Emerging From Writer’s Block
by Andrea Grigg
I entered the writing world reasonably late in life – the year I turned fifty. I came home from work one day (I taught fifth graders) and decided it was time to start writing the story that had been rumbling around in my head for a few years. I had no training, no notion how I was supposed to go about it other than I needed a beginning, a middle and an end, and that my book was a romance, my favorite genre to read.
With a mental oh well, here goes nothing, I opened my laptop and typed ‘Chapter One’.
First words led to...
The words poured out of me. Tripped over themselves. Fought to get onto that Word document as fast as humanly possible. And then, as if that wasn’t a big enough rush, I had a moment. A spooky moment. One I’ll never, ever forget.
I was typing a bunch of dialogue for my two main characters, Nick and Lainey. I’d had this scene in my head for a long time. Knew what needed to be said, the way it would be said, how the whole convo would go.
Except it didn’t.
My fingers started typing words I hadn’t thought of. The conversation shot off in a different direction. And then the goosebumps started. I was Nick. I was Lainey.
I had been hijacked.
By my own characters.
From then on, every night after dinner, I escaped to my room with my laptop for a couple of hours. It took me sixteen months to finish my first draft, but that’s because it was massive. Stupid big. I’d written my characters’ story from the moment they met at eight, until they had their HEA at twenty-seven. But size didn’t matter. The whole thing flowed like the Orinoco.
Once I’d learned the meaning of ‘in media res', I cut my book in half. Countless drafts later, I submitted it, and A Simple Mistake was picked up by a small press. Two years later, my second book came out. It had been much harder to write, but with a lot of help from my critique partner (love you, Catherine!) I made my deadline. Two years after that, I was part of an indie novella collection. Writing that first draft was like pushing a peanut across the floor with my nose, worn down to the cartilage by the time I sprawled over the line just in time.
Why was it so hard to finish a draft? I could still come up with characters, work out their wounds and flaws and wants and needs, come up with ideas for scenes. I could even get up to twenty thousand words per story, but after that?
Crickets. Cicadas. Grasshoppers. And locusts. Don’t forget the locusts. Hordes of them. Non-stop and loud.
What was wrong with me?
Why couldn’t I write?
I refused to give up. I read craft books. Read blogs, tried everything they suggested. Made myself open my laptop most days only to get disappointed again and again and again when my brain would throw up its hands, saying, ‘Nuh-uh. Not doing this today, baby’.
The worst was when I went to a workshop held by a relatively successful Australian author, hoping to get help, only to be told in a very stern tone, ‘There’s no such thing as writer’s block. It’s just a lack of self-discipline.’ I already had one of her books at home. I threw it out.
This went on for seven years. Seven. Long. Years.
It seemed to me I was doing everything I could to claw my way out of my deep dark bunker. I had tons of support so what was wrong with me? The frustration was epic.
My Journey
Let me preface the next bit by saying this is my journey. It may not be anyone else’s. But I have the utmost empathy for anyone who experiences what I have been going through. And if my story can help even one writer, I will be over-the-moon-and-around-the-stars happy.
And then … I read Becca Syme’s book, ‘Dear Writer You Need to Quit.’
Sounds a tad alarming, doesn’t it? But, under the title it lists three things: What to keep, what to quit, what to question. And I needed to know.
I’d been told this book was right up my alley, and it absolutely was. It gave me hope and encouragement and a light at the end of the tunnel I knew wasn’t an oncoming train. Many things spoke to me, but the one that grabbed me was the one giving me permission to question the old adage ‘You can’t edit a blank page.’
This mantra had taken over my brain and was not helpful. Then Becca explained how some people need time to think about their story and have it all in their head, even do a bunch of editing before they type Chapter One.
Wait. That was how I’d written my first book, right? I’d dreamed up scenes, then adjusted and adjusted and adjusted some more before I’d put anything onto a word document. And it was okay to be this way? Huh.
The way I was wired.
Then I came across Becca’s ‘The Author Stuck List’, where she describes the six most common reasons writers get stuck. And for two of them, all I could think was wow-wow-wow!
I learned:
- It’s okay to have a whole book in my head before I start writing.
- It’s okay not to be able to write if I can’t visualise a scene like a movie in front of me.
- It’s okay to take time to research the details rather than leave markers to come back to.
- It’s understandable for me not to be able to create if I’m all peopled out.
- It’s understandable for me not to be able to create if I’ve been busy taking care of others.
Becca got me! She understood how I was wired. She knew why I’d got stuck!
