If your novel or memoir keeps stalling out, it’s not about talent or discipline. Chances are, something else is getting in your way. This episode uncovers what it is, and how to move past it.
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Episode at a glance:
[01:51] You’re Perfecting As You Go
If you keep polishing page, one, chapter, one, sentence one – you’re not really moving forward. Editing while drafting creates the illusion of progress.
Here’s the truth, your first draft isn’t supposed to be perfect. So commit to drafting messy, and don’t allow yourself to edit yet. Move forward. By letting go, you’ll be more receptive and get into a flow. Your first chapter will change once you write your ending, so don’t get stuck there.
[04:49] You Don’t Have A Clear Roadmap
Most writers start strong, often with an exciting opening. But somewhere in the middle, the story gets muddy, scenes start to wander, and suddenly the momentum is gone. And this usually happens because you don’t know where your story is headed. Some writers thrive on discovering their story as they go. Others thrive with an outline. Either way, you need to know your major signposts and key turning points for your story to work.
[07:09] You’re Avoiding Hard, Emotional Truths
Every powerful story demands emotional honesty, but writing those raw, vulnerable moments is not easy. So what happens? You skim the surface, you write around the emotional center instead of through it. You avoid the tough stuff, and pretty soon the story feels flat, both to you and eventually, to your readers. When you lose your emotional connection to the story, you lose the drive to keep writing, because you’re staying on the surface, and that’s no fun for you, and it’s certainly no fun for your readers.
So here’s a reframe. Resistance is a compass. If a scene feels uncomfortable to write, it most likely matters. That’s exactly where the story’s heartbeat is. That discomfort you feel, it’s not a sign you’re doing something wrong. It’s a sign you’re about to do something right. Ask yourself, What is my character really feeling here? What would it cost them to be completely honest in this moment? What are they afraid to admit, even to themselves, that’s your novel asking you to be brave, and when you answer that call, that’s when your story truly comes alive
[09:56] You’re Overloaded With Writing Advice
Between all the different podcasts and YouTubers, and bloggers telling you something different, it’s not wonder you feel paralyzed and keep second guessing yourself every step of the way. The truth is, you don’t need all the frameworks. You need one approach that makes sense to you and the confidence to trust yourself with it.
[11:56] You’ve Lost Momentum
Maybe you got busy with work, or life got complicated. Or you just lost steam. It happens to all of us. Each restart feels like pushing a boulder uphill. You waste the first hour rereading what you wrote weeks ago, trying to lock back into it, trying to remember where you left off, and the story starts feeling heavier than it really is. Meanwhile, the voice in your head gets louder. This isn’t as good as I remembered. Maybe I should start over. Maybe this whole idea is stupid. That’s not your inner critic being honest. That’s what happens when you lose connection with your story and you doubt yourself.
But here’s what I’ve learned over the years, momentum isn’t about writing for hours every day. It’s about staying connected to your story, staying connected to your material. The good news is, you don’t need marathon writing days. You need steady, consistent ones.
Links Mentioned In This Episode:
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