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I finished a manuscript that I’m sending out now for representation. Once done with that project, I had no interest in beginning another writing project. In fact, I even stopped blogging. It was as if my well had gone dry. Part of my slump is the sense of inadequacy. What’s the point? That’s what I keep asking myself. Writers know what it takes to write a book. The years (yes, years!) of writing, re-writing and tweaking a new book. All that work may produce a finished, printed (or e-book) version that we can tell our friends about.
Then what? Does the money start rolling in from royalties? Hahaha! That’s quite a myth. It dribbles in, but what chump change comes is not enough to feed my three cats. So, it’s not for the money that I spent all that time agonizing over words, ideas, beginnings, endings, plot lines. Why do it?
At first for me, it was a test. I wanted to see if I had what it took to write a book. My first books were nonfiction, business books that targeted people in the corporate world. They provided information about communication, leadership and hiring that I’d learned throughout my career. They were well-received and proved I could write a business book based on the wealth of knowledge I’d accumulated as a leadership trainer and coach.
After that experience, I went for the second test. Could write a novel? Could I allow my creative mind to develop an interesting story that would prove to be a good read? Years of work and years of rejection finally paid off when I published my first novel in 2014. After that came three more, one a year. Now, it’s 2018 and I’m wondering, what’s my next question? Yes, I proved I can write a novel. And, yes, I can get it published.
At this stage with my fifth novel still in manuscript form, I’m curious to see if I can get it picked up by a reputable agent. That’s my new test. Unfortunately that doesn’t get me out of the slump. It keeps me there. Sending out queries takes time and patience. It becomes a waiting game. During that waiting, my motivation is low because if I can’t get this new creation picked up, noticed, or published, what’s the point of starting another?
This is where I’d love to hear from others who might be experiencing writers slump. BTW, this isn’t the same as writer’s block. There’s a difference. Writer’s block occurs when writers can’t think what to write. They have no ideas. Writers slump happens when writers have ideas but wonder about the effort to turn those ideas into stories or books.
Can you help this writer out of her slump?
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I think you’re right that part of it is a sense of “testing oneself”.
And in some ways I think there’s often a question behind any writing, maybe any creative endevour.
I often wonder “what will ‘this’ look like when it’s done?” There’s a sense of I want to “read” the story, but first I have to write it.
And when the rough draft is complete, it’s never quite what I wanted, so if I still want to “read it” I have to revise.
I think, for me, part of it is having a great big list of ideas, and, at least vaguely, having a sense of what comes next.
I often have a few writing projects lined up, my “writing to do list” I call it.
There’s no rule that says I can’t “start something new” that isn’t on “the list”, but if I don’t have anything better to write, then I have “whatever’s next”.
I think part of what works for me is not waiting until it’s time to write to “engage an idea”.
I get random ideas all the time, and I jot them down, or more often, email them to myself using my smart phone, and they go into the list.
Most of them are random times that I see something or hear something (in real life or in media), and my mind has a brief “misinterpretation”.
“At first I thought they said ‘save the burst’. Didn’t make much sense, which is why I did a double take, but it was what I initially thought I heard.”
In my mind, ideas are just the random thoughts that everyone has and forgets over the course of their day. The only difference is choosing to pause what you are doing and jot them down, or let them fade away.
Adam, you’re right. I need to jot those ideas down and keep them handy. I’ll try to do some of that and see where it takes me. It might just spark the next project. Thanks for your good advice.
I used to confuse some of my reading slumps with what they actually were, which was thinking time. I was taking the time my brain needed to come up with story ideas, and I didn’t start back into a new project until I found one that I was really excited about. You may not be in a writing slump at all, but perhaps this is time you need to process what the next step is for you story-wise. 🙂 Great post. We all go through this.
Yes, maybe you’re right. It may not be a slump so much as a much needed break. I hope so. I miss the routine. 🙁
And so much luck with querying, Joan. I’m rooting for you!!!
Thanks Raimey. I need all the rooting I can get! One of the queries went to my all-time number one agent.
If I understand you, then I suggest you start to write down some ideas. I can’t stand waiting and when I submit my work that’s all I think about. I make myself start something new just because I need a distraction. And rejection hurts a lot less when I’ve moved on to something else.
