How to Keep the Words Flowing by Surela C

 

There are moments when words gush out like a river. In other times it is like a rivulet trickling down a dry bed of sand. The level of enthusiasm is sky high when one begins writing, but as you gradually reach the middle you tend to lose steam. 

Here are some expert tips which will unlock a writer’s potential and make magic happen!

·      Take a Break: Just taking a walk in the park or jogging can freshen your mind and fill your head up with fresh ideas.

·      Carry Notebook and Pen Always: Jot down these ideas as they occur. It can be lines of poetry too! Even your phone notebook can come handy.

·     Move on to Next: Revisit the section of the story you are finding hard to write. For instance, if you are stuck in the introduction, write the ending or climax first and then come back to the beginning.

·     Stop Your Inner Critic: Striving for perfection sometimes can prove counterintuitive when you are writing your first draft. Just let go! Remember writing and editing are two different exercises.  

·     Get an Opinion and Synopsis: You are bound to hit the blind spot if you are working on the same story for too long or getting emotionally attached to it. Getting an opinion from a friend or an expert will give you a fresh perspective. The lack of clarity while fleshing out a plot often discourages a writer. In that case writing prompts based on 5w’s and H (Who, What, When Where, and Why and How) on the character’s journey or a synopsis of the plot can untie knots in the mind. If that does not help, try experimenting with different angles for the same plot.

·      Reconnect to Your Passion: If you are feeling hopeless and writing a novel, short story or an article has taken a backseat, then try to recollect why you wanted to write it. What was your motivation back then, an old photo album or a family heirloom that triggered the idea? If yes, then sift through them over a cup of tea or coffee to recharge your brain.

·      Positive Affirmations: When self-doubt creeps in try visualising yourself with the published book in your hand. That will perk you up! Keep saying to yourself- I can, and I will do it. Meditation and taking deep breathes can help you write better.

·      Give Yourself a Deadline: The sense of urgency will prompt you to focus better. You can participate in contests and writing challenges like the National Non-Fiction Writing month to complete a substantial word count in your manuscript.

·      Keep Loose Ends: When you are wrapping up your story for the day make sure to keep some loose ends to ruminate on. It is believed whatever you read, watch, and hear the night before affects your early morning thoughts. Best, just think about the story you want to write the next day. Listen to a calming music as you sleep. This will help to plan your writing for the next day.

While the tips here revolve around writing creative fiction but these tricks can be used to scribble almost anything!

About Surela:

Surela is passionate and started writing from her school days and later it became her profession. She has completed ten years of writing and have contributed to both print and digital platforms on a variety of topics. Experimenting with different genres is what she loves doing and is ready to learn new things. She is a foodie, music aficionado, enjoys dance, avid traveller and adventure seeker. She of course follows all forms of storytelling be it watching films, traditional art and reading books.