And finally, so did I.
When I look back over the last few years, I can see why my creativity dried up. I’m not going to go into more detail than that because some of the reasons for my stuckness are personal.
But that’s precisely the point.
Writer’s block is personal.
It’s true that sometimes the answer to writer’s block is a matter of exercising self-discipline, like sticking to a writing routine or restricting time spent doom scrolling. It’s also true that sometimes the answer is to go psychologically deeper.
So, after my plethora of light bulb moments, would the words start coming now?
No, not necessarily, because some of the reasons for my lack of creativity are still to be navigated. However, there are some very positive signs. The load of guilt for not getting words on a page has lessened significantly. My imagination is flowing more freely. My PhD in procrastination is getting a little dusty.
I’ve also been giving myself permission to do whatever writerly thing I want. Mostly I’ve been outlining and researching and working on characterisation on several books. Some people would think that’s crazy, but I’ve loved it! And if that’s getting me back in the game, then why not? The upside is, it’s helped me put on my brave, open my laptop and add several hundred fresh words to a WIP. Twice!
Early days yet, but I think I might be on to something <wink>
Has anyone else experienced writer’s block for this long? Is anyone like me, still emerging? I’d love to hear tips and thoughts from those who’ve made it to the other side.
* * * * * *
About Andrea
Andrea Grigg has been a reader of romance novels forever although she never expected to end up writing them!
Born in New Zealand, Andrea moved to Australia where she promptly met her husband.(Good move, wasn't it?)
As well as raising three children - all now adults - Andrea taught ten-year-olds for a number of years but has now retired in order to write. Because she loves it.
Her first book, 'A Simple Mistake', a contemporary Christian romance, was published in 2012, and 'Too Pretty' followed in 2014. However, she is now re-writing those and transforming them into sweet rom-coms.
In the meantime, please enjoy reading her novella, 'All is Bright', a Christmas story you can read all year round.
AndreaGrigg.com • Amazon • Twitter • Facebook
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The first time one of my characters stepped out of line and did her own thing, which I wasn't expecting, made me think I was losing my marbles. But she was right. It also turned out that she wasn't who I thought she was, too.
I usually have the outline of my story in my head, and know (or think I know) how it's going to end.
When I get stuck, I let my characters loose. They often sort themselves out.
Not always, though. Sometimes there's a lot of deleting goes on afterwards, but I find they've got me unstuck.
V.M. it sounds as if you've found a key to unblocking yourself even if it includes lots of deleting.
Having characters you straight is quite the experience, isn't it? Like you, I tend to let them loose for a while, trust them to sort the problem. I'm learning to let them take the time they need rather than rush the process. It truly is helping me become unstuck. Thanks for the encouragement 🙂
I had a monstrous case of writers block for 7 years (hmmm, same time period). On writing the final book of my epic fantasy series, but I couldn't get anything else out, either. Outlining didn't work. I was so stuck, I couldn't even think of "what next?"
I finally broke the block by doing some rambling research and just dumping it into a "research" document with photographs of things like settings and clothing, bits of mythology, a bunch of rambling outlines of ideas, a few ides of where it might go next, and the occasional snippets of dialogue. It was more the sitting down to do "research" every day for at least 10 minutes which began to break through the block. I finally fed the entire 129 page "research" document into AI and prompted: "help me make an outline out of this using save the cat plot points." It was a HORRIBLE outline, but it pulled a lot of key ideas out of the chaos.
From there, I began to shuffle the "outline" around, made a real outline, and started writing. 150 words. 250 words. Where was my former 5,000 words a day? Oh, well... 500 words a day consistently. Oh, look, I wrote 1,200! I'm averaging 2,500 words a day right now, which is nowhere near my peak where I'd sit down some days and bang out 11,000 words, but my characters are talking to me again and I'm getting those little sparkles of conversation and ideas in the mundane world that make me want to run to my computer and jot them down again.
Oh, Anna. I'm sorry you went through that. But I'm also very glad you found a way to get started again, however slow it feels.
Oh the dreaded 'what next?'. I totally hear you! And I've been outlining with Save the Cat, too. Anna, your post has done my heart a power of good, given me a strong hope that this can be me in the not too distant future. Thank you!
Andrea, I love that you shared your journey.
While I’ve never personally experienced writer’s block, I can easily imagine how frightening and bewildering it must feel — and I hope I never encounter it.
