On How Far Writers Climb: What Are You Writing About?

Many writers have written to me with similar blocks lately. They have a wealth of ideas in their heads, they might have an idea of a character or place that they want to write in. However, something is preventing them from setting writing utensil to paper or fingers to keys. It sounds like a standard block that any standard writing advice can solve, but this assumes the writer to be a monolith. 

A writer could, for example, recall. Like any other person, a writer’s identity is made of the sum of their experience and background down to the last move they make, the last word they have spoken, and how and where those things take place. A writer can draw from these past experiences as a way to summon their necessary language. They can draw from books they’ve read or are reading. Advice given in school or by a mentor can have excellent staying power.

This tactic does not always work.

A writer could always read prose that is similar to what they are writing or read books/articles on writing. It isn’t about what you read, of course. If you’re getting a lot of substance or enjoyment out of the material you’re reading, take the time to understand why. Think about the methods the writer employed, the words they chose to use, the cadence of each sentence. Was it done well? Was it done badly? Do you agree or disagree, and if so, why? Reading for the purpose of understanding yourself as a writer and as a thinker can always be useful. 

This might not be the solution you need right now. 

Some writers perform a knowledge dump as a way of pre-writing. While you might not know what a final product might look like, you are the expert on your own project, so getting what you do know on paper can be an effective first step. My favorite editors’ question is, “What did you mean to say?” Often, the answer is what the writer meant all along. In pre-writing, you can start there. What, right now, do you mean to say in your story? Don’t worry about putting forth a genius turn of phrase that will serve as the foundation of your publication and literature to come. Just communicate, to yourself, what you know right now. 

What if you’re feeling too blocked for this step?

There are rhetoricians who advise to start by staying away from prose that feels final, which initially seems counter-intuitive, but there is a lot to do outside of the sentence. You can map out directions you want your piece to go using a visual aid. On the other hand, you can outline using numbers, letters, or bullet points if that format feels right for you. If your story has dialogue, you can plan out how you want those conversations to go and, once you’ve done that, situate the dialogue into a given context. Who is saying this? Why? Where is it coming from? Where are the motivations? You could also visit your characters by creating their profiles. One exercise that I’ve found a lot of value in is sending your characters to therapy. This is a fun exercise that can help you enhance your character creation process. You might also use your time researching different topics you want your writing to explore. Open yourself up to different perspectives on the issue and decide why those perspectives are or are not for you. 

If there’s a strategy here you haven’t tried, absolutely try it, but what if you’re feeling truly stuck? The time you’ve spent listening to others hasn’t given you inspiration. When you consider your thoughts or opinions on the topics you’ve chosen, putting those into words feels like more than you can manage. 

Recently, I finished The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa. The story is humorous and filled with heart. It explores the theme of grief in a way that’s nuanced but easy to relate to. The characters evoke the very empathy that the novel encourages readers to explore.

While every sentence felt meaningful to me, this excerpt feels particularly fitting:

“Reading a book is a lot like climbing a mountain.” 

“What do you mean?” His curiosity piqued, Rintaro had finally looked up from his book. His grandfather wafted his teacup slowly under his nose as if savoring the aroma of the tea. 

“Reading isn’t only for pleasure or entertainment. Sometimes you need to examine the same lines deeply, read the same sentences over again. Sometimes you sit there, head in hands, only progressing at a painstakingly slow pace. And the result of all this hard work and careful study is that suddenly you’re there and your field of vision expands. It’s like finding a great view at the end of a long climbing trail.”

This perspective in terms of reading is thoughtful and relatable. While, in my opinion, it’s not a mark against one’s character to read a book just to say you’ve read it, a reader will have a more enjoyable experience with a book they can walk through, stone by stone. When a reader takes their time, with the intention of expanding their perspectives, they will. 

I feel as though the image of the mountain is fitting for writing as well. As a writer, you’ll have a goal, and perhaps, you’ll have an end point in mind. When you’re climbing a mountain, you’ll probably take gear along to keep you safe. You might wear a heavy coat. When you’re climbing the mountain, the wind won’t always be forgiving. It might be almost unbearably cold. Despite this, you’ll keep going because of how much the journey means to you. Without the journey, reaching the summit won’t carry the same satisfaction. 

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not in the camp that argues writers must suffer for their art. I’m saying that the effort of writing a piece that meets your objective is worth the journey it takes to get there. Sometimes, you’ll just sit there with your head in your hands, not knowing what the next right word is. You might have to pause, think, and do a little extra preparation. The result of this hard work should, ideally, mean that you’ve said what you entered this project to say in the first place. You might find that, through your journey in composition, you’ve expanded your own perspective. 

It’s okay if you need to take your time. If wisdom came easily, we wouldn’t bother climbing mountains to get it, and the view is too tempting not to try.