Overcoming Creative Obstacles
We’re more than a week into the summer workshop, and this tends to be the part in the Workshop when our students start to feel like they are falling behind or begin to doubt their ideas and their creative abilities.
This is your friendly reminder that it’s OK if you don’t finish your adventure this month. If all you take away from the month is a new creative process, an idea, and perhaps even an outline, that’s plenty to accomplish! However, if you’ve been dreaming about doing this for a long time, I believe that you owe it to yourself to at least try. Here are some ways to overcome creative obstacles you may currently experience.
If you’re feeling: uninspired or out of ideas
Not every idea sets our creative hearts on fire. The trick with creative work is to isolate the part of an idea that does truly excite and inspire you. You do not have to pursue an idea because you think it will “sell well” or because it’s what the ttRPG market wants. I can tell you from personal experience that embracing your own creative vision means that you produce better work and attract the readership that you actually want.
What you can do: Complete the lesson 4 worksheet and the mini-lesson about moodboarding/making playlists. Perhaps do these activities a few times until something really sparks!
If you’re feeling: overwhelmed
The number one issue that new writers encounter is making the scope of their project too big. You might have set your heart on writing a whole new campaign setting and now feel like it’s way too much to do. Alternately, you might be feeling that the suggested 3,500 word count is too much for you to accomplish right now.
What you can do: Scale your project back to the very bare minimum. If our suggested adventure length is too much, commit to completing a one-page encounter that you can publish at the end of the month. That is a great first step. There is no such thing as “too small.” (Need inspiration? Check out this collection of one-page encounters!) A good goal is to finish one thing this month that you can share with someone else: a one-page encounter, a 3K word adventure, an outline, etc.
If you’re feeling: anxious or depressed
First of all, you’re not alone in feeling this way. I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder that I struggle with every day! Also, there’s a global pandemic going on. Soooo…
What you can do: Be kind to yourself. Write a positive affirmation, even if it feels cheesy to do so. Write one line for your project, just to feel like you’ve made an inkling of progress. Read through the pep talks, listen to some songs you like, and immerse yourself in creativity without feeling pressured to produce.
If you’re feeling: impostor syndrome
Here’s an honest truth: I don’t feel impostor syndrome. But it’s NOT because I feel like an expert (which I certainly don’t). It’s because I know that everyone else, even the “experts,” is also learning as they go. And that’s what we’re all doing here: learning!
Even though impostor syndrome often manifests as something that makes us feel “less than worthy or talented,” it’s actually a manifestation of our ego. When we feel that way, we’re putting way too much emphasis on what other people think of us and our work. We’re assuming that people are always thinking about us and judging our worth and skill. (They aren’t.) It’s not that creatives shouldn’t be mindful of how their work is received, just that this worry shouldn’t be so overwhelming that you don’t ever complete or share anything. You’re among peers and we all want you to succeed. I give you permission to believe in yourself!
What you can do: Stop thinking about what other people think. We spend way too much time on that anyway. YOU have taste and know what you think is “good” work! Focus on your project for your own sake. This mentality is necessary for anyone who wants to pursue creative work in general. When we write because we love it, the rest — money, audience, accolades — is just the cherry on top. It also softens the blow when a creative project isn’t received in the way we wanted or expected. The real reward is exploring our creative self.
If you’re feeling: unsure about how to develop your adventure
Writing can feel very isolating, but that’s why we have a community! You don’t have to write on your lonesome.
What you can do: Pop into the Discord channel or Discussions and ask for help! It’s OK to say something like, “I have an idea but I don’t know how to get from chapter 2 to chapter 3.” Most writers don’t talk enough about their ideas to other people, and it’s actually one of the best ways you can get over the fabled “writer’s block.”
If you’re feeling: blank page paralysis
Can’t get words on the page? Sometimes having that blank page staring back at you is a deterrent. Your words do not need to be perfect. You’re the only one currently reading your document!
What you can do: Here’s a trick I used to do with my college students, many of whom hated writing essays with a passion. I’d write down a few simple questions: The student would use their phone to record us having a conversation. I’d ask them questions like, “What’s your essay about? How are you researching this topic? What is your current hypothesis?” and they’d answer verbally. They’d then transcribe the audio file and use those words as the start of their draft! Writing is almost always easier when we have actual words on the page to build upon. I encourage you to try this trick with a friend or family member. Have them ask you about what your adventure is about, where it’s set, what the characters may encounter, etc. Record the conversation, get it transcribed, and plop that text right into your living document!
Ultimately, the Workshop team is here to help you find creative success, whatever that means to you. It’s early in the workshop so you have plenty of time to give it your best shot! We’re rooting for you and know that you can do anything you set your mind to.
Ashley Warren is the founder/director of the RPG Writer Workshop. She is a co-author of Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden by Wizards of the Coast; Heckna by Hit Point Press; and Legendlore by Onyx Path Publishing. Ashley also founded and produced the Uncaged Anthology series. She is a former college English teacher and passionate about working with new writers. Connect with her on Twitter, @ashleynhwarren, or visit her website.
