Writer's Block and Other Struggles

Now editing: Song of the Sea by Sabrina Voerman (get the first two books in her series here)

Now drafting: Mistress of Night: A Ship's Haven novella (November 26, 2024)

Now listening: Bubble Guppies (yay parenthood!)

Now reading: Dawn of the Cursed Queen by Amber V. Nicole

Writer's block is a struggle that every author can relate to. I'm experiencing it now as I work on my final draft of Mistress of Night before I send it off to my editor. It is a miserable experience, regardless of how many books you've written.

The author with her best boy, Taz, who loves to keep her company when she has writer's block

When I struggle with writer's block, there are a few things that help me push through.

1. Stepping away to work on other projects. - This seems counterintuitive, right? But nothing helps me more than a mental break from my current work in progress. Am I working on other stories? Not always - sometimes I'm crocheting or working on a painting. Maybe I'm spending time baking with Bredward Cullen. Whatever feeds my soul at the moment.

2. Play some games. - I love Bejeweled and Tetris style games, especially when I'm stressed or struggling to find words. They keep my mind off my writer's block and beating levels is a nice boost.

3. Get out into nature. - I'm a creature of the woods. It's the first place I go when I'm stressed or sad. Reconnecting with nature is a great way for me to let go of my anxiety and reset. I have a favorite spot in the forest near my home. I love to sit on a boulder and meditate, listen to the rush of the river beside me, and let my soul rest.

4. Create graphics on Canva. - I have a Canva addiction, and I use that to help get myself excited to work on my projects again. I'll make mood boards, highlight quotes I've written that I really like, do little videos... Anything goes!

A teaser from Mistress of Night, Tiffany's upcoming novella - an example of her Canva technique for beating writer's block

There's one other thing I do that helps me, and it's something I highly recommend that other writers do when they're struggling to find their words.

READ.

Read something you enjoy, something that brings you comfort. Pick up a book off of your (ten foot tall) TBR pile. Download a new book to your Kindle, or listen to something on Audible. Buy a dozen books at your local independent bookstore.

Consider it market research.

-Tiffany