When the Well Runs Dry

Has your well ever run dry? I’m talking about the well of creativity. Have you ever felt like your mind was a total blank and that it would take more energy than you could muster to think one original thought?

Scenario one: You need to write your monthly post for a group blog. The blog has lots of great regular contributors—they’re funny, they’re original, they’re attractively bossy. And there have also been many amazing guest bloggers with lots of great information and experience. Then suddenly, it’s your turn to post, and you can’t think of a single thing to say that seems good enough.

Oh, wait. That’s not a scenario. That happened to me this past week! Let me start again…

Scenario One: You’re starting a new book, have this wonderful blank slate, even have an idea for a unique protagonist that you’re sure editors will love. But you can’t think of a single plot idea. You can’t even think what type hero would go with your heroine. And if you do finally come up with an idea, you realize it’s just been done in a book you read last month. Or is so clichéd you could imagine the editor’s eyes rolling as she marks it for her assistant to send a form rejection.

Scenario Two: You’ve written five chapters of a book that’s due to your publisher in a month. And so far, you’ve felt pretty good about where it’s going. Then all of a sudden, you hit a wall. You have no idea what needs to happen next. And you start to doubt every word you’ve written so far. Man, this stinks. What made me think I could ever write this story? What made me think I could ever write at all? Surely, they’ll never buy another book from me. My career is over already.

Scenario Three: You’ve written a great three chapters and synopsis, have polished it and polished it until your critique partners have declared it flawless. You package it up, pray over it, then send it to a contest with your dream editor as the final judge. Or you package it up and send it off to the editor or agent who requested it at a conference. Then months later you get the scores back from the contest you did not final in. One judge really liked it and wrote smiley faces all over it. The other told you not to quit your day job and that you need to read a book on basic grammar. Or if you sent it to an agent or editor, you get it back months later with a Dear Author letter.

I imagine that most of you have been in one of those scenarios at one time or another. So I thought we could all brainstorm ideas to help us get out of that dry well hell.

1. Try writing something creative that might jump-start you. Try journaling. Or write a letter, even if you don’t intend to mail it. (No, do NOT mail the irate letter to your mother-in-law!) A fun website my critique partner, Lindi Peterson, discovered is: http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/. You can go and click on a story starter idea--just to get your brain in gear. Or in the case of journaling, maybe you’ll get some of the junk out of the way before writing your manuscript.

2. If you’re stuck on plotting a new book, try using a how-to book such as my favorite, The Story Within Guidebook by Alicia Rasley. It basically starts from the beginning characterization and moves through to plotting scene ideas. I also love Carolyn Greene’s Prescription for Plotting notebook. And there are other great ones such as Deb Dixon’s GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict. Watching The Hero’s 2 Journeys (Vogler and Hauge) DVD’s can also give you a jump start on a story and can help you plan well-rounded characters.

3. If you’re stuck at Chapter four or five (I’ve heard so many people claim this is where they get stuck, so I don’t feel alone!), then try a method I created that has helped me. What I’ve found is that I’m usually stuck because I can’t decide which way to go in the story. I’m not sure what will work best, and I’m paralyzed by the fear that I’ll choose wrong. So I pull out index cards and jot down several ideas of things that can happen next. Then I tape those across the top of a piece of poster board. (I actually re-used one of the tri-fold boards my son had used on a science fair project.) Then under each idea, jot on more index cards the logical sequence of scenes that would follow (one scene per card). I usually end up with a tree of ideas, because sometimes I fork off with two more possibilities after each scene idea. Then when I get done, I choose the pathway that leads to the best story.

4. If you’re stalled by negative critique or contest feedback or rejection, then here’s my solution. You get one day to pout. Go take a bubble bath and eat chocolate (or your favorite carb splurge). Then you have to let it go. You can’t hold on to the hurt and disappointment. It’s all part of the business, and you’re sure to experience it again. You can’t allow it to stop you. And I know this because I’m guilty of letting it stop me for months at a time. I’ve since learned I can’t allow myself that luxury to wallow. For the last few years, I’ve been able push past it and let my stubborn streak lead me on. As Janet said the other day, it’s all in your attitude. Tell yourself that rejection is going to motivate you to keep trying. Come out on the other side even more motivated to prove that you have what it takes to succeed. Then jump right back in and start something new.

We CAN do this. Even when it seems there’s not a brain cell left in our heads. Even when it seems that every creative idea that exists has already been written. We can plow ahead and write the stories God has given us, despite the doubt, despite the fear, despite the temporary failures.

Is your well dry right now? Has it been recently? If so, share with us your ideas for refilling the creativity.