This Book Will Be The Death Of Me - 4 Problems All Writers Know And Love (To Hate)

So you've decided to become a writer. Welcome to the party, and make yourself at home! Seriously, get comfortable; you're going to be here a while.

Unless, of course, you run - screaming - for the hills.

I know what you're thinking: 'Run for the hills? From a bunch of introverted tea (or coffee) addicts? People who say they love this stuff? How bad could it be?'

You make a fair point, dear reader, we do love this stuff; but that doesn't mean we don't also hate it. As a writer I can tell you from experience that we are all certifiably insane. No one writes because they want to. We write because we have to; and we're all a little bit masochistic - why else would we put up with all the struggles of being a writer? I'm talking about...

1. Writer's Block

Come on now, you had to know this one was going to top the list. The number one complaint of writers everywhere is writer's block. From lack of inspiration to not knowing where your story is going, all the way down to not being able to think of the word you're looking for, writer's block is the most common and pressing problem that writer's face. It's all consuming, and it'll drive you up the wall. The only thing worse than needing to write is needing to write and not being able to. When writer's block strikes it can feel like the end of your book, and subsequently the end of the world.

It is not the end of the world; and it is not the end of your book.

Finding ways to overcome writer's block may seem impossible, especially when it first hits, but finding a way to overcome it is crucial. The whole "ignore it until it goes away" strategy doesn't work with writer's block. Saying you'll "wait it out" is basically giving in, conceding defeat to fear. Who is fear to tell you that you can't write?

All writers will have a different strategy for beating back their writer's block, but a few methods that I've found work are:

-Going for a walk. As writer's we spend a lot of our time sitting. When our bodies are unmoving, our minds become stagnant as well. Getting some fresh air and exercise - even if it's just a walk around the block - will get your muscles moving and your blood flowing, and this could jump start your imagination. Plus, the change of scenery won't hurt.

-Reading something. If you've decided to write something, chances are it's because you once read something that made you want to write. I personally credit J.K. Rowling with my passion (read: crushing obsession) with the written word. The world of Harry Potter simultaneously raised me into the light and dragged me into the abyss. If you find yourself at a literal loss for words, try picking up a book. Whether it's a new find or an old favorite, it's guaranteed to get your gears turning.

-Writing something else. I often find that writer's block hits whatever project I'm currently working on by the persistence of a different idea. If I jot down a few notes for the new idea, I suddenly feel more clarity in terms of my bigger, more pressing project. Even if it's not a new idea that you can't seem to shake, writing a few sentences that have nothing to do with whatever story you've been working on may help you figure out how to progress that story; and if if its inspiration you're seeking, jotting down a few random words or sentences may lead you to stumbling upon your next bestseller! Or, conversely...

-Write nothing at all. Take a few hours off and do something else. Clean your bedroom, bake a cake, go to the movies. Any baker knows that leaving dough to proof is crucial to making good bread; the same goes for good writing. If you find yourself at an impasse, leave your dough alone for a little while, and it may look completely different when you come back. Just make sure not to leave it too long; if you over proof, your dough will collapse and your story will fall flat.

2. Writing Something That's Already Been Written

We've all been there: inspiration strikes, a completely new idea that hasn't been explored yet! You grab your notebook, open your laptop, start to research and find that...your novel already exists. Maybe you've just started, maybe you're half way through, maybe one of your beta readers points out similarities to something they've already read, but when this happens you must remember: there is nothing new to write.

I'll say it louder for the people in the back.

THERE IS NOTHING NEW TO WRITE!

Story telling is as old as the human race itself. At this point, we're all re-hashing the same stories with different words and different names. My personal queen, good ol' J.K., stole half her themes for Harry Potter from the Bible. If you find that your novel has been done, DON'T PANICK! Chances are, the person who did it before you stole it from someone else. It's not about doing something new; it's about doing it better than last time.

3. Having To Write Outside Your Experience

This is a big one. People always tell you to write what you know, but what if what I know is boring? What if my character is in a wheelchair, but I've never even broken a bone? How am I supposed to write from the perspective of a raven-human hybrid living in a war torn post-apocalyptic world if I've never experienced it?

The answer? Research. There's a reason Werner Von Braun said "Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing". None of us really know what we're doing. Fortunately, you can circumvent most of these "experience" problems with research. Check out some library books, talk to people who have experienced the things you're writing about. I mean, we have the internet at our fingertips; there's really no excuse for not doing your research.

Not that research will help you much with describing your post-apocalyptic world...

4. Lack Of Confidence

This does not just apply to writers - everyone faces a lack of confidence at some point in their lives. It's not really a "writer" problem so much as it is an "I exist in a world where Instagram Models are rampant and Kiley Jenner is a 'self-made' billionaire" problem. The real kicker for writers is that not only do we have no confidence in ourselves, but few others have confidence in us as well.

If you're lucky, you've got a family that supports and even encourages your dream of writing a bestseller, but many writers face nothing but skepticism from the world around them. When I tell people I majored in writing, most of their reactions are "Oh...well that's a good skill to have!" When I tell people I'm writing a novel, they assume it's in the same way that their college roommate who used to go to class stoned was "writing a novel" - i.e., not actually writing a novel. Writing, to most people is a hobby or a marketable skill that can be used to obtain a "real job". They don't take it seriously as a career choice, or even as a course of study.

Make them take it seriously.

The only way those who doubt you will see that your writing is a viable and lucrative career choice is if you make them take it seriously by proving them wrong. Write your novel; blog for days on end; get your name out there, and in the process of making the nay-sayers take you seriously, you'll start to take yourself seriously too. Your confidence in yourself and your writing will grow their confidence in you, and vice versa, and before you know it you'll be demanding a publishing contract. Don't ever let the haters grind you down.