Feel like im phoning it in

[Juia_Darkcrest]

So I am in the middle of writing a big fight scene where my MC is getting rescued. It is also the return of another character that has been gone for 40 or so chapters. There is some other reveals happening, and...

I just can't seem to give a crap.

I've written a grand total of 1065 words so far for this chapter, and about 10000 words and several chapters in my other works... I just have no motivation to finish this scene.

When I re-read it, instead of feeling like it is the culmination of effort for what has happened over the last 65 chapters, all I can think is;


"Really? This is the best you can do? It's just a low budget knock off of the Avengers scene before they fight the aliens in New York."


Anyway, just wanted to share my dilemma. I'll go back to pounding my head against the keyboard for a bit, maybe the random series of letters I hit will write the rest of my chapter out.

 

[Jerynboe]

Yeah those scenes are rough. Is this the culmination of something or an important beat that you just need to get through before the actual climax?

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

Yeah those scenes are rough. Is this the culmination of something or an important beat that you just need to get through before the actual climax?

Yeah,

So its a smut litrpg where the MC travels between video game worlds from a central hub called utopia, the home of all the gods. Anyways;

Spoiler: MFGR spoilers if your reading my novel

There was a major battle, and my OP MC Nick, and Terra from FF6, got overwhelmed while rescuing another reincarnator. They are currently hiding behind an energy shield, Terra unconcious, Nick out of mana, ammo, and pretty much everything.

My MC's system was ripped out of him due to being overloaded ... 40 chapters ago, and is now returning in a cyborg to save my MC.

All my MCs lovers are joining the system as well in the fight. And they just let him know he is going to be a father. (My MC becoming a dad was a major point for the whole story, with him thinking he still had a vasectomy from when he was still alive on Earth.)

It just seems too Deux Ex Machina... even though I hinted at this happening in earlier chapters, and I just cant seem to make it... climax? lol

 

[Jerynboe]

Yeah, that’s rough. I don’t know enough to provide any real feedback, but I can say that large scale battles have often been my bane in my stories.

 

[MFontana]

So I am in the middle of writing a big fight scene where my MC is getting rescued. It is also the return of another character that has been gone for 40 or so chapters. There is some other reveals happening, and...

I just can't seem to give a crap.

I've written a grand total of 1065 words so far for this chapter, and about 10000 words and several chapters in my other works... I just have no motivation to finish this scene.

When I re-read it, instead of feeling like it is the culmination of effort for what has happened over the last 65 chapters, all I can think is;


"Really? This is the best you can do? It's just a low budget knock off of the Avengers scene before they fight the aliens in New York."


Anyway, just wanted to share my dilemma. I'll go back to pounding my head against the keyboard for a bit, maybe the random series of letters I hit will write the rest of my chapter out.

I'm not up to that part yet, but here's an idea.

Invert the scene.
Throw a major curveball in there.

Use the scene to introduce a major antagonist, and have the protagonist (and company) lose. Badly. So much so that they have to retreat just to survive. (This kind of thing isn't done nearly enough in the typical isekai stuff, so it could really help yours stand out and raise the stakes)

If you really want to tug at the heart-strings, have one (or more) characters die (sacrifice themselves) trying to slow the villain down long enough for the heroes to escape.

And if you really want to instill a feeling of powerlessness; make it clear the new villain isn't even trying. That the task of fighting the heroes/protagonists is so far beneath them at this point, that they don't even care that the heroes escaped. Think Darth Vader's appearance in Rogue One.

Ultimately, this is just my opinion, and a suggestion. Take it how you will.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

I'm not up to that part yet, but here's an idea.

Invert the scene.
Throw a major curveball in there.

Use the scene to introduce a major antagonist, and have the protagonist (and company) lose. Badly. So much so that they have to retreat just to survive. (This kind of thing isn't done nearly enough in the typical isekai stuff, so it could really help yours stand out and raise the stakes)

If you really want to tug at the heart-strings, have one (or more) characters die (sacrifice themselves) trying to slow the villain down long enough for the heroes to escape.

And if you really want to instill a feeling of powerlessness; make it clear the new villain isn't even trying. That the task of fighting the heroes/protagonists is so far beneath them at this point, that they don't even care that the heroes escaped. Think Darth Vader's appearance in Rogue One.

Ultimately, this is just my opinion, and a suggestion. Take it how you will.

sadly, that (retreat) wouldnt be possible... maybe

Spoiler: MFGR spoiler

Arc 2 is about rescuing people as the Prime Mainframe has a virus that is deleting all the realms. They are in Doom right now, and had found the reincarnator.

Suddenly , when trying to get back to the exit teleporter, a mod was activated somehow and basically the gates of hell opened up. Terra went full esper mode, nick went full dragon mode, and were still beat back by sheer numbers.

The world itself has about 12 hours left before the virus makes it to that part of the main frame, deleting the world. There is no requirement for them to sacrifice someone imo in this situation, and some main antagonist seems off for this particular situation, since there is already a pile of other crap going on...

