How to Break Through Writer's Block During NaNoWriMo 💪
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- Опубликовано: 6 июн 2024
- We’re nearly halfway through NaNoWriMo! A lot of writers experience a creative lull during the halfway point of a writing project - also known as the “mushy middle” 😰 when you might be feeling burnt out or lacking creativity.
That’s why, in this new podcast, Kate and I are tackling one of the most daunting challenges any writer can face: writer's block. It's a universal struggle, that overwhelming feeling of being stuck… the frustratingly blank page that seems impossible to fill. We understand how this can be particularly stressful during NaNoWriMo, when you're racing against the clock to meet your word count goals. But fear not, we're here to help! This podcast episode is designed to guide you through overcoming writer's block, cultivating a creative mindset, and keeping those words flowing. Tune in for practical tips, inspiring advice, and the motivation you need to keep going, even when the going gets tough.
Are you writing anything for #NaNoWriMo2023? Comment below and tell us about it! Subscribe for more episodes of #TheKateAndAbbieShow
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⏰ T I M E S T A M P S ⏰
00:00 Are you feeling creatively stuck?
03:19 1. Take time to get into the right mindset
10:35 2. Talk it out when you're stuck
12:44 3. Flip it upside down and brainstorm new ideas
19:28 4. Get enough sleep
25:22 5. Nourish your body and spirit
29:20 Recap
30:25 Take your writing journey to the next level
33:55 Subscribe for more writing videos!
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At this moment, I am 21,000 words into my NaNoWriMo novel ❤ I am writing a YA dystopian novel that means a lot to me. I've experienced the need to take care of yourself as I took time yesterday to go on a long walk that was way overdo. It helped my body and inspiration. I've also overcome Writer's Block by using the age old trick of skipping the boring stuff to write the interesting stuff. Believe it or not, it helped improve my writing. I'm grateful for writers like you who teach and inspire other writers.❤
18k into my rewrite of a childhood favourite setting. I know exactly how you feel.
21,300 words. A twelve year old orphan girl may be the only one who can prevent a goblin uprising and save the kingdom.
I wrote out all the high points last month, so I just have to expand it into the finished draft. Riding my bike helps clear my head when I get stiff from sitting.
1-)Take the time to get in the right mindset
2-)If you're stuck, talk it out
3-)Flip it on its head(ideas, concepts...)
4-)Get enough sleep
5-)Nourish your body and spirit
I add prayer and contemplation to this list. They help me greatly and it's a simple and powerful way to clean your inner world.
Thanks for the content!
Prayer❤️
What kind of book are you writing? :)
@@anastazjamalczyk7683
It's a distopic-cyberpunk story about the end of the world based on holy scripture
@@bardodasmusas sounds really interesting!
@@anastazjamalczyk7683 I'm brazilian so I'm writing in portuguese. I can send you a digital copy when I make a translation to english. And you? Writing something? I hope you're all right. May light bless your way always
Something that helped me overcome writer's block is to brainstorm... for something that is not your WIP. I'm a pokémon fan and I tried an creativity exercise: What if every evolution line got its own Movie? What would the title, the setting, the synopsis? Sometimes playing with ideas that don't belong to your WIP can get you less blocked, because there won't be all that pressure to YOUR work being good. If you like Disney movies, you could try to think "What if Elsa had a different power?". If you like Doctor Who and Harry Potter, Imagine what Voldemort got the Tardis. If you like Mean Girls and The Princess Diaries, imagine what would Mia do if Regina was her classmate. This experiment can lead to things like: "Maybe in my WIP, the character could have this other power with this other side effect so that other thing could happen" "maybe my villain would want to do the same thing as this other villain" and even if you're writing present real life "what if my protagonists get a lot o power, what could she do to her old bullies?"
I wholeheartedly agree. When I get writer's block, my son and I write superhero fanfiction. What if Thor showed up to help the Transformers battle Krimzeeek? How would the god of Thunder defeat an antagonist made entirely out of non-corporeal lightning? 😊
Mia already had a classmate like Regina. lol But I get what you're saying. That's actually a pretty good idea.
I am doing NaNoWriMo for my first time this year and it is actually going quite well! I am writing a story about a magic academy (think Hogwarts/Harry Potter) and I am already almost at 40,000 words (around 38,000 to be exact).😅
Keep slaying.
I'm jealous, but at least I'm keeping up the pace.
My first one too, but not even at 10k yet 😭😭
@@elmiathewriter
Even if you don't make 50,000 you've already done more than most people ever do. Keep plugging away and you'll end the month with a good start to your book.
Abbie, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you… I have just completed my first novel, to publish on December 1st. I could not have survived it without your help with Scrivener, and your frequent encouragement. As my present to myself, I bought a keyboard like yours. I could not have made it this far without your RUclips guidance… so just… thank you. Your videos make a true difference.
