💡how to write a book without getting stuck
....and how to prep for NaNoWriMo
Avoiding the messy pitfalls of getting stuck
It sometimes surprises people when I say I’ve written more books than I’ve sold. If I had to guess, I’d say that’s true for most writers. We all start somewhere. Most of us have books that died in the query trenches or on submission (RIP, loved but not forgotten). And when we decide it’s time to start on a new project, it almost always feels daunting.
Yes, we’ve written books before. But can we do it again? Can we do it better than before?
I don’t consider the books that didn’t sell a failure—see my thoughts on rejection—and I hope other writers don’t either. With every book I write, I learn and grow as an author. I learn from my past mistakes and try to avoid getting stuck. It sucks to write a compelling setup only to have that dreaded what now feeling when you don’t know what comes next.
I thought I’d share a few things that may help you while writing your novel, coming from someone who's learned the hard way.
Why am I stuck? Factors to consider:
Is this scene boring to write? If I’m bored, the reader must be bored.
Can I start in the middle of the action? Is there too much set up? Does this scene actually move the story forward?
Am I delivering what the synopsis promised?
Is there a lack of tension, intrigue, or mystery? (Will the reader keep turning pages, and why or why not?)
The reader should care about your main character and their journey. Have you given them reasons to care and stay along for the ride?
Are you challenging your protagonist enough? Are things too easy for them, and can they be harder?
Are there any opportunities for twists?
Does the story feel like it’s ending too soon?
Unstick Your Writing
I’d promised my TikTok audience that I’d start pulling together informative writing videos in the form of worksheets. Below you’ll find everything I do before I start writing my next novel. This includes questions I sit down and answer so that I have a clear idea of both the plot and my character’s internal journey.
Everyones writing process is different, but this is what I’ve found works for me. Maybe give it a try the next time you’re feeling stuck?
It’s NaNoWriMo preparation season
I cannot believe we have already entered October of 2023. NaNoWriMo is slowly creeping up on us, which means writers are gearing up to write 50k in 30 days, starting in November. I’ve put together two worksheets exclusively for paid subscribers.
One worksheet contains a NaNoWriMo word tracker guide. The second worksheet is a NaNoWriMo prep checklist to help your outlining process. Since this newsletter is all about trying to avoid getting stuck, I’m hoping the checklist will help you over prepare for NaNo this year. This means getting all the important details about your future book plotted ahead of time so you know where your story’s going.
You can find both downloadable attachments below.