I don't like the term 'Writer's Block' - not because it isn't real, but because the term is so vague that it's useless. Hundreds of issues all get lumped together under this one umbrella, making writer's block seem like this all-powerful boogeyman that's impossible to beat. Worse yet, it leaves people giving and receiving advice that is completely ineffective because people often don't realize they're talking about entirely different issues.
In my experience, the key to beating writer's block is figuring out what the block even is, so I put together a list of Actual Reasons why you may be struggling to write:
(note that any case of writer's block is usually a mix of two or more)
What it looks like:
You write one sentence and spend the next hour googling "synonyms for ___"
Write. Erase. Write. Rewrite. Erase.
Should I even start writing this scene when I haven't figured out this one specific detail yet?
I hate everything I write
Cringing while writing
My first draft must be perfect, or else I'm a terrible writer
Things that can help:
Give yourself permission to suck
Keep in mind that nothing you write is going to be perfect, especially your first draft
Think of writing your first/early drafts not as writing, but sketching out a loose foundation to build upon later
People write multiple drafts for a reason: write now, edit later
Stop googling synonyms and save that for editing
Write with a pen to reduce temptation to erase
Embrace leaving blank spaces in your writing when you can't think of the right word, name, or detail
It's okay if your writing sucks. We all suck at some point. Embrace the growth mindset, and focus on getting words on a page
What it looks like:
Head empty, no ideas
What do I even write about???
I don't have a plot, I just have an image
Want to write but no story to write
Things that can help:
Google writing prompts
If writing prompts aren't your thing, instead try thinking about what kind of tropes/genres/story elements you would like to try out
Instead of thinking about the story you would like to write, think about the story you would like to read, and write that
It's okay if you don't have a fully fleshed out story idea. Even if it's just an image or a line of dialogue, it's okay to write that. A story may or may not come out of it, but at least you got the creative juices flowing
Stop writing. Step away from your desk and let yourself naturally get inspired. Go for a walk, read a book, travel, play video games, research history, etc. Don't force ideas, but do open up your mind to them
If you're like me, world-building may come more naturally than plotting. Design the world first and let the story come later
What it looks like:
I know I should be writing but uugggghhhh I just can'tttttt
Writing words feels like pulling teeth
I started writing, but then I got bored/distracted
I enjoy the idea of writing, but the actual process makes me want to throw my laptop out the window
Things that can help:
Introduce stimulation: snacks, beverages, gum, music such as lo-fi, blankets, decorate your writing space, get a clickity-clackity keyboard, etc.
Add variety: write in a new location, try a new idea/different story for a day or so, switch up how you write (pen and paper vs. computer) or try voice recording or text-to-speech
Gamify writing: create an arbitrary challenge, such as trying to see how many words you can write in a set time and try to beat your high score
Find a writing buddy or join a writer's group
Give yourself a reward for every writing milestone, even if it's just writing a paragraph
Ask yourself whether this project you're working on is something you really want to be doing, and be honest with your answer
What it looks like:
I was feeling really motivated to write, but then I opened my laptop
I don't even know where to start
I love writing, but I can never seem to get started
I'll write tomorrow. I mean next week. Next month? Next month, I swear (doesn't write next month)
Can't find the time or energy
Unreasonable expectations (I should be able to write 10,000 words a day, right????)
Feeling discouraged and wondering why I'm even trying
Things that can help:
Follow the 2 min rule (or the 1 paragraph rule, which works better for me): whenever you sit down to write, tell yourself that you are only going to write for 2 minutes. If you feel like continuing once the 2 mins are up, go for it! Otherwise, stop. Force yourself to start but DO NOT force yourself to continue unless you feel like it. The more often you do this, the easier it will be to get started
Make getting started as easy as possible (i.e. minimize barriers: if getting up to get a notebook is stopping you from getting started, then write in the notes app of your phone)
Commit to a routine that will work for you. Baby steps are important here. Go with something that feels reasonable: every day, every other day, once a week, twice a week, and use cues to help you remember to start. If you chose a set time to write, just make sure that it's a time that feels natural to you- i.e. don't force yourself to writing at 9am every morning if you're not a morning person
Find a friend or a writing buddy you can trust and talk it out or share a piece of work you're proud of. Sometimes we just get a bit bogged down by criticism- either internal or external- and need a few words of encouragement
What it looks like:
I have no problems writing other scenes, it's just this scene
I started writing, but now I have no idea where I'm going
I don't think I'm doing this right
What's an outline?
