Jennifer Greene
Lots of ways. Burnout is different from writer's block--but WB is when you're stuck on a story, don't know where to get next, what should happen.
1) When you finish a chapter or scene, and are hot to quit for the day--don't. Splash out some things you want to do next; the conflict you want to work with; bits of dialogue--whatever comes to mind. The point is: give yourself a place to start the next day instead of facing a blank page.
2) Make a board that you can keep in sight. Put pics of your characters/names/their homes--e.g. you don't want to have to relook up info and put yourself in a stall. Have the theme, the conflict easy to remember. Put something at stake in every scene.
3) Give yourself physical triggers to get back in the story. Chose some music/song that puts you in the mood of the story. I put a bowl of Georgia clay when I was writing a story set in Georgia. Had a cameo on my desk as a symbol/talisman for a different story. A bowl of jelly beans for a different story. Saying: give yourself sensory triggers to climb back into the story and your characters' lives.
4. Stressed about real life? Hey, me too. Give yourself a set time when you can wring hands all you want. But when you sit down at the computer to write, give yourself permission to lock the stress in a closet. This is your time. Nothing gets to intrude.
5. I know it sounds a little silly--but you need to have fun with your writing. I don't mean the story has to be fun; it can be as dark as you want. But every writer stalls if the work is onerous--writing is exhausting, but it CAN give back to you if it's creatively satisfying. You have to protect that right...and only you can.
1) When you finish a chapter or scene, and are hot to quit for the day--don't. Splash out some things you want to do next; the conflict you want to work with; bits of dialogue--whatever comes to mind. The point is: give yourself a place to start the next day instead of facing a blank page.
2) Make a board that you can keep in sight. Put pics of your characters/names/their homes--e.g. you don't want to have to relook up info and put yourself in a stall. Have the theme, the conflict easy to remember. Put something at stake in every scene.
3) Give yourself physical triggers to get back in the story. Chose some music/song that puts you in the mood of the story. I put a bowl of Georgia clay when I was writing a story set in Georgia. Had a cameo on my desk as a symbol/talisman for a different story. A bowl of jelly beans for a different story. Saying: give yourself sensory triggers to climb back into the story and your characters' lives.
4. Stressed about real life? Hey, me too. Give yourself a set time when you can wring hands all you want. But when you sit down at the computer to write, give yourself permission to lock the stress in a closet. This is your time. Nothing gets to intrude.
5. I know it sounds a little silly--but you need to have fun with your writing. I don't mean the story has to be fun; it can be as dark as you want. But every writer stalls if the work is onerous--writing is exhausting, but it CAN give back to you if it's creatively satisfying. You have to protect that right...and only you can.
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