The “Tetris method” is basically “think about things.”

The last kind of blockage is, you write yourself into a corner, which a lot of people really dread. But I kind of love it. I think it’s because I grew up playing Tetris: I really like playing the game of “How do I rotate this plot element or this voice until it fits into the story?”

It’s a funny household-chore way of looking at writing. But it really is like cleaning out the trash bin, or playing Dr. Mario. OK, I’m stuck, but what angle do I need to turn this to for it to make sense? Do I need to flip it around? Maybe I make the thing that is a problem for me into a problem for the character, and then the drama is them solving it. Or maybe we pivot, and these two characters who have been opposed need to become allies in order for them both to get through it, but that’ll make the problems worse for them on the other side.

Solving a writing problem by figuring out the angle, that’s the most fun way to beat writer’s block. So now when I get stuck, I actually get a little dopamine. I actually get a little excited. Because I gamified solving plot problems — that’s so much easier than getting over burnout.

A giant fucking Bluesky post every two paragraphs in this article made me so fucking irritated I couldn’t continue.