Getting Unstuck: A Writer's Reset

Photo by Aubrey Odom on Unsplash

I don't wanna be like waaaah, because 2025 was a fairly productive year for me, but I've had this niggling concern for months. I feel it when deciding which stories to submit and where to. I feel it when revising my works-in-progress. I feel it when reading over some of my earlier stories.

Am I stagnating as a writer?

God, I hope not.

I've always advocated for joining critique groups and being open to feedback. But lately, I feel like the critiques I'm getting are half-assed. I want to be told where my weaknesses lie, where my language can improve. I want people to engage with my work beyond a superficial level. (Don't we all?)

I have options. I can find new critique groups. I can also do a better job of challenging and pushing myself. But there's nothing quite like objective feedback from a stranger.

I also used to engage with the community more. I joined several groups on Scribophile and participated in threads on writing exercises and goals. I don't know when I stopped doing that, but it's been a minute.

Another habit I've slacked on: reading books on writing. I used to read one book on craft a month. I preferred books with exercises. But I got hung up on one boring-ass book, and instead of DNFing it and moving on, I stopped reading books on writing altogether.

All this to say, if my writing is stagnant, it's no mystery as to why. Which is why I'm rededicating myself to engaging with writing on a communal and personal basis. I'm also going to try to write one critique a week and go back to reading one writing book a month.

Wish me luck!

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