Writing Routines (or How to Pull Yourself Out of a Writing Rut)

Well, it’s that time of year again—new year, new decade, clean slate. And for many people, that means goal-setting and resolutions. If you’re a writer (or if you’ve been thinking about starting a writing project), your goals might be something along the lines of: make more time for writing, finish that manuscript, write every day. But if you’ve taken some time off for the holidays, getting back into the writing groove might be easier said than done.

Let’s face it, we’ve all been there–you take a day or a week (or longer) away from your manuscript, and before you know it, you’ve lost your momentum. And the longer you stay away from writing, the harder it is to go back.

So, in the spirit of the season, here are ten tips for getting out of a writing rut:

1) Set Achievable Goals

Sitting down to write 1,000 words can feel like a daunting task. Instead, try giving yourself a goal that feels easily attainable. If you set out to write 100 words instead of 1,000, suddenly the prospect doesn’t feel quite so overwhelming. And most of the time, that’s all it takes to get you going. Once you reach those hundred words, you’ll probably find it fairly easy to continue writing. (And even if you do stop at 100 words, that’s 100 more words than you had before). 🙂

2) Re-read

If you’ve been away from your WIP (work-in-progress) for a while, sometimes just re-reading what you’ve already written is enough to get you back into the story. Take some time to read what you have so far. Allow yourself to daydream about the characters and the plot. Immerse yourself in the world you’ve created without the pressure of actually writing.

3) Get Out of the House

If you usually write at home, a change of scene may be just the thing to revive your creativity. Instead of sitting down at your kitchen table, go to a bookstore, cafe, or library. If you’re writing at home, it’s difficult to eliminate distractions and it can be easy to procrastinate (you know, the old: I’ll write this chapter just as soon as I put in a load of laundry, clean the bathroom, get the chicken in the oven). But if you go to a coffee shop and say: “I’m going to stay here until I write X number of words,” not only do you get to enjoy a change of scenery, but it forces you to be productive.

4) Accountability

If you don’t already have a critique partner (or several), I highly recommend getting one. Working with other writers is invaluable for learning craft, but more than that, it helps with accountably. Set a schedule and exchange chapters with your CPs on a regular basis. It’s often easier to write if you feel like not doing it would mean letting someone else down. Knowing you have chapters “due” will usually motivate you to do the work much more so than if you’re writing solely for yourself.

5) Skip Around

Sometimes you need to evaluate why you’re stuck… and it could be that the next scene or chapter just isn’t coming to you at that particular moment. Instead of banging your head against the wall, try working on a different section of the story. Skip to the moment when the hero and heroine finally get together, or write that action scene or comedic incident you’ve been dying to get down on paper. That could be enough to jump-start your writing and make the process seem less like work and more like fun.

6) Passive Writing

What is passive writing, you ask? Well, basically it’s writing without… writing. 😊 As any author knows, the best writing often happens before you put one word on paper. It happens in the shower, when you’re doing the dishes, or driving the kids to school. It happens in your head. Your brain needs to relax to create, and for some reason, this seems to work best when you’re doing mundane, physical tasks. So, even if you’re not sitting down at the computer, you may find yourself “writing.”

7) Change Your Medium

If you usually write on the computer, try pen and paper, or tapping out a chapter on your phone. You can also try changing your font—switch from a serif to a non-serif, or change the color from black to blue. I know it sounds strange, but sometimes little alterations like this help your brain to “see” things in a new way.

8) Writing Sprints

If you’re drafting, you may want to try writing sprints, i.e. writing as many words as possible in a set amount of time. This frees you up to just get words on the page without overthinking. And if you’re competitive, you can even do virtual sprints with writer friends.

9) Quantity Over Quality

Some writers get stuck in a rut because they’re constantly self-editing instead of getting new words on the page. And while this is all well and good when you’re revising, when drafting, it’s actually better to focus on quantity over quality. This is not the time for perfectionism. Stifle your inner-critic and just fill the page with words. There will be time to make them pretty later; you can’t revise a book that doesn’t exist.

10) Reward Yourself

Let’s face it, a little bribery never hurt anyone. If you’re someone who benefits from positive reinforcement, this might be the method for you! Set up a schedule and reward yourself when you reach a new milestone. Maybe a completed chapter equals an episode of your favorite TV show, or 1,000 words gets you a bowl of ice cream or a walk in the park. 25,000 words could be a nice dinner out, or permission to purchase that new book you’ve been dying to read. Hey, before you know it, you just may have a book of your own. 🙂

So, how about you? If you’re a writer, what’s your best advice for getting back into the writing groove? Let us know in the comments!

Until next time.

JA