When you're writing a novel in concentrated bursts (Novel Sprint participants, we’re looking at you,) getting stuck is inevitable. But understanding why it happens and having practical tools to move forward can help you transform paralysis into productivity.
This session, led by editor Ross Angelella, offers both mindset tips and craft-focused techniques to help you push through writer’s block. These insights will help you to prioritize production over perfection, permission over shame, and build a sustainable creative practice that honors both your work and your wellbeing. And if you’re strapped for time, don’t worry. We’ve compiled the highlights from the session in this article, with handy timestamps so you can check out each technique in more detail!
Foundational principles: intention, obstacle, and empathy (06:16)
Aristotle identified that stories work through intention and obstacles, and this foundational principle still guides writers today. The idea is that characters appear with wants and desires, then they encounter resistance. The protagonist wants something, they struggle to obtain it, and their journey ends in either success or failure. This simple framework — beginning, middle, end with reversal from good fortune to bad (tragedy) or bad to good (comedy) — remains foundational as it reflects how narratives create meaning through change.
Our second fundamental storytelling principle is all about empathy. As Henry David Thoreau once asked: could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?
That's what you're building when you write — a bridge from your experience into another character's existence. Whether your story takes place in a different culture, time period, or universe, readers can transport themselves into that space because you've created sufficient access points for them to step into those shoes. Understanding that empathy is your ultimate goal helps clarify which choices serve your story and which don't.
Why writers get stuck (and why it's not a problem) (09:40)
Writer's block most often falls into one of a few predictable categories:
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Perfectionism is the beast that strikes when you stop to tinker with language or plot before pushing through your draft. This constant self-editing disrupts the generative flow that writing sprints thrive on.
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Over-planning leads to outlines that are so detailed, spontaneity no longer has any room.
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Under-planning leaves you uncertain as to what comes next.
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Plot holes and character issues can derail your momentum, especially if you focus on solving problems mid-draft rather than noting them for revision.
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Fatigue and self-doubt deserve acknowledgment, but they shouldn’t be in control. Questioning your own work is completely normal, and even a sign that you’re working within a niche — asking yourself “who will read this?” can be a solid indicator that your story idea is unique.
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Loss of interest often pounces on pantsers (try saying that 5 times fast) who haven’t quite worked out the full length of their story.
Experiencing all of these obstacles doesn't mean your process is broken — it means you're engaging in the real work of writing.
Tools for getting unstuck (16:08)
There are tons of things you can do to get unstuck with your writing.
The first is to zoom out — reconnect with your original, big idea. Your character motivations drive the story, so in order to create a convincing narrative, you need to connect with your book’s vision. Ask yourself: “What is this book about emotionally?” or “What is at stake for my hero?”
When you're stuck on a particular scene or chapter, switching the form of your story can help to break the logjam. Try rewriting a scene as a series of text messages, a journal entry, or a screenplay — anything other than traditional prose. You don’t have to keep these experimental versions; it's just about using different vehicles to rethink the material. Similarly, don't save the scenes you're excited to write for later. If you're dreading the next chapter but eagerly anticipating a climactic confrontation twenty pages ahead, jump to that climax now. Writing out of order can reinvigorate your enthusiasm for earlier sections that once felt laborious.
Finally, try asking better questions. For example, you could ask “What's the worst thing that could happen here, and why haven't I written it?”. The Proust questionnaire is a great tool to use for this (which we incorporated into our character templates over on Reedsy Studio.)
David Mamet's Three Questions (23:25)
Playwright and filmmaker David Mamet distilled effective scene construction into three essential questions:
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Who wants what?
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What happens if they don't get it?
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Why now?
These questions add stakes and urgency to Aristotle's trusty framework. In any given scene, identify what each character (not just your protagonist) wants. Then clarify the negative consequences that await if they fail. Finally, establish why this has to happen now in your story.
The difference between "I want a glass of water" and "I need water or I'll die of dehydration" illustrates how context transforms desire into necessity. When you're stuck on a scene, running it through these three questions often reveals what's missing: insufficient desire, unclear consequences, or lack of urgency.
Build before you fix (25:41)
You can’t finish something that isn’t complete. It’s the great paradox that every writer faces, but there’s only one solution: refusing to revise before you finish.
This is where leaving blank spaces becomes invaluable. Professional writers across all industries regularly insert brackets with notes like "Need to tweak this scene location" or "Insert better motivation for main character here." These acknowledge problems without derailing your momentum. You're trusting your future self to solve these issues. Go on, future you. You got this!
Shaking up your ritual (28:50)
Sometimes it’s not you that’s stuck — it’s your process. If writing in the evening has always worked for you, but for some reason it isn’t anymore, doing the same thing and expecting different results is counterproductive (and also a popular definition of madness.)
Audit your space and time: change your writing location, shift to morning sessions, try standing and dictating instead of sitting and typing. If you write to music, change what you're listening to. The goal is breaking habitual patterns that have stopped serving you.
Free-writing sprints can be a great way to switch up your routine — commit to writing for ten minutes without stopping, accepting whatever comes up. This turns off your analytical brain and lets raw material flow through, which is the key to a great creative flow.
💬You don’t have to go at it alone! Reedsy’s Discord server has a channel dedicated to free writing sprints, for when you need extra encouragement.
Creative self-care is fuel, not a luxury (38:57)
We’re not sure who needs to hear this, but don't romanticize suffering for your art. Pop culture may trick you into believing that tormented artists produce brilliant work, but off the screen, it’s neither normal nor sustainable. Self-care shouldn’t be a reward for productivity. Instead, frame it as a natural part of your process.
Oh and, your body writes the book too. Are you drinking enough water? Getting adequate sleep? Seeing sunlight? If you're aiming to perform at a high level creatively — drafting thousands of words in thirty days — you need to care for yourself with the same discipline as an athlete.
Above all else, grant yourself permission to enjoy what you're making. The work you're doing is hard, yet meaningful — let that carry you through the whirlwind that is the writer’s process. We’re rooting for you!
