A Nightmare: When the Muse Gets Too Quiet
by Marie Lavender
It is a writer’s worst fear – what they call ‘writer’s
block’. Being frozen when you intend to work on your project. The idea that the
well has officially dried up. Perhaps you encountered a deadline and just went
blank because of the strain. Or, out of the blue, you cannot find the urge to
write. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s not exactly temporary.
Created by Jcomp - Freepik.com
The truth is that this is one of those moments every
writer simply doesn’t relish. Sure, we can try to be reasonable and say…ah,
what a relief! I’ll just take some much needed time off. No problem.
But then the fears creep in.
What
if this is it?
What
if my last story or book was the last one I’ll ever write?
Even
if this is short-term, what if I lose my readers in the time it takes to get the
urge back?
Will
my best efforts be good enough?
All that, among other worries, of course.
Writer’s block happens, even to the best of us. We
all have moments when life’s stressors have just overloaded our mental capacity
to be creative any longer. Maybe there was a period of grief, financial strain,
or a number of other personal situations that can interfere with one’s imagination.
Whatever the cause – or even if you don’t believe there is one, it’s likely a
multitude of things that fed into the block – do yourself a favor. Give your
inner writer a break.
I really mean that.
Draw
a deep breath. No matter how long your writer’s block
lasts, it’s not going to do any good to stress too much over the whole thing.
Why? For one, freaking out will not only put more stress on you, it may
lengthen the period of the barrier jarring your creativity. I can name around two
or three points in my life when I experienced writer’s block, and putting extra
pressure on myself only made it ten times worse.
Created by Asier_relampagoestudio - Freepik.com
Let’s face it; as humans, we
tend to fear the worst, and then we jump to try to fix everything. Even things
that may not be so ‘fixable’. Often it’s not just a lack of willpower for a
project which is blocking you, but a bunch of stressors that led to the
problem. That’s why patience is key.
Stay
positive. Believe me, I know it’s tough. Especially if the
cause of the block is more emotional, it is harder to look up rather than down.
But keeping a positive outlook, at least about your creativity, will seriously
help. Plus, who knows? This could be a brief situation, right? That leads me to my
next point.
Take
a break. However long you need, take some time to chill.
Relax, and STOP overthinking.
Created by Jcomp - Freepik.com
Go enjoy your life! Heck, go on vacation if necessary.
That deadline or story will still be sitting there tomorrow. Why work yourself
beyond your limits for something that may result in what…one word? Keep a small
notepad on hand, just in case, though. You never know when a great line or idea
will pop up, which you can use for a future project.
Distract
yourself. Maybe this is a good time to really start launching
your blog. Or work on that DIY project in the kitchen. Anything you have to do
to distract yourself from the ‘block’ that’s hanging over your head, just do
it. Some writers use this time to approach specific parts of the impending
project that don’t require too much of your creative juices. For example, learning
more about your characters, or doing
research on the locations which you’ll use to create a great setting in the
novel. It isn’t necessary at this point, though. In my opinion, throwing
yourself into a project that has nothing to do with your book or story is
better. But, hey, you may as well get some things done in the process.
;)
Measure
the muse. You’re going to have moments that feel like false
hope. You really want to work on your story, but you are afraid to dive in,
that it might result in…well, nothing. If ideas are creeping up, it won’t hurt
to write them down somewhere. However, be certain that your urge to write isn’t
only a way to pressure yourself into finishing something. Until you’re truly ready
to get fully immersed in the writing process, try to discern what urges are real or just
temptation.
Created by Asierromero - Freepik.com
Other
projects. Depending on the source of your writer’s block – an
external reason, such as an event that happened in your personal life – or an
internal writing dilemma, such as needing to resolve a plot conflict – it might
even behoove you to work on a different idea entirely. Sometimes we have to
step away from something to get better clarity.
Try writing a new story. Or, work on a project you’ve kept on the
backburner for months or years. And if that doesn’t pan out, try using a
different part of your brain. Edit a work in progress. At times the best solution is to do a complete turnaround. Maybe
once you’re done with that project, you’ll have a ‘Eureka!’ moment and suddenly
the motivation to work on whatever you had trouble with before will return.
The
struggle is REAL, as they say. All right, let’s
suppose that you can’t even handle working on a brand-new project, or something
which is just sitting around. Consider other options. What might some of those be?
Relax; I’ll tell you…
Reading
is awesome! Huh? That’s right. If you’re a writer,
you are almost certainly a reader at heart. Read a ton of books, especially
those in your preferred genre. But don’t be afraid to change things up and try
something that’s a little out of your wheelhouse from time to time.
