C.L. Clark
Going to give this an answer now that I'm finally dealing with this myself. (I'll probably make a longer post about this in my newsletter soon.)
So, if you're in a writer's block-ish mood that lets you read, I'd say 1000 Words of Summer by Jami Attenberg helps me. She gets a bunch of writers in to give you these mini essays about process at various points (ideation, prepping, going fallow, output) and if you're just looking for the company of other writers who have Been There, I definitely recommend it. I pop in for a visit whenever I need a pick-up.
But I've also been wallowing after a big year of grinding through a couple big books (and a small book) and their deadlines, and I'm trying to shake off the rust. I took an entire month off and didn't know how to come back to a new world, new story. All my old processes didn't fit, my mind was rebelling. So I did what I've always enjoyed--went back to my story engine suite and drew cards just to see what fun stuff popped up, with no pressure to use any of it.
It reminds me that I used to just do this for fun! shits and giggles! to make up characters I want to see! to make sword lesbians kiss and stab and kiss again! and I've had to remind myself of that the last couple of weeks, too, as I try to break into new ground on Warmongers that is very very solid and unyielding. I've also lowered the stakes--instead of demanding 2000 words minimum, it's one 30 min sprint. And maybe it's not a sprint but a jog, I just have to do it for 30. And that's easily reduce-able if necessary.
The book The 7 Secrets of the Prolific by Hillary Rettig has also been a helpful reminder of things I've learned over the last few years (as an athlete and a writer), and if you're just starting and getting stuck regularly, I definitely definitely recommend it. It could also be good if you're a vet of the industry. (Granted, I can't say I agree with everything in it, just that I found it had useful reminders.)
I also do writing exercises. Craft or narrative (usually both, they go hand in hand!), just to force myself to write something even if I don't have ideas. Sometimes, the exercise will spark something that I'll want to try with the WIP, but sometimes it'll just be a bit for the exercise itself. A good few books for exercises: Refuse to be Done by Matt Bell (if you're writing a novel); 3 AM Epiphany by Brian Kitely; Steering the Craft by Ursula K. LeGuin.
And of course, read your favorite books! The ones that inspired you to pick up a pen in the first place.
So, if you're in a writer's block-ish mood that lets you read, I'd say 1000 Words of Summer by Jami Attenberg helps me. She gets a bunch of writers in to give you these mini essays about process at various points (ideation, prepping, going fallow, output) and if you're just looking for the company of other writers who have Been There, I definitely recommend it. I pop in for a visit whenever I need a pick-up.
But I've also been wallowing after a big year of grinding through a couple big books (and a small book) and their deadlines, and I'm trying to shake off the rust. I took an entire month off and didn't know how to come back to a new world, new story. All my old processes didn't fit, my mind was rebelling. So I did what I've always enjoyed--went back to my story engine suite and drew cards just to see what fun stuff popped up, with no pressure to use any of it.
It reminds me that I used to just do this for fun! shits and giggles! to make up characters I want to see! to make sword lesbians kiss and stab and kiss again! and I've had to remind myself of that the last couple of weeks, too, as I try to break into new ground on Warmongers that is very very solid and unyielding. I've also lowered the stakes--instead of demanding 2000 words minimum, it's one 30 min sprint. And maybe it's not a sprint but a jog, I just have to do it for 30. And that's easily reduce-able if necessary.
The book The 7 Secrets of the Prolific by Hillary Rettig has also been a helpful reminder of things I've learned over the last few years (as an athlete and a writer), and if you're just starting and getting stuck regularly, I definitely definitely recommend it. It could also be good if you're a vet of the industry. (Granted, I can't say I agree with everything in it, just that I found it had useful reminders.)
I also do writing exercises. Craft or narrative (usually both, they go hand in hand!), just to force myself to write something even if I don't have ideas. Sometimes, the exercise will spark something that I'll want to try with the WIP, but sometimes it'll just be a bit for the exercise itself. A good few books for exercises: Refuse to be Done by Matt Bell (if you're writing a novel); 3 AM Epiphany by Brian Kitely; Steering the Craft by Ursula K. LeGuin.
And of course, read your favorite books! The ones that inspired you to pick up a pen in the first place.
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