficult to have a clear view of who we are writing for in our literary eye as we write. However, this trick works wonders for many people I’ve shared it with: When you sit down to work on your writing, close your eyes for a minute and imagine your readers sitting in chairs across from you. Perhaps you are meeting for an afternoon at the neighborhood cafeteria and are eager to talk about your latest book. Now, in your mind’s eye, visualize them sitting to the left of your computer screen; imagine some of them in detail: their clothes, facial expressions, posture … Now with them clearly in “sight”, he begins to write to them as if you were counting them the history. I have seen many obstacles with this technique. Triumph!
Barricade 3. I have no idea where to start. Have you been caught up in the start? You just can’t find the right first scene, the opening line just isn’t right, or you need a hook to grab your readers’ attention. However, regardless of how long you sadly stare at a blank screen, you just can’t find the right catchphrase or hook. It doesn’t matter how long you try or how many pages you delete; it just isn’t found today, yesterday, or last week. You are not blocked on the way; This is dead end. The good news is what someone forgot to tell you: Skip the beginning! In fact, many of the experienced authors find the best start after they have written the conclusion of the book. That approach seems backwards, but it makes sense if you think about it. Free yourself from the chains first paragraph paralysis starting with the second paragraph, page or chapter. Start where your strength is. This section of the book is clear in your mind. Go there! Let the juices of writing begin to flow and you will be excited to take on the world of words!
Barricade 4: Lost: I don’t know where I’m going. Authors sometimes feel like they need a literary GPS to help them find their direction through their own words. Good news: you recognized that you were lost! Imagine your poor readers otherwise! They didn’t write the book; How much worse would it have been for them if the words had wandered chapter after chapter aimlessly? You saved them and now the solution is what our 2nd and 3rd grade teachers told us and we didn’t believe. After 3 books, I finally believed them and I will pass you this gem so you don’t have to wait so long: use an outline. I don’t mean being chained and tied to every word in the outline, but rather use an outline as a guide, framework, and structure for your literary work. When you need to change something substantially in the schematic, add or remove it and make sure it fits consistently and smoothly. However, continue to refer to the outline as it is being written and edited to keep the manuscript on track and flowing. Your readers will have a much clearer picture of where you and they are going.
Barricade 5: Literary laryngitis. “But Kathy” you say “I lost my voice! Sometimes when people are deeply interested in the details of their writing, they can become disjointed and stop sounding like one voice. This lack of voice can develop because you refer to many facts, figures, quotes or diagrams, you wrote sections of the book in different sessions widely spaced in time or for other reasons. Whatever the reason, you need to re-include your voice in the text. A great remedy is to read the section out loud and determine if it sounds like the other sections. Yes not so, start reviewing, heavily. Another is to remove direct quotes you might be using from other sources and paraphrase them instead. Readers want to hear from the current author, not all the other “experts.” “They have your article or your book in their hands, so let them listen to you!
Like these brief successful writing Articles continue, I’ll discuss more ways to discover your voice, empower yourself in your writing, and suggest new writing techniques. Writing is a wonderful way to share your vision with other people. Thank you for allowing me to offer some suggestions to make your experience more enjoyable and successful.
