Having assisted writers for the past 20 odd years in many different capacities (as a teacher, coach, and colleague), I have worked with many frustrated and blocked writers. In addition, I have written 17 books and have encountered many obstacles to writing that I had to overcome.
Along the way I have developed five favorite ways to successfully break down those obstacles and continue the writing journey. Please join me as we explore these strategies.
One day you realize… You may not realize that you are facing an obstacle. All you know is that you can’t write, or you don’t know where to start. Or maybe they don’t know how to make the writing gel convincing on the page… My dear fellow authors, these are all different kinds of obstacles. Now don’t be fooled, there are many obstacles you will encounter along the way of writing. The good news though is that the strategies we develop, the momentum of success we create by conquering even these top five, will strengthen us for the marathon ahead. This article will help you buzz those obstacles to moving towards success.
The obstacle counter strategies that I share in this short article take the form of techniques. In fact, I divulge some of my trade secrets that I use to help students, teachers, and business people break the deadlock between keyboard and blank screen. Be diligent, keep this list handy, try these strategies, and be ready to pick a remedy when you run into your next writing emergency. This is your survival kit. Therefore, you need to get acquainted with it in a non-stressful situation; please consider the following points.
The fingers rest on the keyboard… and begin…
Obstacle 1: I can Say but i can’t write it. Sometimes a piece we’re writing just lends itself more to storytelling. Sometimes we are more gifted as storytellers or speakers than as writers! however, when we have to put that same account into writing, what should we do? One solution is so simple that people miss it because of that point. Speak the piece out loud! You can use a recorder, voice-activated software, or maybe a great friend will take notes or transcribe. Basically, the process is the same in all three methods: speaking the project, instead of writing it. It’s amazing how this strategy can unclog the writing hurdle for people. Some authors even find that it drives them to develop better writing skills over time.
Obstacle 2: Who is my audience? Hurdle 2 often lurks at the crux of Hurdle 1. Yet many of us never learned (or, in deference to our English teachers, don’t remember learning) about audience. Without this understanding, it is very difficult to get a clear view of who we are writing for in our literary eye as we write. However, this trick works wonders for many people I’ve shared it with: When you sit down to work on your writing, close your eyes for a minute and imagine your readers sitting in chairs across from you. Maybe you’re meeting up for an afternoon at the neighborhood coffee shop and can’t wait to talk about your latest book. Now, in your mind’s eye, picture them sitting to the left of your computer screen; imagine some of them in detail: their clothes, facial expressions, posture… Now, with them clearly in “view”, start writing to them as if you were saying them the history. I have seen many obstacles blown out of the way with this technique. Triumph!
Obstacle 3. I have no idea where to start. Have you been stuck in the beginning? You just can’t find the right first scene, the opening line just isn’t right, or you need a cool hook to grab your readers’ attention. However, no matter how long you stare sadly at a blank screen, you just can’t find the right line or hook. It doesn’t matter how long you try or how many pages you delete; it is simply not found today, yesterday or last week. You are not blocked in the way; this is deadlock road block. The good news is what someone forgot to tell you: Skip the beginning! In fact, many of the seasoned authors find the best start after they have written the conclusion of the book. That approach seems backwards, but it makes sense if you think about it. Free yourself from the chains of paralysis of the first paragraph beginning at the second paragraph, page, or chapter. Start where your strong point is. This section of the book is clear in his mind. Go there! Let the writing juices flow and you’ll be encouraged to take on the world of words!
Obstacle 4: Lost: I don’t know where I’m going. Sometimes authors feel they need a literary GPS to help them find their way through their own words. Good news: you recognized that you were lost! Imagine your poor readers in another way! They didn’t write the book; how much worse would it have been for them if the words had meandered aimlessly chapter after chapter? You saved them and now the solution is what our 2nd and 3rd grade teachers told us and we didn’t believe. After 3 books I finally believed them and I’m passing on this gem so you don’t have to wait that long: use an outline. I don’t mean being shackled and tied to every word of the outline, but use an outline as your guide, framework, and structure for your writing work. When you need to change something substantially in the schematic, add or remove it and make sure it fits smoothly and smoothly. However, continue to refer to the outline during your writing and editing to stay current and in the flow of the manuscript. Your readers will have a much clearer idea of where you and they are headed.
Obstacle 5: Literary laryngitis. “But Kathy”, you say “I lost my voice!” Sometimes, when people become deeply involved in the details of their writing, it can become disjointed and no longer sound like a single voice. This lack of voice can develop because you’re referring to many facts, figures, quotes, or diagrams, you wrote sections of the book in different sessions widely separated in time, or other reasons, to a large extent. Another is removing direct quotes you might be using from other sources and paraphrasing them instead. Readers want to hear the current author, not everyone else “experts.” They have your article or book in their hands, so let them listen to you!
like these underpants successful writing As articles continue, I’ll discuss more ways to discover your voice, become empowered in your writing, and suggest new writing techniques. Writing is a wonderful way to share your vision with other people. Thank you for allowing me to offer some suggestions to make your experience more pleasant and successful.