Created by Asierromero - Freepik.com
Reading is
actually a two-part “cure”, so to speak. It gets you out of your head, and into
the fictional world. That’s where we love to be! Even better, it helps to familiarize
you more with what other authors are doing, so you can develop your own style
when you’re ready to start writing again.
You’re
ready to dip your toes in the water of success. Notice
I said ‘dip’. That means, for God’s sake, please…you gotta take it slow. Unless
you’re an old pro at handling writer’s block, you do not want to relapse. I
suggest you try a few writing exercises first. These are really helpful for jump-starting a writer’s creativity. There are some great prompts in Natalie
Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones. And if
you’ve never had a journal, consider the idea of journaling for a while.
Sometimes you need to get all the junk out of your head before you can find the
real meat which results in a story or book. We humans have so much going on up
there!
Created by Freepik
To help you out, there are some links below with
exercises or writing prompts that might get you started in the right creative
direction. And if a book or story doesn’t come from any of these, don’t sweat
it. This is just for fun. Remember, the point of writing is also to enjoy what
you’re doing. Why else did you become a writer? :)
Ideas
for Exercises
So…you’re
finally ready to take on the real world. Okay, let’s say I
trust your judgment. Perhaps that
story or book, or even an entirely new one, is calling to you. Consider the following
statement first.
Ease
into the project at hand. As aforementioned, putting too much
pressure on yourself all at once is just going to place you right back where you
started. In the black hole of writer’s block, of course! Don’t get me wrong. I
understand your excitement. To experience the genuine call of the muse is like a
beautiful madness has descended upon you. But, try to be patient.
At first, cut the book or story into small segments,
parts that are more approachable. Work on each section separately. Remember,
you don’t want to find yourself in a pit of regression as soon as you’ve started.
I like to separate everything into individual scenes or chapters that eventually
make a whole, and even handle my research topics one at a time, so I don’t feel
as overwhelmed. When you finish, you’ll be amazed at what you’ve
accomplished overall.
Created by Pressfoto - Freepik.com
Seriously…no
worries. If you’re currently suffering from writer’s block, the
best thing to do is to distract yourself and do your best not to stress out
about it. The time will pass before you know it, and then the muse will return
in full force. With some patience, you’ll be right back to constructing those
stories freely, and enjoying your life as a writer. That’s what we’re here for
anyway, right? ;)
Blogger Bio
Bestselling multi-genre author of UPON YOUR RETURN
and 23 other books. Mystery Blogger Award for 2017. A to Z Blog Challenge
Survivor in 2016. March 2016 Empress of the Universe title
- winner of the "Broken Heart" themed contest and the "I Love
You" themed contest on Poetry Universe. SECOND CHANCE HEART and A LITTLE
MAGICK placed in the TOP 10 on the 2015 P&E Readers' Poll. Nominated in the
TRR Readers' Choice Awards for Winter 2015. Poetry winner of the 2015
PnPAuthors Contest. The Versatile Blogger Award for 2015. Honorable Mention in
the 2014 BTS Red Carpet Book Awards. Finalist and Runner-up in the 2014
MARSocial's Author of the Year Competition. Honorable mention in the January
2014 Reader's Choice Award. Liebster Blogger Award for 2013 and 2014. Top 10
Authors on AuthorsDB.com. Winner of the Great One Liners Contest on the
Directory of Published Authors.
Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She
has
been writing for a little over twenty-five years. She has more works in
progress than she can count on two hands. Since 2010, Marie has
published 24
books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance,
romantic
suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy, science fiction,
mystery/thriller, dramatic
fiction, literary fiction and poetry. She has also contributed to
several
multi-author anthologies. She is working on fully revising and
re-releasing all the works from her backlist. Her current series are The
Heiresses in Love Series,
The Magick Series, The Blood at First Sight Series , The Eternal Hearts Series, and The Code of
Endhivar
Series.
Links:
Website: http://marielavender.com/
Blogs: http://marielavender.blogspot.com/
http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/
http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marie.lavender.58
https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender
Twitter: https://twitter.com/marielavender1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marielavender1/
Amazon: Author.to/MarieLavender
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938764.Marie_Lavender
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJu8HjRVYCFOqcIoX6ZxdqQ/videos
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marie-lavender
Poets & Writers: http://www.pw.org/content/marie_lavender
All Author: http://marielavender1.allauthor.com/
Manic Readers: http://manicreaders.com/marielavender/
Publisher: http://www.solsticeempire.com/products.aspx?categoryid=262
Marie's Books:
 |
| Created by Jcomp - Freepik.com |
But then the fears creep in.
