Getting Into Your Novel's Mood | Also, change alert . . .

Whoever said writing was easy was either incredibly talented or has no clue what they’re talking about.

‘Cause the facts are, it’s not exactly “easy.” Writing creativity is not a switch. You can’t just flip it on and off. (Trust me, I wish you could. It would make my life so much easier!)

Sure, you might be on a roll some days, the words fairly tumbling over themselves to get written. But other days, you can bet your notebook stash that pulling weeds, deep-cleaning my closet (so that’s where that shoe went), and scrubbing toilets are way more appealing than trying to squeeze out a coherent sentence—let alone one that fits after the one before it.

And my characters? Pfft. Forget it. They’re playing keepaway with their thoughts, scoffing at my attempts to portray them on page, and mocking my very existence.

We authors have it so rough. 😔

It can be so frustratingly hard to get into your storyworld, your character’s heads, and the mood to keep trying when you’re literally spewing what seems like the rotting scum off a garbage can onto a page.

Oh, yeah. I’ve been there, pal. Trust me. *Pats you on the head and stuff you with chocolate* 🍫

However, there are things that you can do to help this plight. Simple tricks and hacks to pick the lock on your story’s door.

Create a Music Playlist for Your Story

Music is powerful. It fills you with emotion and inspiration.

It’s also a brilliant way to get into your book.

Does your Main Character have a theme song? Do you know of a song that doesn’t fit, but reminds you of your WIP for some odd reason? Is there an ambience you’ve stumbled onto that transports you straight into your storyworld?

I use music for everything. Currently, I have a song on loop (don’t ask me why, but my brain refuses to concentrate if it doesn’t hear the same song over and over and over) layered over, get this, sci-fi Hangar Bay ambience. Yep. They make that. Don’t ask me why, but it works.

Yesterday, I played a beautiful piano playlist while I fooled around with some graphics.

And I always, always, play this Epic Heroic Ambience when working on PROJECT Volt and Co. (There’s a little easter egg for ya. It specifically gets me in the right headspace for Volt, in case you were wondering. 😏)

Find a song or playlist or ambience that just fits right for your story or your brain, then make that a part of your routine with your story. Soon, your brain will hear that music and go, “Oh, wait, I know that song! Time to work on [Insert WIP title].”

Character Takeover

This is what helped me immensely for developing my two main characters and the most important side characters in PROJECT Volt and Co. I would take a piece of paper, put my character’s name at the top, then write out a conversation with them in the form of a screenplay of sorts.

Here’s an excerpt of my very first conversations with an amazing guy named, you guessed it, Volt. 😎 *Continues to wade through old notes and spirals to find it*

Volt

⭐=Me (A star, cause I have characters whose names begin with m. 🤭)

V=Volt

⭐: Hey. Have a minute?

V: Sure, what’s up?

⭐: Sure you’re not busy?

V: Nah. I just need a sandwich. You mind?

⭐: Nope. Make me one, too. Strawberry jelly.

V: Always *smears on PB* So, what do you want to talk about?

⭐: You.

V: Me what?

⭐: *sighs* You’re not one to open up. Are you?

V: You said strawberry right?

See what I mean? And it’s so much fun! Especially when your characters are tough nuts (Volt was the easiest to crack, believe me). Granted, not all the information you discover through these character convos will end up in the final draft (turns out, Volt’s opens up easier to people in writing than to his own author 🙄) but it’s an excellent way to flesh out your characters, which gets you inside their heads, which makes it easier for you to write them.

You can also do this in journal format. Scribble out a journal entry like you’re your character writing it. You might be surprised at how well this connects you to your character.

Inspiration Boards

Ah, the most inspirational and the most distracting one of them all. Inspiration boards.

Pinterest is probably the most common one. You find pictures that match your book’s feel, face claims for our characters, quotes, scenery, and so much more. (Here’s the one for the Seize the Fight Anthology!) Oftentimes, when I’m feeling distant from my story, I’ll take a scroll through my boards, remembering this prompt, taking inspiration off that one. It helps me visualize my storyworld, the feels, the character’s descriptions, all of it.

Another thing that helps is to make a collage of pictures and print them out to have next to you, if you’re a paper and pen writer and don’t want to be distracted by the internet on an open device next to you. I did that for a project I’m currently calling PROJECT Black Rose. 🖤🥀😏

Your Space

The same way as with the music, if you have a designated writing space, it will help set your mind up for work mode if you write there enough times. (Granted, I know there are some of you who can’t write in the same place every time you sit down to do so. And that’s okay!)

Make sure wherever you sit down to write is clean and tidy. A cluttered work area equals a cluttered brain, and we want this brain focused on writing! Grabbing a snack and a drink can also help you stay put long enough to get those words in (I’m a huge snack writer. 🤭 Keeps me motivated).

Invite the Lord

I saved the best for last. If you aren’t doing so now, I encourage you to invite the Lord into your writing. Pray for Him to be in your writing, that He would give you the words to write, words that will glorify and bring people to Him. Trust me, if He wants you to write, He will give you the inspiration and motivation to do so.

A quick note before I lose you: I'm switching up my posting schedule! I'm still posting every week, but from now on, look for new posts ever Friday, 0300 AM PST. 😉

I hope these points help you the next time you’re struggling to get into that writing mood. Which method is your favorite? Do you have one I’m missing? I would love to know! If you try any of these, Which method helps your story the most? Be sure to tell me how it went!

Catch ya on the flip side!

_Mac 🤎