Drowning in documents
This. Doesn't. Make. Sense. How do I get from this plot point to this one?!?!?! (this ColeyDoesThings quote lives in my head rent free cause BOY have I been there)
Things That Can Help:
Go back to the drawing board. Really try to get at the root of why a scene or story isn't working
A part of growing as a writer is learning when to kill your darlings. Sometimes you're trying to force an idea or scene that just doesn't work and you need to let it go
If you don't have an outline, write one
If you have an outline and it isn't working, rewrite it, or look up different ways to structure it
You may be trying to write as a pantser when you're really a plotter or vice versa. Experiment with different writing processes and see what feels most natural
Study story structures, starting with the three act structure. Even if you don't use them, you should know them
Check out Ellen Brock on YouTube. She's a professional novel editor who has a lot of advice on writing strategies for different types of writers
Also check out Savage Books on YouTube (another professional story editor) for advice on story structure and dialogue. Seriously, I cannot recommend this guy enough
What it looks like:
Everything in boredom/understimulation
Everything in intimidation/procrastination
You have been diagnosed with and/or have symptoms of ADHD/Autism
Things that can help:
If you haven't already, seek a diagnosis or professional treatment
Hire an ADHD coach or other specialist that can help you work with your brain (I use Shimmer; feel free to DM me for a referral)
Seek out neurodiverse and neurodiverse writing communities for advice and support
Try body doubling! There's lot's of free online body doubling websites out there for you to try. If social anxiety is a barrier, start out with writing streams such as katecavanaughwrites on Twitch
Be aware of any sensory barriers that may be getting in the way of you writing (such as an uncomfortable desk chair, harsh lighting, bad sounds)
What it looks like:
You have symptoms of burnout or depression
Struggling with all things, not just writing
It's more than a lack of motivation- the spark is just dead
Things that can help:
Forget writing for now. Focus on healing first.
Seek professional help
If you feel like it, use writing as a way to explore your feelings. It can take the form of journaling, poetry, an abstract reflection of your thoughts, narrative essays, or exploring what you're feeling through your fictional characters. The last two helped me rediscover my love of writing after I thought years of depression had killed it for good. Just don't force yourself to do so, and stop if it takes you to a darker place instead of feeling cathartic
reblog if you agree
INTELLIGENCE SKILLS AFFIRMATION
~ i have infinite knowledge, i have a succesful mind, i always have the answer for everything, i have the mindset of a winner
~ i have an exceptional focus and concentration and high self-control, i enjoy of an amazing mind clarity
~ i can learn tons of new skills and talents easily and effortlessly, my ability to be the best in whatever i do is so powerful
~ i have a fast learning ability, insanely good memory and i can understand easily the most complex topics
~ everyone is fascinated by my talents and capacities, i am the most brilliant genius
~ i am extremely clever, my intelligence level is absolutely amazing, my brain is the most sophisticated machine
~ i am the smartest human on earth, my capacity and abilities are incredibly powerful
~ my intelligence increases exponentially all the time, my brain capacity surpass its limit
~ i have a genius mindset, i have a supernatural intelligence, i always use my brain to its fullest
~ i manifest the best potential of my skills, i am constantly improving myself to the best version
~ i am unique and original, i have an endless creativity and i master everything i do with perfection
Law of assumption:
Before I start giving you guys my tips, I wanted to let you all know that I follow the law of assumption. Meaning a lot of my advice is going to be surrounding this law, which basically states that your thoughts and assumptions about yourself and your reality, manifest.
Leading us into TIP #1:
Accepting your truth as the creator of your reality.
It may feel like things are permanent and impossible to change right now, but that’s only because you’ve deemed them to be that way. It’s very easy to fall into the “victim mentality.” This way you can spend the rest of your time on this earth blaming the world for the way your life is, instead of taking both, responsibility and control over your reality.
