Do you ever have those days when you’re working away like the diligent writer you are, but the words just won’t come out right? Maybe you know exactly what you want to happen in the scene, but the words just won’t come out right. Maybe you don’t quite know where it’s going, and you can’t find the right direction. You’re not stuck exactly. But words are just not happening. You keep on trying and trying, getting more and more frustrated, because you know you need to write, and maybe you know what it is you want to write, but you can’t seem to put it into words.
Sometimes, trying to push through and get something, anything, down on the page that you can craft properly later is the way to solve this problem. But other times, all too often, what is really needed is for you to take a step back and stop trying to get words on the page. And this can be a really hard thing to do, either if you already know what you’re trying to write, or especially if you have limited time available for working in. That can feel like you’re wasting your precious minutes. It’s demotivating. It’s frustrating. You’re a writer. Shouldn’t you be able to jut write this thing, this scene or interaction that’s eluding you? Shouldn’t it be second nature by now?
Frustration is limiting. The more frustrated you get, the more you limit yourself to trying to achieve a single, narrow vision of what you want to write. It’s easy to get so caught up in trying to execute this one idea that you miss the other possibilities. Frustration blocks the possibility of other options outside of your plan. It refuses to accept that getting the bare ragged bones down on the page is good enough. Frustration makes us impatient and stifles our writing skills. It’s like when you’re playing a game and you’re getting frustrated with yourself, so you start playing worse and worse, and that makes you more and more frustrated, so you keep playing worse and getting more frustrated in an endless downward spiral.
When it gets like that, the best way to move on is to stop trying to move at all. Step away. Take a break. Think about something else to clear your head. Sometimes you need a little distance from the problem to gain a new perspective. Maybe that idea you had for the scene isn’t actually the right way to write it, and that’s why it’s not coming out right. Maybe it’s more complicated than you initially thought and it needs several drafts get it right. Maybe you’re just tired, or trying to rush through, and that’s why it’s not coming out right. In some cases there is value in working your way through a problem. But if the issues is stopping you completely, and only making you more and more frustrated, it may be time to take a step back and come back later ready to explore the possibilities.
Taking a step back from your problem isn’t failure. It’s recognising that this problem needs a different solution. It’s allowing yourself to breath. Some problems need space and time so that you can find the solution. Frustration can be an endless cycle, unless you break the loop, stop trying to force the words to happen, and allow yourself the clarity to step away. If pushing on isn’t working, then stop. It’s ok. Breathe. And allow your writing to breathe too. You’ll figure it out.
Have you ever had to take a step back from your book to get a better perspective on a problem? What is the most common issue that stops forward momentum for you? What’s your best solution to getting stuck and frustrated? Let’s chat in the comments down below!
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