I sometimes suspect that those who claim “there’s no such thing” may not fully appreciate just how differently every mind works. But then again, a lack of understanding for the many ways people think, feel, and process the world seems to be at the root of many larger problems we face, too.
Thank you for honoring your own process and offering insight that may help others who are struggling. Facing the enemy head-on doesn’t always have to be a confrontation — it can simply be a meeting, on your own terms, in your own time. And that takes real courage.
So write on — whether on paper, on a screen, or closer to home, in your mind.
It’s thought count, not word count, that matters most.
I suspect you're right, Jennifer, some may not fully appreciate how differently each of us think, feel, and process the world. Thanks for reading and your kind response.
Jennifer, that second paragraph of yours is gold. Absolutely true. And thank you so much for your comment - your words are a balm to my soul.
I used to be one of those people who said there was no such thing as writer's block. I said it often and loudly, including on my blog. Then I went through four years of burnout and writer's block, and had to eat crow.
I wrote a series of blog posts about it, including this one: https://www.stephaniecainonline.com/i-was-wrong-about-writers-block/ Because if you're going to loudly make a mistake, you ought to issue a correction just as loudly, right?
Like you, I was partly rescued by Becca Syme, beginning with "You Need to Quit" and going on to "Are You in Burnout?" and then taking several of Becca's courses. Figuring out my CliftonStrengths (#6 Positivity) and my Enneagram type (8), I finally got to the roots of why burnout happened to me, and started learning how to avoid it in future. I've completed two novels since finally escaping the burnout/writer's block, but my current project isn't going as quickly as I would like...and I have to just accept that.
If nothing else, writer's block teaches us humility, doesn't it?
Fascinating that both you and Andrea found Becca Syme's books so helpful. Thanks for sharing Stephanie.
Your blogpost 'I was wrong about writers block' resonated with me on so many levels, Stephanie. I was/am in burnout simply from life, something I found hard to be kind to myself about because I'm retired. How can I retired person be in burnout? But that was my distorted, burnt-out thinking giving me the guilts. It's also proven that for me, burnout stops creativity. Like you, my escapism is to read. Good thing is, instead of simply being an escape, reading is inspiring me to write again. Thank you so much for your honest and humble post. You've really encouraged me.
Andrea, welcome to WITS! Thank you for sharing your journey with us. I’ve never experienced a full writer’s block but I struggle with “perfectionism.” It kept me from finishing my first book for more years than I want to admit. I admire your bravery in facing your block and sharing your experience here. I believe you are finding the path that works for you.
Lynette, thanks so much for inviting me! It really is a privilege to be here. Sincerely hope you never experience writer's block. But I have to say, even though it's been unpleasant, I've learned a lot about myself, so it hasn't been a wasted journey. Whew!
A key for me is to remember that thinking time is writing time. And thinking time doesn't ever have to be something that will hit the page. It can be my characters in any universe (like fan fiction) at any time, and the logic does not have to work. This keeps my thoughts free and flowing. In periods when I have no time to think, to just be, I cannot write, except work-for-hire where the idea isn't mine and therefore doesn't have the same pressure.
Absolutely agree, Debbie. Thinking time is vital for writers.
Debbie, it was so good to have my thinking time validated, because I've always done a lot of thinking before I write. My best way of solving plot problems is letting my brain unravel while doing housework, particularly while folding laundry. And I don't think I'm the only one. I totally get your process. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hello Andrea... Nice article. There are so many reasons. My first 3 novels poured from my fingers, the first drafted in 20 days--the next two took much longer. The fourth was not so spontaneous, but once I had the idea it flowed...
Number five is proving more resistant, but I have no deadlines so I just let it go until a solution pops into my head
I'm glad you aren't putting pressure on yourself. Sometimes allowing ourselves time to find the solution is the best thing we can do.
Matthew, I admire your relaxed attitude. Sounds like you know your process and can trust it. I believe I'm on the same track now
Ironically, I have Becca's books and haven't read them. I might have spared myself a few years of angst! LOL!
When I started writing, it just exploded out of me. I was writing a novella a month and a two novels per year. Even then I knew I was flirting with burn-out. That hit me like a ton of rocks, but in retrospect, I now know it was largely triggered by a cascade of problems in my personal life,
I've been creeping back. I never declared that I quit, but I've slowly come to accept that I'm not the same person I was 15 years ago and my journey as an author has simply changed. I just need to navigate that new path.
Belinda, I think you just described my journey, particularly your last paragraph. Acceptance is key to moving forward for me. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Good read - I'm going check out the book mentioned.