Whether you believe it or not, YOU ARE THE ONE WITH THE POWER, except you’ve been giving it all away to your outer world by caving in and falling victim to whatever your shitty circumstances may be at the moment. And that is where you’ve gone wrong.
Your circumstances do not define you, you define your circumstances.
If there’s something that you want to change, you CAN change it; right now even. The only reason you’re having difficulty with this, is because you’re limiting yourself. So stop doing that and realize that there are no limits.
Everything you see in the outer world today was once only a thought. Anything you can imagine or create in your inner world, CAN and WILL reflect into your outer world if you deem it important enough.
The reason I say that is because whether you want something or not isn’t always relevant; if you dwell on it enough, and put a lot of your energy and focus onto that subject, it will manifest. This is why if you have an assumption like, for example, “all guys/girls are the same,” you will begin seeing a pattern in the type of man (or woman) you attract. Even if you find someone you think is perfect, if you still have that same underlying assumption patiently waiting to manifest when you least expect it, it sure as fuck will. You’ll then see that same perfect person slowly but surely turn out to be just like everyone else, because that’s what you decided they were gonna do.
However, don’t freak; you can change this by changing your assumptions, which I’ll dive deeper into a little later.
Moving onto TIP #2:
Getting out of your slump.
Taking breaks to reevaluate yourself and your life, and to work on your mental health is perfectly okay, until you use that as an excuse to completely give up. Sometimes shit can be hard, losing motivation is normal; which is exactly why you cannot rely on it to be the only time you choose to put in effort.
I know just how hard juggling both your depleting mental health and your mess of a life can be, which is why I’m not asking you to disregard your needs or to act like nothing is wrong. I’m asking for you to do the exact opposite, I’m asking you to take care of yourself.
Again, I know that it can be extremely hard, but at some point you are going to have to get out of bed and show your mind and body the love that it deserves. No step is too little, baby steps matter too; what’s important is that you try. Whether your accomplishment of the day is brushing your teeth, or reaching out to a close friend you’ve unintentionally isolated from, self care is self care & I’m proud of you.
Things you can do to feel better and be more active in your life:
Develop a routine— this builds self discipline and can help you feel more organized.
Make daily “To-Do” lists— this especially helps those who feel as if they’re being unproductive or wasting their days away because at least now you’re getting the things on your list done. And even if the things on your list are things you may view as small, they still count. They don’t have to be chores or something boring either, in fact, I recommend you putting things down that you like. Something productive and fun like drawing, maybe reading a book or finishing that show you ghosted last month.
Declutter your space— I believe that messy physical environments are most likely a result of a messy mental and emotional environment. Doing things like cleaning your room or not letting the trash pile up, shows that you aren’t going to give in to the laziness and that you are willing to make a change.
Declutter your space pt. 2— meditating and journaling can help you release the things casting shadows over the space inside your heart and mind, therefore giving you a safer, more calm and peaceful mental environment.
Find new interests/Break bad habits— get a hobby, indulge in things that bring you enjoyment and raise your vibrations. distance and detach yourself from people who keep you feeling low, and stressed out & change the music you listen to to songs that have a more positive message to them.
There are obviously way more things you can do, but I chose to list only the ones I feel are the most important so that this wasn’t too too long.
The last thing on the list is complimenting yourself— the way you talk to and about yourself is literally everything…which I’ll explain next, but no seriously, talk kindly to yourself. stop indulging in self deprecating jokes, and don’t surround yourself with people that do. building confidence and falling in love with who you are is definitely one of the best things you can do for yourself, and simply giving yourself a compliment each day is a nice start to making that happen.
Which brings us to TIP #3:
Developing a healthy relationship with yourself.
Realizing your worth: quit settling. be picky, have high standards bitch that’s okay!!! you shouldn’t have to lower your bar for a bum EVER, when there are people out there that WILL meet your requirements & give you the treatment that you deserve.
Setting boundaries: set boundaries with yourself and others, make it clear what you will and will not be tolerating. stop condoning behavior that the version of yourself you dream about wouldn’t.
