How I Got My Writing Groove Back
While I was in college and working full-time, I really struggled to find time to set aside for my writing. My life dream has always been to be an author, but it was hard for me to find time or space in my brain to write and imagine when it was preoccupied with assignments, lesson planning, and juggling schedules.
I used to be able to daydream or brainstorm during my commute routes, but with all the plates I was balancing I craved silence. When I got home I had zero brainpower left to write a grocery list, let alone craft character motivations and dissect whether or not they related to the themes of my book. So instead of using writing as my refuge and way to recharge my batteries, I turned to arts and crafts and binge watching Gilmore Girls.
Now that I’ve moved to a new country and am finding a new routine and rhythm, I finally feel like there is empty space in my brain. A few weeks ago I was brushing my teeth before bed and all of a sudden an idea popped in for the first time in a looong time — so long that I forgot what it was like to let my mind wander.
I ran out of the bathroom, toothbrush dangling out of my mouth, and scribbled down my idea before it floated away. My husband glanced up from the couch, confused as I frantically dumped my thoughts onto the page.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Not now!” I mumbled, as I kept going. When I was done I read over my chicken-scratch and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt excited to write.
I’ve been focusing on that feeling for awhile now. That invigorating feeling of my imagination swirling and begging to be heard. I have already done so much work in creating a world and characters that I know like the back of my hand, that I knew I really had to buckle down and get busy again.
It had been so long since I’d inhabited my story and I’ve grown so much as a person and a writer, that I knew I needed to do some revisions, nail down core themes, and hammer out the plot holes that have been plaguing me.
When it comes to my writing, I pride myself on organization. I don’t work with outlines, but I keep copious notes on characters, setting, plot elements, and general ideas. I don’t have a map for this trip, but I have a general plan of where I’m going and what I want to see. This time around I wanted to get more organized so I searched high and low for a software or template that would help me categorize all the nonsense rolling inside my head.
Enter the Novel Writing Planner Workbook!
This is not a sponsored ad, just a very happy customer ready to share my love and appreciation for this little book that’s actually quite big when you get into it! The workbook is divided into several chapters: Ideas & Inspiration, Character Development, Plot Development, Setting & Worldbuilding, Research, Story Elements, and Revision & Editing. Each chapter has several sections that force you to think critically about your ideas and how to develop them further so that you can draft a rich and complex story.
So far I have made it through Ideas & Inspiration. While I came to the table already with a pretty solid story idea, the workbook helped me take what I’ve already built and enhance it so that it better represents me as writer now versus five years ago. My favorite part of this chapter was the section asking the author what inspires them, what authors and styles do they want to emulate, and how familiar they are with the conventions of their chosen genre. This section also challenges you to subvert common tropes within your genre when fitting, while still meeting the genre expectations of your readers. This section also helps you develop your premise and any themes you might want to explore.
I’ve skimmed ahead to see what’s in store and the more I see, the more impressed I am. There is a clear love of storytelling present and an understanding of how the creative process works. Sam Roberts — founder and creative director of Saint Violet Creative — the mastermind behind this book, will forever have my thanks because this is a tool I can see myself continuing to use now and in the future.
I purchased a physical copy of the book, but there is a digital version if that’s more your style. Regardless, I would encourage any writer to pick this up if they’re in need of guidance or help with their story.
For now, I am going to keep plugging away at this workbook and you can rest assured I will be sharing my progress along the way. Let me know what you do to keep your writing groove in the comments below!