Good luck with the submission.
Anna from elements of emaginette
Yes, Anna. I usually start another project while my books are being considered. But, this time, I’m not doing it. Don’t know why. Don’t know when I’ll want to pick up the creative pen again… We’ll just have to wait and see. Thanks for stopping by.
For me, to get out of writers slump I do something else for a while – months even. If there is something else you’re passionate about, maybe take a break, give yourself time to enjoy something else, and then come back to it.
Good luck with the queries! I hope it goes exceptionally well for you.
Thanks, Kristina. And thanks for the support. Getting out of a slump is tough.
You have a lot of determination, and drive! It’s important to have goals for yourself. Perhaps you find yourself in a writers slump because you’ve been lacking the fun in what you do. Maybe it would help to try something completely different again, just for fun – write a children’s book!
That made me laugh. Write a children’s book. What a great idea. Who knows? I just might. Thanks, Crystal, for stopping by and making me smile.
I can understand this slump. Reading this post leads me to wonder if I’m in a self-editing slump, because I have a fiction manuscript I haven’t touched in months, and I don’t want to start another until this one is done. I’m busy – I’ve been doing lots of editing for clients, reading, writing reviews, and writing blog posts.
My suggestion would be that if starting another big project is too much, do something small. Write a blog post. Write a short story. Write a book review. The act of writing something might help. If not, you have a blog post 🙂
I took a three-week break after finishing my last book. I’m involved in a book launch this week. I have ideas for the next two books and beyond. Standing in my way is editing a book I finished in April. Don’t. Want. To. Do. It.
I’m allowing this writing slump. It has a deadline. I’ll do something creative in another area (I have a grandbaby quilt to sew). Hopefully, that will kick start my creative juices and they will overflow into my writing.
Sometimes, you need to take a break and recharge. Best of luck in breaking out of your slump!
Hi Cheryl, I loved that Don’t. Want. To. Do. It. Hahaha! That reminds me of reading and re-reading and re-reading each WIP. It becomes such a chore.
The most effective tool I have for battling writing slump is my reason for writing in the first place: I can’t quit.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to write. I have a shelf of projects younger-me started but didn’t finish ah due to lack of know how. I’ve always been encouraged to pursue that writing and to aspire to publication, but there was a period when demands on my time made it literally impossible to carve out time for writing. I felt as if my arm had been chopped off and experienced “phantom pains” of longing for a pen and a stack of unused notebook paper.
I was frequently discouraged during my quest to find an agent and a publisher, but I kept coming back to a quote that says something like, “If you can quit, then do it.” Every time I got tired of playing the publishing game, I tried to quit, but I could never truly stop writing.
You’re write about being published… there’s very little money in it for most people. Even so, I can’t stop planning plots, studying the craft, and filling pages with words. It’s this unquenchable NEED to write that keeps me out of writing slumps.
I guess the question for all of us is, how badly do WE need it?
Dear Lauricia,
Thank you for your nice reminder of why we do it. Indeed, that thirst is there and keeps at us. I’m glad you still feel that itch and continue to pursue your writing no matter what. That’s the kind of drive that will lead to success. Good luck and thanks for stopping by.
Ugh. Please overlook the typos. Auto-correct on my phone. 😳
I never thought about a writing slump before. I know that I take a week or two off before I start a new project. But it never occurred to me not to write. I wrote my first tome when I was 10 years old, and I’m 75 now. I write for myself. I no longer submit my work for anyone else’s approval. I have a large enough folder of rejection letters. So I finally decided that I wanted to be a published author before I was 75. I made it. I published through Amazon. And I have never looked back. I never consider my breaks as slumps, just as rest periods to get my creative juices flowing again.
Hi Beth,
Good for you and your good attitude about writing for yourself. I’m glad you got published through Amazon. When there’s a will there is always a way!
Yes, I’ve even experienced writers slump (and recently) on my blog too…. what got me out of it was finding inspiration in a person I wanted to be, and the me that I want to become. I hope you focus on that goal you set for yourself and use it as motivation to achieve it!