Stuck/Unstuck

Happy Halloween!

This week I’ve been struggling with getting started on the novel I’ve been brainstorming the past several months. I’m taking a class in my MFA right now that’s focused on the craft of novel-writing, and I’m using what I’m learning in that class—and from our textbook, The Architecture of the Novel by Jane Vandenburgh—to get started on this new project.

Problem is, I feel stuck—even before I’ve put a word on the page.

See, I’m still trying to figure out the best version of this story to tell. I have a couple different options—different versions of the story—that I can go with. When I think I’ve found the one that’s best to write out, I start thinking about the characters and their storyline and pretty quickly come to a point where I’m stuck again.

What do you do in a situation like that? It’s not exactly writer’s block, but it feels similar. I’m sure there are lots of writers out there who are experiencing (or have experienced) this very same thing. Whether it’s a short story or a novella or a novel, you’re feeling stuck.

What do you do to get unstuck?

Well, I think I’ve stumbled upon something that could help; it’s certainly helped me over the last day and a half.

You ready? All right, here it is:

Write it out.

Huh?

Write. It. Out.

Yeah, I know, I know. It sounds crazy and counterintuitive and like a complete load of bollocks. It sounds trite.

But hear me out.

When my mind has been swirling with all these different story possibilities and whatnot and I feel like I can’t breakthrough to start writing the actual story, I’ve found that the most cathartic thing I can do is write out the ideas I have for each version of the story. I’ll write out a quick synopsis with some extra character and plot notes, then move on to the next idea/version.

Seriously, try it: it cleared my head, helped focus my ideas, and most importantly—it helped me weed out the versions that weren’t going anywhere to uncover the very best version of the story.

Since doing this, I feel unstuck. I feel like I’m ready to start writing this thing.

How about you?

Let’s get to work.