Writer's Block

Ah...the dreaded Writer's Block! We have all heard of it, we all fear it, we all occasionally suffer from it.

Writer's block can actually afflict any part of novel writing, starting with an inability to come up with an inspiring idea in the first place. Mostly, though, it is associated with writing a first draft, with facing a blank sheet of paper (or a blank computer screen) and being quite incapable of writing a single word.

But is there a cure for it? I believe so, yes. It all boils down to approaching novel writing in the correct frame of mind...

Twelve Tips for Beating Writer's Block

1. Take your Time

Novel writing isn't a race. Nobody is timing you. Work at your own pace and enjoy yourself. If it takes you twelve months to produce your masterpiece, that's great. If it takes you twelve years, so what?

2. Keep your Eyes on the Road Ahead

The fact that writing a novel means producing several hundred pages of prose is enough by itself for block to strike. That is why you mustn't think of it in those terms.

Writing 300 pages is scary, but writing just one or two pages isn't. So just think of what you need to do tomorrow and ignore the rest. You will be amazed how quickly the pages will pile up.

3. Write in the Right Environment

Writing demands concentration, and if you cannot free yourself from distractions at home, find somewhere quieter to work - the park, the library, wherever.

Comfort is important, too. It is hard to focus on the mind of the body is not relaxed. Personally, I write first drafts in longhand sitting in a comfortable armchair. That's because I can't get creative on a computer and I can't get comfortable sitting at a desk, not for long periods. But whatever works for you is what is best.

4. Plan What to Say in Advance

Yes, I know you've already planned your novel, probably in some detail. But before you write a chapter, block out the events in a little more detail. Why? Because writer's block often strikes when you try to do two things at once - planning what to say and working out how to say it.

Planning is largely a left-brain activity; drafting a right-brain one. If you already have the details worked out before you write, you only have to worry about the language.