Creating a good self concept: self concept is your belief system surrounding, you guessed it, yourself. think about who you want to be, what you want to attract, and start thinking from the perspective of that person because you are that person tf?!
What you think about yourself WILL manifest, in ways that you might not even notice you’re the one causing. Even saying something like “I have bad luck” is going to make bad things happen to you, at what you feel to be random times, but it’s not random; you manifested it.
Having a good self concept is essential. It’s not an option. I know a lot of people in this community say it is, but I’m telling you right now, it’s not. You shouldn’t want to hate yourself goofball. Stop making shit harder than it has to be and develop a healthy relationship with yourself right tf now.
TIP #4:
Affirming accordingly / keeping your thoughts in check.
This is VERY important okay? You MUST keep your mf thoughts in check because your reality is a direct reflection of your subconscious mind, and it will always be that way. You can’t affirm for a day or two and then fall back into that self hating rabbit hole and expect to see changes weirdo.
Stop over complicating affirmations. You’re constantly affirming just like you’re constantly manifesting, the only difference now is that you’re aware of it. For example: you ask your mom for McDonald’s, she says no, you accept that as true and go “damn, guess I’m not getting McDonald’s today.” And then boom, no McDonald’s for you. But if you were to have persisted in the assumption that you were getting McDonald’s that day, and she did say yes, then guess who tf is getting McDonald’s?! Yeah exactly. I’ve done this multiple times so I’m speaking from experience.
Some people like to loop their affs robotically, if that works for you…do that. If rampaging and ranting to yourself in your head, or outloud in the mirror works for you, then do that. If saying your affirmations as complaints works for you, THEN DO THAT!!!!!! you make the rules babe I really don’t gaf how you do it, just affirm for your shit and persist in that new mindset. For me, I recommend saying blanket affs mostly, affs that cover everything like:
Manifestation is so easy for me.
Everything always goes my way.
I have everything I want and more.
My life is perfect etc etc…
& then whenever you think of a specific desire you have, like clear skin for example, affirming for your clear skin:
“I love having clear skin” “my skin is flawless” and so on.
Remember that you can’t just do this for a week or two, and then when you get your desire you drop all of the work you were doing to fix your mindset and then slip again. NO. This is your new story, your new reality; you MUST persist in that shit always, just like you already do with the old story that doesn’t serve you.
So if you’re manifesting clear skin and you see a pimple the next day, you don’t go “man this ain’t even working. fuck this, I’m never getting clear skin” because that’s literally the opposite of what you’ve been affirming, and it’s a belief you already had impressed into your subconscious so further affirming for it just overwrites that affirming for clear skin you did the day before.
You are god. Anything you could possibly imagine can be yours if you really wanted it to be. Absolutely nothing is off limits. Period.
TIP #5, the fifth and final tip:
Carry yourself with confidence and know it’s done.
This means you do not react when something doesn’t go your way, that’s impossible. Just adapt the new mindset that everything always works out in your favor, because then the 3D has no choice but to conform to that fact.
You want to go to that party tonight but your parents said no? So? You are going to that party. Don’t sneak out or put yourself in a possibly dangerous situation, just know that you are going despite what they said. Mentally make them tell you yes, affirm that they did and go get ready bae.
You want that promotion but your boss is an asshole? No he’s not, he’s nice and he respects you. You’re literally his favorite employee, which is why you are getting that promotion.
Get it?
Don’t stress out about outer circumstances cause all that shit is temporary, it’s literally just a reflection of your old story. Write a new one, be confident in your power, and know that shit is done; everything you want is already yours.
me: i’m gonna write today!
me: *opens my wip*
me: *laughs at my own jokes*
me: *closes my wip*
Me at all the wacked out lib fems on this hellsite.
❁ why does money worship me so much?
❁ money is always chasing me left and right
❁ money is completely and utterly obsessed with me
❁ where did all this money come from??
❁ everyday i get richer and richer
❁ i always have more than enough money
❁ i am able to go to a multiple shopping spree’s every single day and still have trillions in my bank account
❁ why do i get paid money just to be me?