What
if this is it?
What
if my last story or book was the last one I’ll ever write?
Even
if this is short-term, what if I lose my readers in the time it takes to get the
urge back?
Will
my best efforts be good enough?
All that, among other worries, of course.
Writer’s block happens, even to the best of us. We
all have moments when life’s stressors have just overloaded our mental capacity
to be creative any longer. Maybe there was a period of grief, financial strain,
or a number of other personal situations that can interfere with one’s imagination.
Whatever the cause – or even if you don’t believe there is one, it’s likely a
multitude of things that fed into the block – do yourself a favor. Give your
inner writer a break.
I really mean that.
Draw
a deep breath. No matter how long your writer’s block
lasts, it’s not going to do any good to stress too much over the whole thing.
Why? For one, freaking out will not only put more stress on you, it may
lengthen the period of the barrier jarring your creativity. I can name around two
or three points in my life when I experienced writer’s block, and putting extra
pressure on myself only made it ten times worse.
 |
| Created by Asier_relampagoestudio - Freepik.com |
Let’s face it; as humans, we
tend to fear the worst, and then we jump to try to fix everything. Even things
that may not be so ‘fixable’. Often it’s not just a lack of willpower for a
project which is blocking you, but a bunch of stressors that led to the
problem. That’s why patience is key.
Stay
positive. Believe me, I know it’s tough. Especially if the
cause of the block is more emotional, it is harder to look up rather than down.
But keeping a positive outlook, at least about your creativity, will seriously
help. Plus, who knows? This could be a brief situation, right? That leads me to my
next point.
Take
a break. However long you need, take some time to chill.
Relax, and STOP overthinking.
 |
| Created by Jcomp - Freepik.com |
Go enjoy your life! Heck, go on vacation if necessary.
That deadline or story will still be sitting there tomorrow. Why work yourself
beyond your limits for something that may result in what…one word? Keep a small
notepad on hand, just in case, though. You never know when a great line or idea
will pop up, which you can use for a future project.
Distract
yourself. Maybe this is a good time to really start launching
your blog. Or work on that DIY project in the kitchen. Anything you have to do
to distract yourself from the ‘block’ that’s hanging over your head, just do
it. Some writers use this time to approach specific parts of the impending
project that don’t require too much of your creative juices. For example, learning
more about your characters, or doing
research on the locations which you’ll use to create a great setting in the
novel. It isn’t necessary at this point, though. In my opinion, throwing
yourself into a project that has nothing to do with your book or story is
better. But, hey, you may as well get some things done in the process.
;)
Measure
the muse. You’re going to have moments that feel like false
hope. You really want to work on your story, but you are afraid to dive in,
that it might result in…well, nothing. If ideas are creeping up, it won’t hurt
to write them down somewhere. However, be certain that your urge to write isn’t
only a way to pressure yourself into finishing something. Until you’re truly ready
to get fully immersed in the writing process, try to discern what urges are real or just
temptation.
 |
| Created by Asierromero - Freepik.com |
Other
projects. Depending on the source of your writer’s block – an
external reason, such as an event that happened in your personal life – or an
internal writing dilemma, such as needing to resolve a plot conflict – it might
even behoove you to work on a different idea entirely. Sometimes we have to
step away from something to get better clarity.
Try writing a new story. Or, work on a project you’ve kept on the
backburner for months or years. And if that doesn’t pan out, try using a
different part of your brain. Edit a work in progress. At times the best solution is to do a complete turnaround. Maybe
once you’re done with that project, you’ll have a ‘Eureka!’ moment and suddenly
the motivation to work on whatever you had trouble with before will return.
The
struggle is REAL, as they say. All right, let’s
suppose that you can’t even handle working on a brand-new project, or something
which is just sitting around. Consider other options. What might some of those be?
Relax; I’ll tell you…
Reading
is awesome! Huh? That’s right. If you’re a writer,
you are almost certainly a reader at heart. Read a ton of books, especially
those in your preferred genre. But don’t be afraid to change things up and try
something that’s a little out of your wheelhouse from time to time.
 |
| Created by Asierromero - Freepik.com |
Reading is
actually a two-part “cure”, so to speak. It gets you out of your head, and into
the fictional world. That’s where we love to be! Even better, it helps to familiarize
you more with what other authors are doing, so you can develop your own style
when you’re ready to start writing again.
You’re
ready to dip your toes in the water of success. Notice
I said ‘dip’. That means, for God’s sake, please…you gotta take it slow. Unless
you’re an old pro at handling writer’s block, you do not want to relapse. I
suggest you try a few writing exercises first. These are really helpful for jump-starting a writer’s creativity. There are some great prompts in Natalie
Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones. And if
you’ve never had a journal, consider the idea of journaling for a while.
