Meet Morph Stanley: family mascot, napper extraordinaire, professional persuasionist and, today, your writing coach.
Morph has been a part of our pack for about six years, so he has been with me through writing highs—having a weekly writing routine, NaNoWriMo near-completions—as well as the slumps. While Morph has never had to question whether his exposition is too long or sweat over stuffy-sounding dialogue, he does have a fair amount of wisdom to share when it comes to life, much of which applies to writing and the writing process.
1. Study up
Morph understands the power of strategy. Strategy is needed, for example, to maximize the amount of people food you’ll get at a party by begging near those who can be broken easiest by your soulful gaze. In this, Morph is an expert tactician.
When you’re sitting down to start writing anything—a novel, a newsletter, a blog post, a cover letter, or a report—you have to approach it with strategy. So get to know the format you’re writing for and hone your craft with continual learning.
My experience lies in technical and professional writing, so I feel comfortable recommending books like Elements of Style, the Non-Designer’s Design Book, and Nicely Said to you in that realm. What I’m working on these days is fiction and novel writing, so I’ve been hunting for more learning in that area. Orbit Books recently hosted a series of free webinars where sci-fi/fantasy authors share tips on novel writing, and I’ve watched many of those to hear from published people what has worked best for them.
Whatever writing you’re sitting down to do, read books on the craft, listen to experts talk about their creative processes, and find ways to keep your skills sharp.
2. Go for a walk and/or have a biiiiiig stretch
Morph approves of walks on any occasion, including during sun, rain, snow, and, of course, writer’s block.
Many of my favorite writers agree that taking a break, getting up from your desk, and moving is a good way to get the creative juices flowing. And this is a good practice to have when you’re not experiencing writer’s block, too! Even when it’s not walking time yet, Morph takes regular breaks in his busy napping schedule to have a stretch on my office floor.
Are you in the plotting or planning phase of writing? Create a playlist that evokes the mood of the story you’re working on or reminds you of certain characters in your work, then put it on while you’re walking. By the time you get back to your desk, your music may have suggested new scenes in your head or helped you clarify plot direction, and you’ll be ready to write.
If you’re at a point where staring at your blinking cursor is no longer motivating you to write, try a walking break, whether that’s down the block or at a nearby park.
3. Take a nap
There are moments when showing up at your desk or on your couch with your laptop at a consistent interval is what you need to get words on the page. And there are others when that schedule seems forced.
Getting a good night’s sleep and then resting when your body tells you to is vital to any creative process. Take it from Morph, who often is forced by his mean parents to put himself to bed at 8 p.m. when he’s the only one who’s ready for bedtime. When you gotta sleep, you gotta sleep!
I’m someone who will often push, push, push to get everything crossed off my list in a day, when, in reality, it would be better for everyone involved if I took better care of myself. After all, taking good care today means I have a full battery ready to go tomorrow. I just read Wrapped in Stillness by Laurie Guest, a personal retreat workbook, where she quotes, “A person is only as good as her brakes (breaks), just like any other forward-moving machine.” That has stuck with me in the months since. Another mantra I like to chant to myself is, “Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others with theirs.”
So, breaks! Naps! 8 hours of sleep a night, or whatever is correct for you! (For Morph Stanley, it seems to be about 20/24 hours a day.)
4. Change up the location
Changing writing locations seems to help me get unstuck, and it’s a practice that I started while working from home full-time.
When I’m home, I’ll start at my desk. Then I’ll hit a road block in a project that will frustrate me, and I’ll stall, start looking at my phone, checking through email. When I notice I’m zoning out, I’ll switch from my desktop to my laptop and take it to the couch. After a few hours on the couch, I’ll get a little sleepy, especially if Morph and I are snuggling, so I’ll move to the dining room table. When it’s nice out, you’ll find me out on my deck more often than not.
Something about the novelty of a new location, a new chair, a new set up, helps jump start my brain back into action. Often, I’ll think of what I want to do next, I’ll think of the perfect line of dialogue, or I’ll get a plot untwisted in my head, just by changing locations.
I’ve already mentioned Morph’s rigorous nap schedule. That can’t all be done from the same location, either. Sometimes the chair becomes too constricting, and you need to stretch out on the couch. Sometimes the couch is too soft and you need the full support of the floor. Try out a new space in your work area and find what it inspires for you.
5. Practice optimism
Writing is hard. The publishing industry is daunting. Just thinking about someone else reading a story I wrote is anxiety-inducing.
That’s why I gotta look at Morph and watch his optimistic ways: A family member will come over for dinner. This person has not once fed Morph from the table in his six years with us. Does that stop Morph from begging by their side? It sure doesn’t! Because even if he’s been denied a snack 100 times, that doesn’t mean the 101st time won’t be the one.
That’s straight-up hope, that is.
When you want to quit writing, when a piece you spent hours on got rejected, when you’re pitching and querying but no one is biting—you have to face that with hope and optimism. Just because it’s not the time now doesn’t mean it won’t be the time later. You’ll get the meatball from the table; Morph believes in you.
And so do I.
-Liz
Liz Armbrecht 
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