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?