Writers block and just a mental wall

[Ghostofz]

I currently have two stories that I've written, and I believe my ideas for them are good. However, it's been over eight months since I last updated them, mainly because I struggled to find ways to advance the plots. I feel like there is a wall blocking me from discovering new ideas to add to my stories. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to overcome this?

 

[Akenoi]

It's the same with me. I can't force myself to write. Often, once I get started, it flows somehow, but it takes a while to get to that point. I always have stupid thoughts like, “I could do something else, play games, watch YouTube, why waste time writing...” My mindset is just fucked up.

 

[rainchip]

I currently have two stories that I've written, and I believe my ideas for them are good. However, it's been over eight months since I last updated them, mainly because I struggled to find ways to advance the plots. I feel like there is a wall blocking me from discovering new ideas to add to my stories. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to overcome this?

I'm on mobile right now so sorry if there's any errors. If you're struggling to find inspiration don't force it. Writing rarely ever is a simple, one-shot process. I just got back into it after like a two year break. And that was after another big break. What matters is you don't give up. Don't scrap ideas outright. Mold them. Grow them into another project, etc.

It's alright to hit a wall. You'll just find another route. Err, it that makes any sense. I hope I'm not sounding preachy. I know it's not the best advice but sometimes it's better not to linger and just move on. Try something else. Start writing a new project. Let some of your old plots unfold in it but this time better, newer, with a more experienced you behind the wheel. Explore different avenues and what not.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I finally broke partially through a two week old wall today on two of mine. Though I still won't break all the way through until either PocketFM activates my contract (finally) or admits they have no intention to (and then the stories come back here).

 

[Max02]

Sometimes when I write a paragraph which I think is bloody good, I pause and realize there's nothing I could add further to the text. I'm momentarily stuck. How to keep repeating brilliance? Then I stop to think and see that brilliance is a bad term, that I'm overrating myself. There's something more to be said, there's a word that was badly chosen, the phrasing could be better. So I end up rewriting the whole paragraph, and add another to complement the first one.

This way, I quickly write an entire text when it seemed impossible to move on.

My tip: always know what you want to write about. Always have a clear plan for the story you want to tell. This way, you'll only be able to abandon the story when it's finished.

 

[DismaiNaim]

Weed.

Not even joking. Some prefer alcohol, Steven King used cocaine. I can't write on alcohol and I've never tried cocaine, but the weird stuff that pours out from my brain after some weed has been crazy good.

 

[FionaRobinsong]

Sometimes, I find the answer is to do something silly, something that won’t necessarily push the plot forward but may give you new insights.
I will sometimes write a scene that has already happened from a different point of view. Or, if I’m really stuck, write a scene I know cannot happen (for example: the big bad has tea with the protagonist’s mother and they nitpick the protagonist’s life choices) just to be writing in the world. I find it tends to unwind whatever is coiled up in my head

 

[DireBadger]

40 years of running D&D

 

[StrawMan25]

1. Are you getting into a habit of writing a little every day?
2. Are you outlining the plot? Is there enough story for the story?
3. Are you daydreaming about the characters and what they're doing right now? What do you see them doing in your daydreams?

 

[RiceCooker717]

I currently have two stories that I've written, and I believe my ideas for them are good. However, it's been over eight months since I last updated them, mainly because I struggled to find ways to advance the plots. I feel like there is a wall blocking me from discovering new ideas to add to my stories. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to overcome this?

I just write any chapters write and connect them. I will write chapter 20 then chapter 12. And when I feel that this should be the next chapter after chapter 5, then so be it. I always used my instinct. I don't know if this can help.

 

[Bimbanana]

Sleep.

It will be better when you try again in the morning time

 

[Rezcore]

David J. Rogers, a writer who discussed his experience in a 2020 blog post titled "The Misery of Writer’s Block and Possible Antidotes." He noted that "a single page in a day is a rare surge of writing for me"

 

[TinaMigarlo]

Weed.

Not even joking. Some prefer alcohol, Steven King used cocaine. I can't write on alcohol and I've never tried cocaine, but the weird stuff that pours out from my brain after some weed has been crazy good.

well... gonna have to say this is a good idea. no booze, no coke...just coffee and a one-hitter.

in other news.
this story you are stuck on.
are you pants-ing it? just rolling, trying to get the never ending story out, so you have all those 1.5K chapters?
and you're stuck like that.

or... are you on some kind of even basic outline, and you're stuck at #17.

because there's a difference between those two situations.
I find if i plan something to have a beginning, a middle, and an end...
and my idea of an "outline" is just a numbered list with sentence fragments representing the chapter goal...
then I noticed I don't get "blocked" or "stuck'.

pants-ing, though... yeah, that can happen.

when I AM stalled though, I have learned to take a break.
I can work on some other story, lighthearted fun. Or start one.
or, read/edit an older work, there's always one more typo to be killed.
maybe play with an AI cover idea.
I try to have other things than just writing to do.
so I can be productive in my down time.

I just write any chapters write and connect them. I will write chapter 20 then chapter 12. And when I feel that this should be the next chapter after chapter 5, then so be it. I always used my instinct. I don't know if this can help.

good call!
I've done this. I write ahead. just call it "big fight" (or whatever)
then when its time for it, I got that ready.

OP? another tip I like to use.
when i start a story, yeah, i make chapter one see how it looks. Then I immediately write if not the ending, then the part near enough the end that I know where I am *going*.
I find this keeps me focused and on point.
if I write one or more chapters in the middle and just name them, waiting for them to be of use, fine.
I call this "sequencing", I don't know what any official name for it is.