When You Just Don't Feel Like Writing

There my notebook lay, forlorn and abandoned. Regretfully, I picked it up to shuffle its well-worn pages and then tossed it back down.

'"Run toward the light!" she called, gripping her sword. In a panic, he blindly turned--'

And that's where my story left off. Just like my characters were stuck in a dangerous trap in the middle of their adventure, I was stuck without inspiration in the middle of my story.

I just didn't feel like writing.

I think nearly all of us get to that point somewhere in our story--we're stuck. We really don't feel like writing, because we're uninspired, tired, stumped, or just not in a writing mood.

But that doesn't mean you can't work on your story! Here are three ways to help your story progress and improve without having to write:

1. Have an interview with your characters. Really sit down and have a chat with them. I am not kidding. It is sooooo helpful when you're writing a story to have a strong relationship with your characters. Know them--ask them questions. When you have your chat with them, ask these (among others).

• How are you doing today? (always an important question to start a conversation with)
• How would you describe yourself?
• How do you like the story?
• How do other people describe you?
• If you were the author, what would you change about the book?
• When you hear the word freedom, what comes to mind?
• What is important to you?

These will help you get a clearer view of your character, which is excellent when you start writing your story again.

2. Draw. I love to draw. Draw anything to do with your book--a landscape that your character sees, a key object, a character. It doesn't have to be good, but draw how you perceive your character's world to look like. It's a great tension reliever.

3. Go somewhere quiet, close your eyes, and play your book like a movie (from memory). Be sure you really see everything, and that it's real to you. This helps me so much.

Most importantly, know that for however long you procrastinate, your book will still be waiting for you.

Yours without wax,

Izori