Timed Writing

Timed writing is probably one of my favorite ways to get over writer's block. It can be used in various ways and you get to set the time limit. My personal favorite for trying to get over writer's block is 10 minutes.

The method is pretty self-explanatory. Set a timer and write. Don't allow your brain to stop you. Some people may think that it's not worth your time to force inspiration but I don't think it's really forcing inspiration as much as it is figuring out how to get over your writer's block.

Some people get writer's block because they have too many issues going on in their life and it's uninspiring them. For some people, it's motivation. There are various ways to get writer's block and there isn't a way to list them all here without this post being too damn long.

Timed writing is one way that helps me get over writer's block or just to get me over my lack of motivation.

Here are some of the ways I use timed writing:

•  Writing a scene that I am stuck on. Usually, after this point, I can write again. I'll have to change it later but I've figured out what exactly it was I was stuck on and revising it won't be a problem.

• Writing Prompts. For those times when you are just feeling so uninspired, use a writing prompt. There is no shame in using them.

• Brain dump. Sometimes, your life is what's holding you back and you just need to vent. Use that in your timed writing. Just release it onto a document that you can delete later. It's a good way to relax as well. 

• Writing anything about my novel. It doesn't have to be the novel itself. It could be a backstory for a minor character or something about the world I'm creating. That can help.

• Start something new. It happens. Sometimes, there is an idea just stuck in your head that you can't write anything else. You'll be able to write down what you need and either continue it or you'll find a reason to start and finish your other story.

There are various other ways you could use this method but this one is one of my most used writing tools.

Types of Outlines

I've mentioned before about the importance of outlining in a previous post. This is going to go into a little more depth about the different types of outlines that I've heard of or tried out myself. It will be a general list with a few examples.

• Sequence Boards. I call them Sequence Boards because you lay out your novel in a sequence of how the scenes go. You write one scene on an index card until you've plotted out your entire novel. This is my go-to method. It's nice because you can rearrange scenes to see what works better.You could also do this in a notebook, the only thing you wouldn't be able to do is rearrange the scenes to see how they fit.

• A General Outline. This is the generic outline you'd use for taking notes for class. For example: 1.) Chapter One a)character introduced b.) plot starts i.) something else goes here. Things like that. It's not a method I use anymore but it works for some people. 

• The Snowflake Method. I've never used this method before but I know several writers who have and found it very helpful. Here is a link if you'd like to take a look at it. 

• Storyboards. It's similar to a Sequence Board but a little more creative. Sometimes when I need to do something artsy for my writing, I make a Sequence Board. It has all kinds of arrows and pictures. It's fun.

• Beginning-Middle-End. There is an actual name for it but I don't know what it's called. This is basically the least amount of planning I do and it's usually for short stories. I need to know my beginning, my middle, and my end. It helps me stay on track. Sometimes I use this method with another method because it helps me understand my plot better. 

• Mind Map Method. I've only ever used this once and it was a general guide of how certain things happened in my novels. It's not the best method but at least you can have parts of your story planned out. For example, in my novel, my character meets a lot of people and these people become important to the plot. I had laid out when, where, and how he met them. Then added a little bit about them that I needed to know. If you ever used a mind map before, it was kind of hard to get everything down in one word or small phrase but I managed it...somehow.

There are tons of ways to plan your novels. You can look up a ton of them online but it's something that every writer should do to stay on track with their writing. Keep away from those filler scenes! Noted, we all write them from time to time but that doesn't make it okay. I end up deleting them during the revision stage (which you should). Outlines will help when it comes to writer's block. You know what comes next and push ahead. Even if it does suck. You can polish that up during the revision process.