Hi everyone!

I've had the opportunity to team up with Wattpad and MasterClass to share with you some things I learned from my MasterClass instructors. For me, I really took in how to work on my prose and how to overcome writer's block. It's hard to find a good resource for writing help. MasterClass offers an immersive online experience that allows you to take lessons from the world's best in writing, culinary, film, and more. There are videos and even workbooks! You can learn more about MasterClass here! #Sponsored

If you're a writer, you understand the struggle. Turning a blank page to a novel is not an easy task. I've been writing for over twelve years and I still sometimes sit at my laptop and stare because I've forgotten how to write. But here's the thing— there are millions of other writers out there. So, when you get stuck, you can turn to them. Maybe you'll learn things you already know, but you'll see them from a different perspective. This helps you gain experience!

I watched Margaret Atwood's creative writing class on MasterClass. Right off the bat, all those rules I knew, in theory, were put into words. My favorite quote from Atwood is, "If [a story] is perfect all the time, there isn't a story." A story needs a twist to keep it going. While she says that about a book in its entirety, I think you can break it down too by chapter. Is nothing happening in your chapter? Then nothing is happening in your book. Each chapter needs to keep the plot going. I personally like to think of my book as a TV show. Each chapter is an episode. It needs a strong start and a cliff hanger to keep the interest going to the next chapter. Her class is a great reminder of some of the basics of writing. It will help you visualize what you should do with examples.

https://youtu.be/lbMPDk7CF6g

I've personally always struggled with description, so I was interested in seeing the class Atwood has about prose. Show, don't tell is what is always said. What does that even mean? Fortunately, there is a class specifically for this. Atwood says to think of your sense. Sight, sound, smell, taste, touch. This can all be described in your book. I found that I mainly just describe sight. I always write what my characters are seeing. But I never thought to go beyond that. Sound, smell, taste. A scary monster could be easily written like that. But I could go beyond that. Atwood suggests blocking out the senses that you know. So, in my case, I'd close my eyes. Now, what's left? Smell? Putrid air. The smell of rotting flesh. Taste? I can imagine a tang in the air, on your tongue. Using all the senses helps the reader feel more into the moment.

But okay. So, you know how to keep the plot going and how to, well, write your prose. But what happens when nothing comes to you at all? Days go by and you can't write. Every author has a different answer to that. Which is good! Because we need as many ways as possible to overcome the horrid writer's block.

In Atwood's class on Writing Through Roadblock, I laughed as she said she writes herself into a corner and doesn't know how to get out. Me, too. Her suggestion is to go for a walk. I agree. A good way is to just take a break and give yourself time. But she also offers an idea I've never thought of. To do a repetitive activity to get your mind going. Atwood gives an example of ironing. I thought about that and it makes sense. When you do something so mundane, your thoughts wander. An example of this is that I think of a lot of ideas while driving. And that's exactly what Atwood means. Make your mind wander and you may solve your problem.

Another way of getting over writer's block that I agree with Atwood on is that you need to be working on something. If you're stuck on one thing, go work on another. The more you write the better you get. I know it's easy to read that, but you really have to do it. Write, write, write. That's what I've learned. Never stop writing.

And finally, Atwood says what we all need to hear. Be kind to yourself. I have grabbed my face multiple times in frustration when writing, annoyed that I couldn't think of anything better, or that no words were coming. Atwood gives a great reminder. You don't need to beat yourself up. Take a break, distract yourself. Writing is hard. She suggests to pause and stretch out your body. I tried that while writing this. Yeah, it definitely got me pumped up again. A little motivation to keep writers creating the next bestseller.

So, there you have it! I hope you've learned something as well!