Sometimes you need to get all the junk out of your head before you can find the
real meat which results in a story or book. We humans have so much going on up
there!
 |
| Created by Freepik |
To help you out, there are some links below with
exercises or writing prompts that might get you started in the right creative
direction. And if a book or story doesn’t come from any of these, don’t sweat
it. This is just for fun. Remember, the point of writing is also to enjoy what
you’re doing. Why else did you become a writer? :)
Ideas
for Exercises
So…you’re
finally ready to take on the real world. Okay, let’s say I
trust your judgment. Perhaps that
story or book, or even an entirely new one, is calling to you. Consider the following
statement first.
Ease
into the project at hand. As aforementioned, putting too much
pressure on yourself all at once is just going to place you right back where you
started. In the black hole of writer’s block, of course! Don’t get me wrong. I
understand your excitement. To experience the genuine call of the muse is like a
beautiful madness has descended upon you. But, try to be patient.
At first, cut the book or story into small segments,
parts that are more approachable. Work on each section separately. Remember,
you don’t want to find yourself in a pit of regression as soon as you’ve started.
I like to separate everything into individual scenes or chapters that eventually
make a whole, and even handle my research topics one at a time, so I don’t feel
as overwhelmed. When you finish, you’ll be amazed at what you’ve
accomplished overall.
 |
| Created by Pressfoto - Freepik.com |
Seriously…no
worries. If you’re currently suffering from writer’s block, the
best thing to do is to distract yourself and do your best not to stress out
about it. The time will pass before you know it, and then the muse will return
in full force. With some patience, you’ll be right back to constructing those
stories freely, and enjoying your life as a writer. That’s what we’re here for
anyway, right? ;)
Blogger Bio
Bestselling multi-genre author of UPON YOUR RETURN
and 23 other books. Mystery Blogger Award for 2017. A to Z Blog Challenge
Survivor in 2016. March 2016 Empress of the Universe title
- winner of the "Broken Heart" themed contest and the "I Love
You" themed contest on Poetry Universe. SECOND CHANCE HEART and A LITTLE
MAGICK placed in the TOP 10 on the 2015 P&E Readers' Poll. Nominated in the
TRR Readers' Choice Awards for Winter 2015. Poetry winner of the 2015
PnPAuthors Contest. The Versatile Blogger Award for 2015. Honorable Mention in
the 2014 BTS Red Carpet Book Awards. Finalist and Runner-up in the 2014
MARSocial's Author of the Year Competition. Honorable mention in the January
2014 Reader's Choice Award. Liebster Blogger Award for 2013 and 2014. Top 10
Authors on AuthorsDB.com. Winner of the Great One Liners Contest on the
Directory of Published Authors.
Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She
has
been writing for a little over twenty-five years. She has more works in
progress than she can count on two hands. Since 2010, Marie has
published 24
books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance,
romantic
suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy, science fiction,
mystery/thriller, dramatic
fiction, literary fiction and poetry. She has also contributed to
several
multi-author anthologies. She is working on fully revising and
re-releasing all the works from her backlist. Her current series are The
Heiresses in Love Series,
The Magick Series, The Blood at First Sight Series , The Eternal Hearts Series, and The Code of
Endhivar
Series.
Blogger Bio
Bestselling multi-genre author of UPON YOUR RETURN
and 23 other books. Mystery Blogger Award for 2017. A to Z Blog Challenge
Survivor in 2016. March 2016 Empress of the Universe title
- winner of the "Broken Heart" themed contest and the "I Love
You" themed contest on Poetry Universe. SECOND CHANCE HEART and A LITTLE
MAGICK placed in the TOP 10 on the 2015 P&E Readers' Poll. Nominated in the
TRR Readers' Choice Awards for Winter 2015. Poetry winner of the 2015
PnPAuthors Contest. The Versatile Blogger Award for 2015. Honorable Mention in
the 2014 BTS Red Carpet Book Awards. Finalist and Runner-up in the 2014
MARSocial's Author of the Year Competition. Honorable mention in the January
2014 Reader's Choice Award. Liebster Blogger Award for 2013 and 2014. Top 10
Authors on AuthorsDB.com. Winner of the Great One Liners Contest on the
Directory of Published Authors.
Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She
has
been writing for a little over twenty-five years. She has more works in
progress than she can count on two hands. Since 2010, Marie has
published 24
books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance,
romantic
suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy, science fiction,
mystery/thriller, dramatic
fiction, literary fiction and poetry. She has also contributed to
several
multi-author anthologies. She is working on fully revising and
re-releasing all the works from her backlist. Her current series are The
Heiresses in Love Series,
The Magick Series, The Blood at First Sight Series , The Eternal Hearts Series, and The Code of
Endhivar
Series.
Bestselling multi-genre author of UPON YOUR RETURN
and 23 other books. Mystery Blogger Award for 2017. A to Z Blog Challenge
Survivor in 2016. March 2016 Empress of the Universe title
- winner of the "Broken Heart" themed contest and the "I Love
You" themed contest on Poetry Universe. SECOND CHANCE HEART and A LITTLE
MAGICK placed in the TOP 10 on the 2015 P&E Readers' Poll. Nominated in the
TRR Readers' Choice Awards for Winter 2015. Poetry winner of the 2015
PnPAuthors Contest. The Versatile Blogger Award for 2015. Honorable Mention in
the 2014 BTS Red Carpet Book Awards. Finalist and Runner-up in the 2014
MARSocial's Author of the Year Competition. Honorable mention in the January
2014 Reader's Choice Award. Liebster Blogger Award for 2013 and 2014. Top 10
Authors on AuthorsDB.com. Winner of the Great One Liners Contest on the
Directory of Published Authors.
Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for a little over twenty-five years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands. Since 2010, Marie has published 24 books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy, science fiction, mystery/thriller, dramatic fiction, literary fiction and poetry. She has also contributed to several multi-author anthologies. She is working on fully revising and re-releasing all the works from her backlist. Her current series are The Heiresses in Love Series, The Magick Series, The Blood at First Sight Series , The Eternal Hearts Series, and The Code of Endhivar Series.
Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for a little over twenty-five years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands. Since 2010, Marie has published 24 books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy, science fiction, mystery/thriller, dramatic fiction, literary fiction and poetry. She has also contributed to several multi-author anthologies. She is working on fully revising and re-releasing all the works from her backlist. Her current series are The Heiresses in Love Series, The Magick Series, The Blood at First Sight Series , The Eternal Hearts Series, and The Code of Endhivar Series.
Links:
Website: http://marielavender.com/
Links:
Website: http://marielavender.com/
Blogs: http://marielavender.blogspot.com/
Blogs: http://marielavender.blogspot.com/
http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/
http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marie.lavender.58
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marie.lavender.58
https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender
Twitter: https://twitter.com/marielavender1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marielavender1/
Amazon: Author.to/MarieLavender
Twitter: https://twitter.com/marielavender1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marielavender1/
Amazon: Author.to/MarieLavender
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938764.Marie_Lavender
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938764.Marie_Lavender
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJu8HjRVYCFOqcIoX6ZxdqQ/videos
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJu8HjRVYCFOqcIoX6ZxdqQ/videos
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marie-lavender
Poets & Writers: http://www.pw.org/content/marie_lavender
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marie-lavender
Poets & Writers: http://www.pw.org/content/marie_lavender
All Author: http://marielavender1.allauthor.com/
All Author: http://marielavender1.allauthor.com/
Manic Readers: http://manicreaders.com/marielavender/
Manic Readers: http://manicreaders.com/marielavender/
Publisher: http://www.solsticeempire.com/products.aspx?categoryid=262
Publisher: http://www.solsticeempire.com/products.aspx?categoryid=262
Marie's Books:
I know when I've had enough, when malaise creeps in and I simply can't go on. You're right: So many factors, emotional and physical, affect our ability to write. We have to cut ourselves some slack, take time off, and concentrate on other aspects of our lives. Once our brains have recovered, we can ease back into our writing routines.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the hard work and forethought you put into this encouraging post, Marie. I'm sure it will hearten many writers out there!
Thanks, Linda! Glad you could stop by! :)
DeleteHello Ms. Lavender.
ReplyDeleteMy problem is in the summer days. I may need to take some breaks, because the heat keeps me from concentrating at times. Sometimes it's comfortable, but at other times my mind can just function on simpler things.
Hi, Norma! Yes, it's those holidays and the seasons like spring and summer that really draw our focus away from the story at hand. They remind us that life is calling. I think we have to discern whether we're procrastinating or if we really need a break. As I said in my author newsletter recently, I sometimes take anti-technology vacations to get away from all distractions. It helps me not only enjoy life at a simpler level, but it opens my mind to potential creative projects. We have so much going on in our lives and in our heads that now and then, we experience a kind of overload. It's best to step away until you can gain some perspective.
DeleteGlad the post helped you, and thanks for visiting us!