Tips for Overcoming Writer's Block by Rosemary Hines

Rosemary Hines

There’s nothing more frustrating than sitting at your computer with deadlines looming and no words flowing. Here are a few ideas for overcoming writer’s block that I shared recently on my author page.

1. Take some time to step back and reread the whole story you have written up to this point. Sometimes that process ignites an idea that will ignite the flow again.
2. Get alone with your main character and interview her. Ask her why she is getting stuck. Where is she hoping to go next with her life and what is holding her back? Ask her to share her innermost fears with you as well as her hopes and dreams. Give her time to open up to you. Maybe she is in need of a visit from someone who will encourage, motivate, or inspire her to press on. Maybe she's needing to be jolted by a life altering event that neither of you expected when you began writing her story. My guess is that if YOU are stuck, it's because SHE is.
3. Think of a captivating scene that would draw the reader into the text (scary, tense, exciting) and put your character in the middle of that scene. As you begin to describe the scene and her reactions to it, she may begin to tell you the next chapter herself.
4. Set a timer. It’s amazing how limiting your writing time can actually help increase productivity. Make it short, like 5-10 minutes. During that time, write from your stream of consciousness as you think about your character, story, or the process of writing itself. Knowing you won’t have to sit there staring at the computer screen or yellow pad for hours can really open the floodgates. Even if you begin with something simple like this example: “I have no idea what to write, but I’m going to keep going until the timer rings. As I think about my character, I wonder what keeps her up at night. Does she have the same worries about ________ that I have right now in our family? Does she ever think of escaping and running away? If yes, where would she go?”
5. Step back from the manuscript and clarify/define the theme of your story. Especially in Christian fiction, we have an obligation to consider the message we are communicating. When I taught writing, I always had my students begin with a theme or life lesson readers could take away from their stories. The world can offer stories with ambiguous themes or pure sensationalism, but we are called to a higher bar of using our words to communicate Truth. Your story might be stuck because the theme or life lesson has not yet been defined. Give specific purpose to your character’s journey and the path will become clearer.
6. Get some fresh air. Take a walk alone with God. Check in and make sure your relationship with Him is up to date and intimately connected. As you walk, open up and share with Him your roadblock. Then be observant. Look at the amazing intricacy of creation surrounding you. The God, who made it all, dwells within you and desires to speak through you in your story. Sometimes we get so consumed with the writing and the deadlines that we forget to draw our inspiration from the Author of Life.

About the Author

Into Magnolia

Rosemary Hines is the author of the Sandy Cove series ~ contemporary Christian fiction with a message. She taught writing at a secondary level for fifteen years and has been published in such magazines as Signs of the Times and Woman’s World. She and her husband live in California where they enjoy spending time with their children and two new granddaughters. For more information and other helpful tips, you can follow Rosemary on her Facebook author page at https://www.facebook.com/RosemaryHinesAuthorPage and visit her on the web at www.rosemaryhines.com

Overcoming Without Being Overcome

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Angie, here. There are times in a writer's life when he or she is overcome by ... well, life. Illness, family drama, financial woes -- all these can cramp up the creativity. I know, I've been dealing with a couple of these myself. In fact, I've even thought I might quite writing. But to quote R. A. Salvatore:

“If you can quit, then quit. If you can't quit, you're a writer.”

I just can't quit. Believe me, I've tried. If this sounds too familiar for comfort, then this post is for you.

Philippians is one of my favorite books in the Bible. It is a compact book so full of deep wisdom and practical direction. One of my favorite verses in this little gem of a book is the last part of the 13 – 14th verses of chapter 3:

“… Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me …” (Philippians 3:13b – 14a, NIV)

Written by Paul around the first century, it still holds truth today. On those days that I can’t move without pain, when I can’t read, write or focus on anything but what must be the most insane sitcoms, I can look at that verse and take comfort.

Did you know that Paul had a chronic illness? His illness was so bad that in his second letter to the church at Corinth, he tells them that he prayed for healing three times, but God told him, “No,” each time.

It was then that Paul, instead of wallowing in self-pity, made a decision to embrace his weakness. In fact, verse 10 of chapter twelve says,

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10, NIV)

By that he meant that he’d reached a point where he couldn’t do anything (you know you’ve been there), that’s when he let God take over. And God always works in mighty ways. That’s the prize that Paul wanted – the life that God created just for him.

And that’s where we’ve got to find our joy when life get’s to be too much. The prize that God planned for us is just over that hill of pain, discouragement, loneliness or grief. Isn’t that great? We’ve just got to keep climbing until we get to the top.

I'm going to leave you with one more verse to think about and that's Jeremiah 29:11 [ESV], "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for [peace]* and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

What verse(s) do you cling to when you're overcome by life? Feel free to share them in the comments below.

*Bible Gateway