Overcoming Mid-NaNoWriMo Stagnation

So, the 15th of November is approaching like a runaway train and you realize you've hit a block. For days you've been staring at the last sentence of your work in progress, wondering how you got here, what went wrong - where did your ideas and passion go? Don't worry, mid-NaNo fatigue is a phenomenon I'm familiar with, even if you won't find it mentioned in the average psychological journal. Of course, writer's block is a well-recognized problem and it's my humble opinion that the dead end most of us reach mid-NaNoWriMo is a supercharged version of that issue.

A heady mix of fatigue, stress, day-to-day life and the presence of a ticking clock combines with the fear of failure that most of us harbour when it comes to our dreams and aspirations is a creativity killer. I can't promise you a silver bullet, but when I run into a roadblock these steps usually get the creative juices flowing again!

Rest

Yes, yes, I know you're going to say that you're on a timer (you are) and that letting more time pass will stress you (understandable), but understand this; you aren't productive right now. The difference between sitting staring at a blank page, writing nothing and sitting on the couch watching a TV show with ice cream or taking a spa day and writing nothing is found solely in benefits to your state of mind.

You cannot pour from an empty bottle.

Rest can be productive when it allows you return to your best self. So take a few hours or a day to actually rest; watch TV shows that remind you of your project, play games, or read. Better yet, get out of the house - play the tourist in your home town. It might bring some ideas to the fore, but even if it doesn't you'll be able to come back to your computer tomorrow with a refreshed set of eyes and a little breathing space.

Look at Writing Prompts

Sometimes the problem is really a lack of ideas, and that's fine. When I find myself well and truly stumped, I often turn to writing prompts. Whether this leads to a few pieces of flash fiction, or I find a way to connect them to the project that's kicking my ass the process is helpful.

Why?

Because writer's block often leads to the fear that the ideas are gone forever, especially if it's prolonged. Being able to write anything at all takes some of that fear away and lets my mind ease back into what it's good at; making up little stories for fun.

Meditate

Mindfulness and meditation may be over prescribed for all of life's ills, but in this case, I really do believe they can help. When we're caught up in the stress of writing ourselves into a dead end, the mind starts to churn out all kinds of strange thoughts and fears.

Sit back and ask yourself; what am I feeling about this project? What am I afraid will happen? How can I act to change this moment?

Then lie down somewhere comfortable for twenty to thirty minutes and let your mind wander. Let it turn your story over and pick at it. When you find a point of stress, let it go and work around it. Focus on slow breaths and the feel of your body. When you're drifting somewhere between sleep and wakefulness an idea might come, and if it doesn't it's not the end of the world; your mind is more of a temperamental racehorse than a reliable Clydesdale. Give it space to recuperate and you'll see much better results.

Rediscover What Made You Love the Idea

Stop beating your head against this wall and return to the original concept. What did you love about the idea? What made you determined to bring it to life? Have you drifted from that original idea somehow? Have you lost a part of the spirit?

If not, congratulations, what you're experiencing is just fatigue; you're human after all. If you have, don't panic; you can now go on to identify what's out of place and consider whether it's necessary or beneficial to the idea.

Dive into a New Playlist

You have a carefully crafted playlist, I know, and it matches the progression of the story perfectly. The thing is, that playlist matches the finished story - not the scaffolding-covered, half-built one you're working on.

You don't need impeccably placed meaning right now, you need Vibes. More specifically, you need the kind of vibes that match how you feel when you're in the zone. Take some time to create or find a playlist that gives you that "excited about creating" feeling and dive into it head first!

Make a Mood Board

Mood boarding, brainstorming, head-cannoning, these may be the tools of a procrastinator, but they are also a wellspring of inspiration. You can have a little self-indulgent daydreaming... as a treat.

Re-Read What You Already Have

One of the biggest causes of a roadblock like this is often in the story. Re-read what you've written and you might just find an overlooked detail, a blank space, or a plot hole that's backed you into a corner. Plus, reading what you have will ease your mind back into the space it needs to be in to undertake the project you have in mind!

Write a Vague, Overall Plan

If you're stuck beyond saving, wind back to that original idea and look at the details you definitely have planned. Take some time to consider a few possible arcs that could connect them and write some vague outlines of a page or less. This process could bring on a 'Eureka!' moment and get you out of the jam you're in.

Skip to the Good Bits

Now, if you're a NaNo purist, I understand that not writing chronologically, or not finishing a complete story may feel like cheating, but here's the truth; this is a word count challenge. No one expects you to have a publishable book at the end of thirty days. NaNoWriMo is a kick up the arse to get the bulk of the first draft (often the hardest part of the process) done so you can polish it until it shines later.

If a section is burning your brain to the ground, write a summary of what you think needs to happen in brackets and skip to the next defined scene you have in mind. Write the part you're excited about and then fill in the gaps. Doing this might even give you ideas that help build that bridge!

If all else fails, consider trying some writing exercises designed to get the creative juices flowing in a more general sense. Above and beyond all else, remember that this process is meant to be fun; your ability to finish this story doesn't end on the 1st of December!