Oh and the reincarnator they are trying to rescue, is a 15 year old girl who was a mute paraplegic, who was fixed when coming to utopia, but the virus sent her to Doom instead of the world she was supposed to goto to get rehab and learn to use her legs and speak...

I can probably work something out to be interesting... Ill think on it more =)

 

[MFontana]

sadly, that (retreat) wouldnt be possible... maybe

Spoiler: MFGR spoiler

Arc 2 is about rescuing people as the Prime Mainframe has a virus that is deleting all the realms. They are in Doom right now, and had found the reincarnator.

Suddenly , when trying to get back to the exit teleporter, a mod was activated somehow and basically the gates of hell opened up. Terra went full esper mode, nick went full dragon mode, and were still beat back by sheer numbers.

The world itself has about 12 hours left before the virus makes it to that part of the main frame, deleting the world. There is no requirement for them to sacrifice someone imo in this situation, and some main antagonist seems off for this particular situation, since there is already a pile of other crap going on...

Oh and the reincarnator they are trying to rescue, is a 15 year old girl who was a mute paraplegic, who was fixed when coming to utopia, but the virus sent her to Doom instead of the world she was supposed to goto to get rehab and learn to use her legs and speak...

I can probably work something out to be interesting... Ill think on it more =)

Whatever works for your story. You're the one who knows the scene, and where you want things to go from there.

That said, I've got one little quote for ya that might add some fuel to your proverbial creative fires. Hope it helps.

"You Will Die!" ~S.K. -- MK Series

 

[LeilaniOtter]

So I am in the middle of writing a big fight scene where my MC is getting rescued. It is also the return of another character that has been gone for 40 or so chapters. There is some other reveals happening, and...

I just can't seem to give a crap.

I go through this so often; in fact, i'm going through it as we speak with "Luana". Got everything ready in my head and it's like....meh.

When I run into trouble like this, what helps me is going back and reading previous chapters. Often, I'll look at something previously, what a character did, or an event that happened, and I can jump back in. ?

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

Stop thinking about the scene and think about what will come after, ignoring your usual plot. Make escape routes ignoring your genre to force new ideas that might work if you dress it up and insert it into the regular prose. i.e. reading your tags go with short burst into grim dark to cartoonish, even historical, instead of pure action/isekai/fantasy that you got going on, in a separate notes area.

What I'm getting at is: tunnel-vision. The ideas are there. You might be subconsciously thinking that there are only so many choices and that they are cemented into the story. Remember that it is still a moldable piece of art.

 

[Eldoria]

What I can say is that battles are usually the narrative peak or climax of an arc, a logical consequence of the conflict that has occurred throughout the story. Creating epic, emotional, and symbolic battle scenes is not easy. I tend to let the characters do what they want. I mean, characters have personalities, motivations, ideologies, and abilities. When they fight, their traits collide, resulting in battle.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

Ask for help. Hand it off to someone else and ask them to write it.
Then, when they inevitably screw it up, you'll go, NO NO NO! Then fix it, and it'll be written, then you can move on.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

Ask for help. Hand it off to someone else and ask them to write it.
Then, when they inevitably screw it up, you'll go, NO NO NO! Then fix it, and it'll be written, then you can move on.

So eldrichgod, do I ever have an offer for you! =P

 

[TheEldritchGod]

So eldrichgod, do I ever have an offer for you! =P

Yeah. Sure. If you wish. I've been dealing with a whole bunch of nonsense the past few months, but things are finally slowing down. I'm only working between 60 to 84 hours a week now, but most of those hours are now at NIGHT, so I have many hours to spend on writing again. Alas, I'm out of practice, so I could use something to sharpen my teeth on.

Send me a DM of your email and I'll email you from my personal email and you can send me a copy of what you got so far and what you are looking for. I'll assume you sending me your email is acceptance of the offer.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

Yeah. Sure. If you wish. I've been dealing with a whole bunch of nonsense the past few months, but things are finally slowing down. I'm only working between 60 to 84 hours a week now, but most of those hours are now at NIGHT, so I have many hours to spend on writing again. Alas, I'm out of practice, so I could use something to sharpen my teeth on.

Send me a DM of your email and I'll email you from my personal email and you can send me a copy of what you got so far and what you are looking for. I'll assume you sending me your email is acceptance of the offer.

HAHAHA

I wouldn't do that to someone who is working like that.

I'm retired, I'll get through it eventually =)

 

[CinnaSloth]

This entire thread is pure cinema.
Applause. So good. Loved it. Love the characters. Love the banter.


I don't even know if I should add my two cents, this was a great conversation as it was.
I guess, Just stop what you're doing, and look ahead for a moment. You see where its headed after this moment in time. You see the next chapter, you see the next episode playing in your mind, and that looks so awesome to get to. You already have half the chapter written, and you know how this chapter ties together with the one coming up. Let if flow. LET it flow. Turn the page, and hit the floor. Who cares what they say. Let the words rage on. The cold never bothered you anyway. xD lmao

 

[DireBadger]

Get Laid.

That usually helps me focus. That and picking pubes out of my teeth.