I hope you find Becca's books helpful, Tamara.
Thanks,Tamara. Wherever you are in your writing journey, I hope Becca's book(s) are as much help to you as they are to me. I say that in present tense because I refer to them often.
Hello Andrea!! I am so happy to see you here!!
I resonate with this post so much. Crawling your way out of the writer's block cave is such hard work, and such a personal journey for every writer.
I am so happy your finding your way back to your stories!
Hi Jenn! Great to see you, too. You've heard about my struggles in times past, so it's lovely to be able to give you some good news
First of all, Andrea, I'm so happy for you, that you've gained insight into your stuckness. Julie Glover did a post here a few weeks ago that included the importance of a writer's process, and I really pondered it.
None of us approach the page in quite the same way. And I think that often, as we move further into our writing careers and learn the craft and the tricks, we lose that element of play and spontaneity that made it SO FUN in the first place.
You are my wake-up call to add Becca Syme to my "check it out" list. I know so many writers who can't say enough great things about her. 🙂
Thanks for the post, and Welcome to WITS!!
Hi Jenny - great to hear from you, and thanks for having me!
Human beings are incredibly diverse, so a one-size-fits all can never apply to us as writers, hey. I'm so enjoying having fun again, that's for sure. I'd love to hear what you think about Becca's books 🙂
Hello Andrea!
So sorry you had to power through this block, but I love all the points in your blog. And I also love how well you wrote it.
I see lots of deep edit love in every paragraph. Just what I'd expect from a Multi-Immersion Master Class grad!
PS --
Becca Syme is a Multi-Immersion Grad too!
Love her, love her brilliance.
Awwwwww....
So she is! Glad you mentioned that.
Hi Margie - you've taught me well, haha. Thanks for being such a support in every which way 🙂
Hey, Andrea --
I, too, got that feeling that I was "channeling a real author" while writing my first book, as if the words were transmitted into my head and they flowed out my fingers. And like you, it had been on my mind several years, but as a Rom-Com film that I wished someone would write & produce. It took years of writing and rewriting to make it good enough to publish. Now, for the past two years I've been stuck... struggling to write the sequel. It's comforting to know others have had similar experiences. (Misery loves company, right?) Good luck with your WIP!
Dana, I truly hope something clicks for you very soon with your second book. I understand your frustration!
Wish I had read this last year--before I threw out writing notebooks and journals, and notes I'd taken from countless webinars, etc! But, I still have the ms of the first novel I wrote (published but fizzled), and I now know why I gave up. I was working on the wrong story.
I've known for years that God wants me to write the story of how He made my marriage something more wonderful than either my husband or myself could have imagined. There will be things hard to write, and they will make me cry--not out of heartache, but out of the unbelievable joy, peace, and contentment we have now. God helped us, showed us, how to work through things in order to become strong.
Hi Andrea - Thanks for sharing that. I really agree. There's a lot of writing advice out there and a lot of it is good, but we are all wired differently. It's easy for me to fall into the comparison trap and think of people I know who treat writing as a job, start work at 9.00 and keep going until either it's time to pick up the kids or the work day has ended. Five days a week. They both produce books at a great rate of knots. Good on them! I am not them.
I've had bits and pieces of the plot for my second novel in my head for four years and have still only written a few chapters. It needs a lot of research. I need more tent pegs in place. Sometimes I do need to stick derriere in chair and do something. But other times, I need to do self-care and feed my soul.
Good on you for listening to your unique wiring. Looking forward to seeing your new stories in the fullness of time. Take care.
That comparison trap can be nasty! I think that's something I've now stopped doing now I'm at peace with my process. Love the fact you're so self-aware, Nola. And yes, we'll definitely enjoy reading each other's stories one day!
Ugh what a journey! Becca’s books have been so life changing. I can’t wait to read your books Andrea and I know now you’ve got the keys to unlock and let them out!
I can't wait for you to read my books either! Alongside Becca's books, you've been a huge help in getting me to this point. Really appreciate your support, Catherine 🙂
Oh,my.yes,yes,yes to ALL of this. My well of inspiration has totally dried up after a few years of self publishing a women's fiction novel and 2 short story collections. Now,I got nothing. Zero. And it's depressing AF. I know myself well enough to understand it's mainly bc I need more validation to keep on. Like, "your writing saved me!" kind of thing. Sigh. Thanks for sharing, anyway, as its always reassuring to hear others' journeys.