I really like how you guys make a RUclips channel where you teach and even give tips on how to write for people ( like me) who has no experience in writing. Thanks to you guys, you have made me a better writer then I was 2 years ago!!! ❤ Abbie, you where the first person who got me interested in YWP on Nanowrimo, so I just wanted to say thank you!! For everything that you have taught us to make our author dreams come true 🙏
This video was so helpful, thank you! Although I tend to struggle with other things, such as knowing what I want to right but not knowing how to describe it well or how to give it the vibes I want.😭
Can you do a video about the seven point plot structure? I an currently using it for my book, and it is so helpful. I think it is even better than the traditional 3 act story structure, since it helps solves the 'saggy middle syndrome' that some writers end up having with their plots, as it mitigates the middle of the narrative (Act 2) from petering out and meandering too much
Yes! I love the difference of the ORDER which we write each plot point. I love it too.
@@candellina6 That 'saggy middle syndrome ' is a big weakness in my own writing, so this newer type of plot structure (the seven point plot structure) helps a lot.
I suggest you read Save the Cat: Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
@@ShayanMallick29 I have read portions of it
The timing of this video couldn't be any better ❤ I am feeling like week 2 of nanowrimo is a real struggle! Can't wait to watch this one 😊
'Not getting enough sleep'... At 12:45am, watching this, it feels like a personal attack. 😂😂
That's so true with the lack of skeep having a detrimental impact on your creativity and ability to focus. I just feel like hitting the wall no matter how long I stare at the screen with fingers on the keyboard. Thanks for useful info and encouragement ❤
What I like to do, even for a longer project than a Nanowrimo project, is to take whatever idea I have come up with and I change one significant detail, sometimes to the opposite but not necessarily. For instance, a heroic character could become a villain, but it doesn't have to be that huge. The important thing is I leave everything else exactly the same, so in the previous example the villainous character will probably be engaged in otherwise heroic acts that I had already thought of during the initial idea. This forces my thinking to get out of its normal rut and prompts a bunch of questions, trying to figure out how to make this odd detail work. It doesn't always pan out, but I find it to be an excellent exercise and often a great story shaping method.
I had an idea for one novel and have over a hundred pages of ideas and a rough outline. That lead another idea for a book and over a hundred pages of ideas. Then another book idea and the same as before. I have been working on a non fiction book to go along with my keynote address and workshop. In total I have 5 books 🤯. I never thought of myself as a writer. Yet these books speak to me. Now I have to grapple with my own misbelief and make it happen. Thank you for your passion and experience!
Thank you for the videos. They have inspired me to start writing my first novel, and though I have no formal training, your videos have helped me at least present my story in a fairly coherent, less bloated manner, lol. I've got a ways to go, but I need to address some INTERNAL CONFLICTS within myself before I can ascend to the next level. Thank you again!
Great tips. I totally need to be in the correct head space to write. I am doing the nanowrimo challenge for the month but it is my first story so I just set the word count to a short story but I am way over the amount for a short story and have so much more to write so I am going to keep going. Thanks for all the guidance for our journeys in writing.
This is all helpful advice!!! Thank you!!! I'm not doing NaNoWriMo this year though, but I might do it next year!
Both of you girls are wonderful! You are so positive! Hearing and listening to you is already a meditation! Thanks for all your films on YT. :)
I love your channels very informative and good insight. I am not writing a novel but more of a superhero series kind of like episodic style. This my first time time joining the activity this month and it’s been inspiring me to write. Hopefully I will be finished with first episode this month I doubt it but you have to start somewhere
you guys are my daily serotonin boost. awesome video thank you!
Thanks for your videos Abbie, I find them very helpful and I write down your great tips. Keep up the great work! I am in a bit of a writers block with my own novel The Dark Forest🙂
My morning routine before writing is watching your guys podcast 😅
Thank you so much for this video 🙏🏼
I’m kinda stuck right now with my current WIP….
It was going really well, I had actually written consistently for a few days, but I got really discouraged when I realised I’d hit the midpoint at 2000 words… I can’t comprehend how to write more words. I get straight to the point, and what I wanted to be my novel looks like a short story. :(
But I’m going to try some of these tips and I think I’ll focus on another project until I feel ready to come back to this one.
Thanks for reading, and if you have any advice or any information at all, I’d really appreciate it :)
Good luck and happy writing!!
I'm a new viewer here & i can't BELIEVE how much you've put out her #DREAM. Since Cap America plays on repeat in my downloads, there has always been something about INTERSTELLAR and how Mathew makes you love the movie even if you're not a science quirk.
