There's nothing worse for a writer than not being able to string words together to form brilliant sentences for action packed, emotional, or otherwise entertaining chapters in their latest works of art (aka novel). Unfortunately, most writers hit a rough spot and simply can't do anything except stare with zombie-like expressionless eyes at blank Word documents. *shrug* it happens to the best of 'em. It's nothing to be ashamed of. You just can't let it keep you from writing for too long. Here is my advice when you find yourself trapped in the swampy, murky region that is called Writer's Block. It's a road no author wants to turn down, but sometimes we get lost, read the map wrong, or ignore the GPS. When this happens to me, here's what I do:
Get away from the computer. I know this sounds terrible, but you really need to give your eyes and brain a break. It's not going to do anyone or even the novel any good if you sit there glaring at your keyboard. This leads to resentment... and do you really want to start hating to write? Shut down your computer or put it to sleep, and walk away. And don't look back. Call up a friend, go to the movies, make something to eat, pop in an exercise video and work out your frustration and fear, or go on a run. Don't think about words, sentence construction, dialogue, your characters or the mess you've left them in, or the deadline you may have. Instead, focus on reality for a bit. I know, I know, reality is a hard place for writers to be in. But, sometimes it's healthy to get out of your head and into the local mall.
While you're out and about, look around. Muses are everywhere and you are bound to find inspiration anywhere. I can be such a creeper. When I go out to Panera Bread or the mall or somewhere, I am always getting possible scenes in my head or potential dialogues or novel ideas. Seriously, people watching is the best way to get an understanding of people. Don't eavesdrop or be a stalker. Instead, think about what a character, dressed in a black suit with a briefcase, could be doing at the mall at one in the afternoon. They could be running to grab something for their overbearing boss who doesn't understand the fine line between work and personal. Or they could be dropping off confidential documents in the plant beside the ladies' restroom for a shady man in sunglasses to pick up later. She could be a spy!
You may even get inspired about the chapter that's giving you trouble.
In my experience, Writer's Block happens when you get stuck in your writing. That means that something is wrong with the path your chapter is going... it's not that you're out of ideas. Just back track a little bit and figure out what went wrong. Then rewrite.
When you get stuck the last thing you want to do is panic. Personally, when I get in a jam that I don't immediately know how I get out of, I freak out. I full out panic, start to pace and rant to myself, about how I'm never going to finish the book, never get published, never see my book in Barnes and Noble. But, what does that really accomplish? It works me into a frenzy and then those negative ideas seep into my brain. What you need to do is take a deep breath and relax. Once you've gotten a smoothie at Panera Bread or something to that affect (whatever helps you relax and makes you feel good) calmly go back to your laptop. You don't have to try writing the same day you started your break.
I recommend stopping for the day and picking up again the next morning (or, rather, when you usually write depending on your schedule).
Once you have back tracked and found the problem, then figure out where your characters need to be going. Obviously they took a back road or did something silly. So, you just need to sort it out. Once you've done that, it should be smooth sailing.
Writers don't tend to be in Writer's Block for long.
But when they are, it's brutal. One begins to doubt everything and sometimes one can sink into a depression. Just remember to walk away, look around, relax, and breathe. And everything will turn out alright. Don't fight the words that want to come out. Even if it's not where you'd like your story to go, remember that sometimes it isn't your story that's being told. Characters tend to take on lives their own and commandeer the whole novel. It's annoying at times, but if you fight their voice that is when you can get hit on the head, throw into an unmarked van, and dropped off in Writer's Block.
So, just go with it.
