The slump is coming, but you can get past it.

Nearly every writer faces the same hurdle when penning a brand new shiny book. Somewhere in the middle of the process, we lose motivation. We get stuck. The words won’t come. We get writer’s block. We get bored. Whatever you want to call it, it’s all the same problem. This roadblock stops so many writers from finishing their books, but it could so easily be prevented simply by being informed.

Ever since I read the book Swipe: The Science Behind Why We Don’t Finish What We Start (which I highly recommend for everyone to read, especially writers), I’ve been thinking quite a lot about the importance of being prepared for any undertaking we begin. Writing is no exception – writing a book is great, but we shouldn’t delude ourselves into thinking it’s all going to be roses. Even seasoned writers can make this mistake. We start our fifth book, crack our knuckles, say “I’ve got this,” then hit the middle and realise we forgot just how terrible this part of the process can be. Sometimes, our “Swipe” behaviour kicks in and we decide to give up writing in favour of something easier that makes us “happier.”

And so the cycle continues, and you never finish another book.

But don’t despair—the first step in overcoming this roadblock is knowing that it’s coming. Really! So just by reading this blog post, you’re setting yourself up for success. In the words of Maui: you’re welcome!

But when you’re in the thick of it, you might need a bit more of a process to get you through. I know I do—because yes, this slump still happens to me, even after I’ve written tons of books! So once you recognise you’ve hit the inevitable slump, what do you do? Everyone has their own method, but this is mine:

1. Stop

You’ve probably heard the opposite of this before; I know I have! But in my experience, continuing to write when you first run headlong into a wall is a waste of time. If your heart’s not in it, going on will only discourage you more. There will be a time to keep going—in a minute.

The important part at this point is don’t despair. Recognise that this is the slump, and it’s absolutely okay to hit it. Just about every writer does.

2. Look

This is where you identify the problem. Yes, it might be “the middle slump,” but why are you feeling it? Are you unsure where the story is going because you might have skimped on planning a little? Have you lost motivation for your idea? Is there a problem with your plot? Is the middle of your story so boring that it’s boring you to write it (which is a common problem)?

Try to get to the root of how you’re feeling, because odds are, there is an actual reason apart from just “the middle of the book.” And once you know why, it’ll be a lot easier to figure out where to go from there.

3. Think

Take a step back and problem solve. Now that you know what your problem is, how can you fix it? If you’re not sure what to write next, go back and do a little more planning. If you’re losing motivation for your story, go back and look at your original writings and plans. If you’ve been writing 10,000 words every day and you feel exhausted, take a break for a day or two and come back to your work refreshed. But keep going. Don’t “take a break” and shelve your story for a month, then another month, and another month… Persevere, and keep writing.

If you’re having trouble figuring out how to solve your “slump” problem, feel free to drop a comment or contact me! Sometimes, all it takes is someone else seeing and identifying your issue. Remember, talking it out is a great way to get out of a writing rut!

When you’re going through this three-step process, the number one thing to remember is don’t give up. You can get through this! Just think about how amazing it will be to finally finish your book in the end.

Let me know if you have any questions, and if you’re not sure how to fix your story, take a look at my services! I problem-solve stories for a living and I’d be happy to take a look at yours.

Happy writing!
-E.J.

If you enjoyed this post, I hope you’ll consider donating to the blog, reading my stories on Vocal, and/or taking a look at my RedBubble shop so I can continue to produce free content!

---

Want to delve even further into the writing world? Subscribe to my monthly newsletter to get a FREE storytelling guidebook right off the bat, plus insider looks into my upcoming works, writing memes, book recs, and much more!

Photo by the blowup on Unsplash