Would tou be so kind to Science that Story for us? I love how you connect words with your writting voice IRL
I'm about 5k behind on word count for nano😭
Dang
@@Maddie_KattIkr! And each time I write 2k words I forgot to add the word count for the next day. So it keeps going back to the missing 5k words 😂
@@hiz_secret_addiction I aim for around 500 words per day
@@unicorntomboy9736 That's a good start for developing consistency
@@hiz_secret_addiction I found that any more than that per day isn't necessary, especially if it's a short novel, which I am doing
As someone who is disabled, i thought not working would give me the time to be more active in writing, among other areas. I wanted to do Nanoramo for the past 3 years but i havent written a word. This year i really looked at why. I found that my chronic pain is worst during this change of season, the cold and damp in the air, it has my sleep distrubed, my pain level makes me have a lot of brain fog, zoning out and forgetting things. Some days i can barely function. So this year, i desided that writing in November isnt for me. I will follow my body and seewhen I'm more capable, when my body is less stressed by weather changing and holidays and getting the hoise ready for winter. I try to watch tv shows and movies with something to offer to building my characters, story ideas, etc. I take notes on ideas i want to explore when i can think and research again. I try new technologies to help me with writing, as computer work hurts my neck and back alot. Its not weakness to know your physical limits and work within those limits. That's selfcare. I just learned that and its so important.
I need this because I write a short story everyday.
every day? why?
@@serceskywalker in my youtube horror narrators, I worked them. To make money.
@@gurusakiwrites666 oh, ok, good luck 🍀
I love you guys so much!!! 😄
Hey Abbie, I recently found your channel and start to watch it regularly. your videos are great. So I have a request , can you make a video on HOW TO COME UP WITH THE BEST NAME FOR THE STORY/Novel?
Imagine having access to such fantastic minds to bounce ideas off of. Good tips
24:27 I have a playlist that I used before I go to sleep
#AskAbbie i always get to a certain point in my writing where i get stuck and don’t know how to move the story forward. For example, i know the main idea, the characters, but i dont know how to get from point A to point B. What should i do?
Thank you so much ...once again you have provided invaluable advice to people like me who are attempting to write their first novel. I sure these words of wisdom will work for seasoned writers too...burnout happens to everyone I guess ( Unless you are a character in a Marvel Comic) I have been the victim of burnout umpteen ( Boomer alert!!! dated word) times At first even slowing down to smell the roses did'nt work because I just scowled at the roses- that seemed to be getting in my way-causing them to wilt, Ha ha🥀-just kidding🤣 As always I'm enthused after listening to you'll 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
can you do a few episodes series of you writing a really short like novel of around 3-4 chapters. you would go through the planning, drafting, reviewing, and etc all parts of making an actual novel. and your screen will be displayed on the video and your face cam in a small box (only when using the computer for like writing and drafting). no creator has done this and I know it will blow up and help new writers entering the scene.
I'm Brian from the UK and I'm an aspiring writer. do have any tips or advice for me regarding how to keep the book interesting?! and how can I make it so that people won't want to put it down? thank you Brian
I have a book 2 of a duet, I rewrote it because I hated it. Now I've re read mine so many times during edits (also while waiting for my first set of beta's), I'm getting bored because I know what happens. I've taken time away and my beta readers say they love it. But I'm at that point where I just want it done. I even wrote a novella on my break. I've fallen out of love and I don't know how to get that spark back. People have been waiting 6 months for it so far (it was originally supposed to be 8 weeks) and I'm hoping it's almost done with edits.
The more I read it to edit, the more I start to panic.
It makes me feel not good enough and then I'm in a downward spiral of hopelessness.
i was always told to let writer's block run its course and dont force yourself to try to write through it
Can you do a video on how to become more interested in a story you are becoming bored with?
Well, the quickest way is to recognize that "writer's block" is not a real thing.
Don't turn your inability to put words to paper an actual physiological deterrant when, in reality, it is just you not doing your job.
Remember, Doctors don't get to plead "Doctor's block" whenever they don't feel like they are good enough to see patients.
Nancy Wheeler Is That You!?
#AskAbbie! Can u please make a video on the Ultimate Insta love story structure with a printable PDF template for Microsoft Word so I can transfer it to my Google Docs?
What is NaNoWriMo?
I write books I want to read but I'm really not sure how large of an audience I would have.
If both my two MCs are children, is the book just a children's/teens book? It has some dark themes like child-trafficking and forced labour.
Yoga is seriously da bomb. Disregard it at your artistic peril
There is no such thing as writer's block. Go for a walk like Joyce or write first thought like Kerouac.
@22:22
'You can't stop a car [immediately] from going 80 mph.'
Tesla Engineers:
👀🤔hmmm 💡🧮🧲📝📉😁