A creative writing rut can take several forms, so we’re unpacking all of them. Missed the first post? Here it is below.
Okay, tough love time, there’s no such thing as the muse or writer’s block. A mythical entity can’t make you write, and an invisible force can’t make you not write. I talk about this quite a bit in my most recent ebook, available for free everywhere, called How to Write a Book Now. Sometimes a title needs to be mysterious, other times, the thing needs to do exactly what it says on the box. For this guide, I went with the latter.
Anyhow! If you suddenly stopped blaming writer’s block or the muse, what would happen? Your excuse would be gone. If you want to see the cause of your writer’s block, open your phone and turn on the front-facing camera. Boom. There it is! Same thing if you want to see your muse. You’re looking good, honey!
We’re storytellers, and unfortunately, one of the stories we tell is that creativity is this mYsTiCaL fOrCe that either visits us or doesn’t, that either shines upon us or turns its back, and I am here to tell you right here and right now that this is bullshit.
I somehow also believe that the world is a mysterious and mystical creative place and that this energy does arise from somewhere. Because as practical as I can be, I still grew up in California and spent $500 at a rock and crystal store in Sedona one time.
Yes, I’m hearing myself. But it’s a “yes, and” rather than an “either/or.” No, you can’t rely on some outside entity to either give you writing mojo … or take it away. But you can rely on the source of all creativity in the universe … which is … YOU!
Sounds easier to say than to believe, and you might not feel especially galaxatious right now (call me Shakespeare because I think I just coined a new word). But look at the quote that kicks off this newsletter. The bad news is, you have no one to blame for your lack of creativity or output or good ideas or whatever you’re currently beating yourself up for … except yourself.
The great news, though, on the other side of the very same coin, is that YOU are also responsible for turning these circumstances around. So stop playing mental games with yourself and waiting for writer’s block to dissipate and/or the muse to show up. It’s not gonna happen. Get your butt in the chair (if you want to be in the chair, of course, because taking breaks is very creatively valuable too).
One problem down! Three to go.
Writer’s block and/or the museStuckness
Busy-ness
Analysis paralysis
In the next lesson, we’ll share some ways to get “unstuck” when you’re in a rut. Subscribe now so you never miss a lesson!
About Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of the writing process. Need a hand with brainstorming? Want to find a critique partner? Looking for an editor to help polish up your pitch, your idea, or your entire manuscript? We have all of it and more in our community. If you’re ready to take the next step (or the first step) on your writing journey, we’re here to help you.
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About Mary Kole: Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Good Story Company as an educational, editorial, and community resource for writers. She provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and memoir. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. She has been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books.
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