❁ ive always had tons of money
❁my bank account is tremendously overflowing with an enormous and overwhelming amount of money
❁ i love walking around with millions of pounds in my wallet
❁ every pound i spend comes back to me 100x
❁ money is my stalker, it always find a way to me
❁ everywhere i go i find money lying around everywhere
❁ every time i think about money, i get richer
❁ money has always had a soft spot for me
❁ i am the literal embodiment of a ‘money magnet’
❁ got so much money, i’m literally swimming in it
❁ everyone loves to drown me with gifts and money
❁ i get richer just by existing
❁ money loves to find me in mysterious ways
❁ i love the feeling of being a trillionaire
❁ everyone can’t wait to give me money, it’s the highlight of their day
❁ why am i always attracting millions of pounds just by doing nothing?
Hey everyone, Abby here with another writing post! Today we’re talking about new species and how to create them in your writing.
In many fantasy and sci-fi books, you’ll hear about different species, be them humanoid or not. Often it can be hard for the average writer to create something as complex as a new species, but with a little extra effort they can really add an extra element to your story.
Do you remember, back in your first biology class, learning about taxonomic ranks? (In case you forgot: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.) The species is the most specific classification for a living thing, but it helps to know a bit of the other stuff surrounding it as well.
For example, let’s say I create the Lunax species. I can describe it all I want, but it helps me as an author get a clearer mental image if I say it’s in the same genus as a tiger or something like that. You can take your species and relate it to other, already-existing species to help yourself develop and create.
This goes far beyond appearance, even though appearance on its own could probably create a whole separate post. Here are some questions on characteristics to help you get started:
Is it nocturnal?
Herbivore, carnivore, omnivore?
Can it climb, fly, swim?
How fast can it move?
How fine-tuned are its senses, and which is the strongest?
Which temperatures or biomes is it found in, and why?
How long does it sleep for?
Does it have any predators?
Of course, there are so many more questions you can ask to get that development rolling, but you’ll want to have a good idea of what really defines this species as you go along.
This is something you may also want to consider: what causes an increase and decrease in population.
For this you’ll want to look at things like the mating process, gestation, youth development, etc. - things that go into the life cycle of the species. Like anything else, the knowledge you have here doesn’t have to be super in-depth, but it would certainly help to at least have a general idea.
What helps the population flourish, and what hurts it? How available is their specific habitat, and is that level growing, shrinking, or remaining level? What factors in the world could change the growth rate of the population? Is this species rare enough to be considered endangered by our standards?
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There’s… a lot that goes into creating a species, so this guide isn’t at all meant to be comprehensive. It’s all up to you as an author, these are just some bases to help you get started!
If this post helped you out, please consider buying me a coffee over on ko-fi!
Help ive overconsumed info and nownidk what to do
The way you worded this made me laugh a little ngl 😂
we have to simplify things and go back to the basics. Just keep these 10 commandments in mind and forget everything else.
Your assumptions form your reality. What you assume solidifies into the 3D.
You create the rules. Fuck science, matter, research and the limitations of the flesh. You’re God, never doubt yourself on what’s possible.
Circumstances do not matter. Your current situation is simply your present assumptions solidified. Reality is extremely malleable. Changing your assumptions changes your reality, no matter what.
Anything is possible. Anything. The only limit to your manifestation is the extent of your belief.
Methods do not hold any power. YOU DO.
Work on your self concept. Know you’re God and persist in your new reality.
Let go of the old story. The past like I said is simply a collection of your assumptions. It does not define you. You can be whoever you want to be.
All you need is faith and trust. Believe what you want is yours and know that you have it. It’s a done deal. Knowing is the secret. And in the words of Neville Goddard, faith is loyalty to the unseen reality.
Persist in your assumption and do not give up. You’re almost there. Failure does not exist in our reality. Remember, the fear of failure is also a cause of failure.
Bridge of incidents does not exist. There is no waiting period or time lag. You can manifest instantly if you want.
Hope this helps you, baby x
sorry fellow bylers!! I’ve seen the light!! I’m making m!leven edits now! 🥺👉👈