How to Overcome Writer's Block

It hits the best of us—writer’s block. No matter how many times you reread previously written sections or muse over next steps, you simply can’t see how to escape the corner into which you’ve placed yourself. This can happen for a number of reasons. Sometimes, the emergence of writer’s block signals a need to further flesh out a story’s plot. Other times, inspiration just vanishes. You could have your entire book planned and plotted and then--poof! Suddenly, you’re not vibing with it anymore. It seems jaded, boring even.

So, what’s a struggling writer to do?

Make a list.

If you’ve reached a crossroads of sort in your young adult fiction novel, make a list of actions your characters could take or things that could happen to them. Start with the mild (perhaps boring?) ideas you have considered. Write those down. Then, keep going. With each new bullet point, create a more fantastical series of events.

Assume your young female protagonist (Lisa) is stuck in a love triangle and her prospective partners (Jon and Sam) have decided to confront her, asking that she choose her heart’s desire. What’s a writer to do? Make a list! Below is an example.

Brainstorming List

• Lisa deliberates. Sam accuses her of purposefully playing with hearts; she is forced to choose Jon. Sam storms off. Lisa swoons as Jon collects her into his arms.
• Lisa struggles to decide and runs away, leaving Jon and Sam staring after her.
• Lisa decides the pressure the two are putting on her is too much and declines both of their advances.
• Lisa is arguing with Jon when her phone rings. It’s her little sister. Their mother has forgotten to pick her up from school again. Lisa must leave.
• Lisa starts to answer, but Sam interrupts her with a kiss which angers Jon. The two get into a fistfight.
• Lisa is about to answer when suddenly a car comes flying through the café window, crashing into the cashier and display case behind Jon.
• As Lisa deliberates, a fight breaks out between bookstore patrons. Sam and Jon intervene. Sam is stabbed.
• Lisa is discussing her options with the two when she notices gathering storm clouds overhead. She insists that they go inside, but Sam, ever stubborn, demands they not move until everything is resolved. It begins to pour—acid rain. The news said it was possible, but the heroes hadn’t given it any thought!
• Lisa opens her mouth to answer but is interrupted when a rumbling shakes the city streets. Jon, Sam, and Lisa look on in horror as enormous mole creatures erupt from the earth and begin to wreak havoc on the city.

​Notice that as the list continues, the ideas become more fantastic, wild. But they maintain some realism. While your book might not lend itself to accommodating ROUS, something of similar madness could occur.

Now that you’ve got your list (it can be as long as you want), go through your ideas and really ponder on them. You perhaps don’t like the idea of Lisa et al being attacked by megamoles, but perhaps a different type of attack occurs. Maybe a riot breaks out between political groups congregating nearby. A terrorist attack destroys the local post office. An ambulance swerves to avoid pedestrians and crashes into a series of nearby cars.

Take elements of your ideas and mix and match! If, after spending time trying to flesh ideas out, you find yourself still stuck, then your list isn’t long enough! Keep going! Make your ideas crazy, outlandish. Perhaps as Lisa deliberates, Jon steps backward and slips into a wormhole! Maybe Sam determines that her love for Lisa isn’t as romantic as she thought; perhaps it’s more platonic or maternal!
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Don’t be afraid to explore seemingly irrational ideas.