Hi Ellen - you've certainly been going through a tough time by the sound of things. I hope you have a group of writer friends to help and support you, give you the encouragement you need. Have you read 'The Author Stuck List' by Becca Syme? Totally recommend if you haven't. Wishing you the very best with your writing journey.
Hi Andrea, I can relate. I do most of my fiction writing in my head and brew my stories. I can’t write when I’m grieving, or when I’m under extreme stress. I’ve learned to accept those seasons as part of the journey and do other things that bring me joy. (((Hugs))) and I’m glad you’re moving into a season of renewal and hope. 😊
Sounds like your process is very similar to mine, Narelle. Yes, those seasons are definitely part of the journey, and I'm learning to be more patient with them and not get so frustrated. Renewal and hope? Well said. That's exactly how it feels 🙂
Thank you for sharing your story.
Thanks for reading it Denise. I hope your writing journey is going well.
Thanks for sharing this Andrea.
I think I must be similar to you, in that my stories always percolate in my head for years before I'm able to pour them out - even then they still need the milk and sugar of endless edits to make them palatable!
Ah the milk and sugar of endless edits. What a great way to look at it, Carolyn! That's the part I really enjoy to be honest. It's a treat in comparison to pushing that peanut across the floor,lol.
Writer’s block is personal. So true. Great blog post, Andrea. Hope to catch up with you in May.
Thanks Sheila. Definitely love to catch up!
The biggest breaks I’ve had in writing came from being pulled out of retirement (twice) for consulting work. Some of it, obviously, was a free-time issue. However, the real kick was that whenever I stopped writing my mind still kept chewing on what I’d written so far.
So, both times I suddenly re-imagined how my plot should go. The first break, I decided to completely switch to a different villain (my first seemed to derivative, already done). Settling on a new one and integrating them into the story with the least damage was daunting. I struggled to find a new plot path.
After a second four month hiatus, I decided the threats posed by my new villains needed to be more nuanced and insidious (I settled on government-toppling deep fake threats, timely and more dangerous than most people know). This involved a lot more research (more muddling and delays), where I struggled to find the right approach, before I could comfortably start writing again.
I’m on the fence over how real writers’ block is, but whatever anyone wants to call it, something resembling it certainly happens. And I agree the solutions are ultimately personal.
Human beings are incredibly diverse, that’s for sure. Thank you for sharing your experience. Sincerely hope your story ideas fall into place sooner rather than later, Jerold.
Actually, the second book was finished last September. I’m happy with the changes. They opened it to lots of fun twists.
Andrea,
I love this blog entry! I, too, went through a period of "non-writing" (AKA writer's block) that lasted for years.
Like you, I'd spend hours at my computer staring at an empty Word doc, but the only writing I accomplished was putting my name in the header. I suddenly couldn't put words on paper. Since grade school, I have ALWAYS written stories and even class plays. So my family couldn't understand why I wasn't writing since I'd published 3 novels.
Heck, I couldn't understand it either.
I read craft books and inspirational stories; attended Master classes; and even joined a couple writing workshops and critique groups. I could help people with their stories, but my muse wasn't talking to me.
The excuse I used when people asked what I was writing was that my new job and some serious family illnesses had me too exhausted to add other deadlines or stress. Then one day, I realized it wasn't an excuse, it was the truth.
Once I realized that, I cut myself some slack. I bought a nice, spiral-bound journal to capture random ideas. When a thought popped into my head that "this would make an interesting story," I'd jot it down in a few words. The same with descriptions of people or interesting historical tidbits. Then, I could close the journal knowing it would be there. It helped me not to worry about lost story opportunities.
Eventually, I did feel like writing again, and flipping through the pages of the journal gave me some starting points.
However, when I was in my writing desert, I'd felt guilty that other writers could turn their stress and heartbreaks into stories, but I'd felt marooned by mine. God bless Becca for validating for us that it is okay (even normal) to need a pause when life gets overwhelming.
Thank you for sharing this.
Wow - our journeys are so similar! Like you, I could help people with their stories, but drew blanks when it came to mine. And yes, realizing it was major life events that had given my brain reason to hit the pause button? It was such a relief to understand it wasn’t me being weak-willed but simply overwhelmed. Thank you so much for sharing M.F. Ocilka.
I love Becca Syme's work, and her podcast. She's helped me a lot, and I'm so glad she's helped you as well.
I did mention she's a guest speaker at the NZ Romance Writers Conference in August, didn't I? (Hint, hint)
🙂 🙂