Is your writing is in a slump? Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms?

• Flat Characters
• Blah Descriptions
• Stilted Conversation
• No Desire to Write
• Sluggish Writing Sessions
• Boring Plots
• Dry Action Scenes

If so, then you might need the advice of some friends of mine. But do not fear, they know about writers and our crazy moods and our odd behavior. After all, they know me. I wasn’t so sure when I first consulted them about my own symptoms, but their advice was so good, some of it is sure to fit you.

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Dr. Rita Lotta Books

“If you are experiencing those symptoms then chances are you need to read. But I don’t mean just the modern stories that are published by the hundreds now, I mean the good, well written, older books. The books that weren’t all action and excitement. The books where character development, engaging settings, and well done plots were a vital part. Books that have stood the test of time to be reprinted, reread, and enjoyed by generation after generation. Feed your mind with the good and great works of literature and soon your writing will begin to reflect that and you will find growth in your stories, in the very art of your writing as your stories come alive in new ways you’ve never dreamed of. So go my friends and read.”

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Mr. P. Roe Krastinator

“It sounds to me like you are just putting off your writing and using up your brain power and energy for trivial other things. But in order to fix this problem you are facing, you are going to need to do some things. Stop watching things on YouTube! Yes, I’m talking to you. And other social media places like Facebook and Instagram, well, let’s just say get off and get to work! As for Pinterest, you know you should have been off of there thirty or forty minutes ago. Oh, I know you say your are doing “research” but just how many different stories are you now planning? Uh, huh, I thought so. Quit procrastinating and just go write!”

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Prof. Lerntu Sayno

“The solution could be as simple as learning to say no to things. If you really want to focus on writing, what are you going to give up to do it? Writing isn’t something you can just squeeze into some odd cracks and expect it to grow. You have to give it some room! You have to say no to some things. Perhaps it’s to so many beta stories. Perhaps it’s to designing covers for stories you haven’t even yet written. Perhaps it is outside events that want your time. It’s amazing that NO is such a hard word to say.”

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Dr. Tu Bizie

“Those symptoms sound a whole lot like you are a person on the run. Not from the law, but from writing. Now don’t give me that look, because I recognize the facts. You are too busy. You are constantly on the go. You have games and parties, work, and social time, you have school and friends and books to read, and friends to chat with online, and you have to see what Susie is up to these days, and you must check in with Jane’s latest video, and Bob might have shared something on social media, and Goodreads! You haven’t gotten on there in five hours! You need to check all the reviews and updates, and books that your friends on there are reading, reviewing, sharing. Then you’ll write. I know. Do you wonder why your writing is suffering? You are too busy. And that’s a fact.”

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Miss Ima De Stracted

“The symptoms are clear. You want to write. You mean to write. And maybe you even start to write. But you needed to look something up online and that turned into thirty minutes of reading interesting things. You were going to ask your writing partner a question which turned into a fun chat session. You wanted to see what your siblings were doing and before you knew it, you were pulled into a game with them. But you went back to write. Only you had to reread your earlier writing and that reminded you that you wanted to read a book at the library. Oh, yes. I recognize the symptoms all to well. Everything has the potential to be a distraction with you. You’ll have to learn to go and write when it’s time, and look things up or ask questions and such at a different time.”

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Well, I’m not sure if all the advice of my friends fits you, but if you are experiencing those things in your writing, chances are good that at least one of my friends is talking right to you. The questions are, who is talking and are you going to follow their advice?

How is your writing? Which advice do you most often need? Could you relate to more than one of my friends?