We all know that feeling: when the motivation is low, the creativity is dead, and that sparkly novel idea that you so adored a few months ago is suddenly as appealing as rotting spinach. You open your word processor only to stare at the paragraphs written in a half-zombified state of mind, wondering how on earth you ever thought that this novel idea made it out of the wastebasket. Some days, you find yourself literally doing anything else other than touching your novel. Procrastination is strong, a deadline is looming, and you want to move on with your life, but the more you open that doc, the more toxic working on your novel becomes. In the end it’s nothing more than a mental energy-sapping cesspool of terrible writing and the source of a constantly whispering voice asking you what on earth you were thinking trying to become a novelist.
Sound familiar?
Okay, maybe the description was a little dramatic, but I think we can all relate. When dealing with a tough novel project, we start to see beyond the shiny novel idea and fall into that deep hole of Reality– writing a book is stinking hard, and not always fun.
So how does a writer keep pushing through to get to “the end” instead of tossing aside the book and starting on something new?
Welp, that’s the question I’ve been asking myself over the last few weeks with my own WIP. And today, I’ll be exploring five tips to help you rediscover what exactly made you fall in love with your story in the first place.
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#1. Character Snippets
My go-to treatment for novel dysphoria, character snippets are short excerpts of writing that help you flesh out your characters’ stories. Perhaps it’s a backstory snippet, or just throwing a whole collection of characters into a random situation to see how they react. In any case, character snippets are a great way to stay rooted within your story world, feel like you’re getting something finished, while also giving you a break from the overall drudge of your novel.
The problem with character snippets is that it can be very easy to only write character snippets and end up procrastinating just as much. However, writing something is better than writing nothing, so just remember that eventually, you will have to come back to your novel.
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#2. Play Stage-the-Page
I actually discovered the real name for this a few days ago, and it has really helped to boost my appreciation for my novel. Basically, take the page count of your WIP, and ask someone to choose a number between that page count and one. Find the corresponding page for that number, and share your favorite quote from that page!
For example, my current WIP has 247 pages. I asked one of my friends to pick a number between 1 and 247, and she chose 24.
I go to page 24 in my WIP, and choose my favorite excerpt/quote.
Abby poked a finger at Monty’s chest. “You need to sit down, get some food and water, and let me see how bad that knife wound on your shoulder really is. Then you can explain everything.”
He froze, trying not to think about the gash that he’d packed with gauze and was now itching the more he thought about not thinking about it. He had no idea that Abby had caught him rubbing at it. “You’re not sticking a needle in me.” He growled. “No stitches.”
Needles were the one fear he felt no shame in admitting.
She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. “Would you rather lose an arm from gangrene?”
“Well, the thought is gruesome, especially considering it’s my sword arm, but if it means no needles, I suppose I could learn to fight with my left…” He mused.
She flashed a glare at him. “I’ll get Jonah to hold you down, Monty Keller, unless you comply.” Abby looked between him and her brother with something between menace and amusement. Jonah blinked, looking uncomfortable.
Monty sighed, sitting on the couch. “Fine.”~From my novel Protectors
This is a really great way to regain motivation because you are thinking about your favorite parts of the novel instead of everything you hate about it. And it helps you rediscover bits and pieces you might have forgotten.
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#3. Refill Your Creative Well
Let’s face it: sometimes you just need a boost, a mental cup of coffee to vamp up your energy. Return to the books, music, and movies that inspired you to write this story in the first place. Explore some new theme songs for your characters. Watch the movie that made you fall in love with the genre. Reread that dystopian novel that inspired you to write a fanfic where you created that one side character who became the mentor in your WIP (totally not specific example at all).
Refilling your creative well may be all that it takes to get yourself back on track.
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#4. Reassess Your Game Plan
If you’re really stuck, it might be because there’s something not clicking in the story itself. In that case, it’s time to hop to the drawing board. Listen to some podcasts on writing and story structure. If you have a suspicion on what’s wrong, read a good writing book or watch a video on that topic. Several times I have been stuck on a story and then I will binge listen to Fight Write or Helping Writers Become Authors, and suddenly everything clicks and I’m ridiculously excited to get back to work. This might not work for everyone, but don’t knock it till you try it!
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#5. Just Keep Writing
If you’ve tried all of these and still feel stuck, then in all honesty, you may need to just keep writing. I know, it’s exhausting, and maybe it doesn’t feel productive. But if you keep plugging away, keep writing even a little bit, then eventually you’ll find yourself falling in love again.
(However, try the other tips first so you’re not just spinning yourself in circles).
Also, reach out to writing friends, if you’re blessed to have some. Sometimes a good shake from a fellow writer really helps when you face the burnout blues. Talk about your novels, share random character trivia, brainstorm! Writing should not be a lonely thing– writers should have other writers to hang out with.
(And if you don’t have writer friends to talk to, send a comment below! I’d love to talk to y’all about your novels)
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Ultimately, writing a novel is not all sunshine and roses. Some days all you want to do is find a flamethrower and torch your manuscript (or some similarly satisfying and gruesome literary death). It’s hard word, and it’s a long game.
But I hope that today’s article was beneficial to you, and gave you some ideas on how you can fall in love with your novel again.
(and if you would like to play Stage the Page with each other and your novels below, go ahead! Comment your page count and share your favorite quotes. Note: All comments are moderated. Please keep all quotes and excerpts G to PG rated)