Fixing the Blockage: Tackling Writer’s Block
Published on 25/10/2023
Illustration by Astound US Inc. illustrator Bao Luu
Fixing the Blockage: Tackling Writers Block
Teacher: Lil Chase, Caroline Wakeman Literary Agency Senior Editor
There are two types of writer’s block: there’s the type where you need inspiration for something new. (We’ll deal with ‘finding inspiration’ in another post.)
Then there’s the type where you’re working on a story and you run out of steam mid-flow. That’s a tricky one to handle, and that’s what we’re going to look at now. Try these tips next time you hit writer’s block in the middle of a project.
- Take a break. A week or two off the project, then returning with fresh eyes, will do you a world of good.
- Write a plan. It’s never too late to write – or rewrite! – a storyline. Then you know what’s going to happen next.
- ‘Don’t get it right, get it written.’ Often what’s holding us back is the worry that what we produce won’t be any good. So free yourself from that worry! Accept that the first draft will almost certainly be a load of dross… Fix it later.
- Have a goal. By this, I mean your protagonist must have a goal. It’s hard to stay enthused as a writer (let alone a reader!) if your character is drifting around with stuff happening to them. But if they are going after something, and things keep getting in their way, you have a target, and a place to get to.
- Reassess. If you’ve done all this and you’re still struggling, then it might be that your original idea isn’t good enough. (Sorry!) If you’re not excited by it as the writer, then a reader isn’t likely to be excited either.But don’t despair, shelving a project is never wasted work. You can reuse characters, situations, and worlds. At the very least, you have worked out what you don’t like to write – now get to work on something you love and watch the words come pouring out of you!
Try these tips the next time you get stuck with writer’s block in the middle of a project!
For more free tips for how to improve your writing for children’s books subscribe to our ITSme Learning Newsletter!
Other News
ITSme Learning Launch a Success at Bologna 2024!
Bologna was a great success for ITSme Learning and the ITSme Society Agencies, with over 500 people visiting the ITSme stand for portfolio reviews! Next year we plan to have a bigger stand, and more ITSme staff ready to accommodate the demand for portfolio reviews. We look forward to meeting you at the show in…
How to illustrate kids’ puzzles: from simple to complex!
How to illustrate kids’ puzzles: from simple to complex! Teacher: Bhavi Patel, Advocate Art Agent/ ITSme Learning Almost every theme and subject matter can be adapted to both kid and adult age groups; the key element that differentiates the two is the level of difficulty. This is determined by how much detail is in the…
What is a Greeting Card Range?
Greeting Card designs by Advocate Art illustrator Charlotte Pepper What is a Greeting Card Range? Teacher: Jo Cave, artist agent at Advocate Art In the Greeting Card world, we generally plan and create designs in ‘ranges’, which are essentially a collection of designs that are aesthetically linked by style, technique, colour, or theme. Ranges can…
Design Tips: Sticker Books for Illustrators
Design Tips: Sticker Books for Illustrators Teacher: Carrie Knights, Collaborate Agency’s Design Manager Sticker activity books are fun and engaging for children. They help with the development of fine motor skills, imagination, and learning abilities. Here are some helpful tips for your sticker activity book project from Collaborate Agency’s Design Manager, Carrie Knights: The cover…
Top 3 Greeting Card Portfolio Tips
Greeting Card designs by Advocate Art illustrators Amanda Shufflebotham, Kathryn Selbert, and Victoria Nelson. Top 3 Greeting Card Portfolio Tips Teacher: Amanda Hendon, Advocate Art Global Manager Today, we are sharing Advocate Art’s Top 3 Tips for Greeting Card Illustration. These tips come directly from Advocate’s Global Manager Amanda Hendon. Amanda has been working in…
Locations to Illustrate for your Picture Book Portfolio Part 5
Illustrations by Advocate Art illustrators Facundo Aguirre and Michelle Simpson, Astound US Inc. illustrators Dahlia El Broul, Maria Diaz Perera, Chiara Fiorentino, and Marta Garatea, and Yeon Agency illustrator Nurul Ashari Locations to Illustrate for your Picture Book Portfolio Part 5 Teacher: ITSme Society Oh the places you’ll go, in your illustrations that is. The…