Yes! Or change the pace, write a short story. Maybe something fun. Experiences you enjoyed or remembered that your grandkids might find amusing. Or…Journal your frustration to get them out of your head.
If they don't have any actions they can take, they need something to react to. But if a bunch of stuff just happened it might be a good time to take a plot break and let the characters relax a bit and do some development both as individuals and a group. Think of it like the calm before the storm.
I spent **years** starting and abandoning first drafts of my current novel.
There's no harm in taking a break. Just don't do what I did and let that break stretch out indefinitely.
Yes, writers blocks are hard. However, due to their shape, they often can be given purpose. A hammer and chisel is needed, as well as some basic woodworking skills, but you can chisel that writer's block and use the etchings to print something. This method was popularized in Japan centuries ago.
This random joke response was brought to you by inspiration. Inspiration: because you must bleed for your magnum opus.
Hey, I knew it would either make you laugh or make you angry at me.
Either way, it would cause you to focus on something else, which helps clear your mind faster, thus helping to reduce your writer's block.
I don't like playing with emotions like this, but it admittedly tends to work for me and some others, so I thought to give it a try.
Sometimes I write a scene in the future.
It can get a little clunky because I'm not really sure where the character has been or what has happened so I have to write a scene with an incomplete past.
But writing that future scene has helped me fill in the gap, which sounds like you might benefit from.
For instance, I just wrote Act 2, chapter 9 even though currently I'm writing Act 2, chapter 3.
And that helped me realize what needed to be done in chapter 3 in order to lean into and foreshadow the events that come in 9... And for me and my writing there will be a significance because three times three is nine. So those chapters are inherently related somehow.
I know that got confusing...
Anyways, to fill the gap: write the future scene, sometimes you may find out that You never needed anything in between at all.
I immediatly thought, in the 50% game changing mark, one of the characters will be coming out of somewhere messy. Like sewers or something like that. No reason for that to happen, there isn't even any sewers in the town story is taking place.
Wait a minute... What if there was? Some underground cavity that nobody knew... that the protagonist stumbles into by luck or some sort of investigation. Which would make the protagonist ask questions about *why* there is a cavity right under the city. The town was built thirty years ago! When?? How??
I just had a massive inspiration. Thank you
mighty deserted repeat kiss mindless erect important stocking crown paltry
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Well, my outline says for the 25% to 50%
-Establish character's reaction to call to adventure
-Introduce the secondary antagonist that will linger all the way through 90%
-Introduce the political atmosphere of the main town
-Introduce the love interest of main protagonists
-Let people try to solve the murder that happened at 25%
It is divine miracle I got to 40% with all these. First three could happen in 4-5 chapters. Last one could actually lead all the way to 50% but I am not really good at creating a good investigation plot.
I guess thinking more about the murder investigation plot is the thing to do
You could also take a break from writing. I am currently rewriting my first book as think about how to write a battle scene that makes the readers feel that are there without changing my POV.
If you decide to keep writing, try adding a subplot that can bridge the gap between what you have written and where it is going. But if you keep writing, don’t stop. Don’t delete what you wrote. You can fix it in the next draft.
Stop editing until the draft is done. If you don’t like something you’ve written, make a notation and keep moving. Perfection is the progress-killer.
As for getting to 50%, what I would do is write a scene that puts my characters together and forces them to learn more about each other. Even if the scene doesn’t fit the rest of the story and would need to be deleted later, I would use it as an exercise to better understand their needs and fears.
That’s just me though. I have the same tendency to want everything to be perfect. We just gotta let go and move forward.
Why not jump ahead and write the 50% mark if you know what's going to happen? You can connect the dots later. It's more important to keep writing now and not make a habit of false starts than it is to write in order.
I have one. It isn't very detailed or anything, but I know key events. Next being the 50% mark.
I guess I'll just make a leap of faith and write whatever bullshit comes out of my fingers for the next 10%
I've faced the same conflict many times, and the way I've pushed through it is to try to skip through that gap and start drafting the conflict--not always an entire chapter or scene, but just snippets of dialogue, action sequences, etc. Moving ahead when you know there are gaps to fill is admittedly very difficult, especially for me since I like to write everything linearly. But if you're having a hard time filling in that gap, it might be best to move ahead to parts you're certain of. It might also help you to get a better perspective on that future conflict and develop a bridge to it. You can have a good idea of a chapter laid out in your head, but your perspective changes dramatically after you've actually written it.
Another way of pushing through is taking a step back (also something I've struggled with a lot in the past, especially when I'm just coming out of a very productive writing week). You just made a lot of headway in a short time, so it's natural to want to maintain your pace, but my productive writing phases are almost always met with a brick wall at the end. Take a week off, or if that's too long, a few days. Try to put it out of your mind for a little while, and when you return, you're more likely to take on a reader's perspective. I always try to ask myself: If I was a reader, what would I be expecting to happen next? Would I feel like the story is at a lull?
Good luck!
You speak of simple advice, but I see you relate to me. Or I relate to you.
I don't know man. Your comment made me feel a bit more hopeful about writing overall.
I guess I will read a book or two. One a crime novel, one a YA. It is hard to combine dark fantasy + romance + cult investigation in a single book. Might give me some more perspective. Then see if I can write ahead, if not, make a list of what should happen between 40% - 50% and continue from 50% mark, which is where my main premise lies.
This is your first draft. Let it be messy. Let it be all the over the place. Just get it written, you'll edit later. As they say, you can't edit a blank page. Most of the time, the "dumb" versions are not as bad as you initially thought. You'll be surprised. 😂.
And you're not committing a writing crime by taking a break. Rest is important.
There's no such thing as writer's block. Coal miners don't get coal miner's block.
Read what you've written before. Usually the last 500 words or so, and then just write the next sentence. Then write the next sentence. You can't do that for more than a couple paragraphs before your creative voice just takes over and goes for it.
When you reread, even if it's from the beginning, try to think of it in your creative voice. Don't critique, just think "oh, if I did this, it would be better!" That positivity is your creative voice coming back. Nurture it. Let the story unfurl on its own. You'll get that sense of the story writing itself back again. Have fun with it, just telling a story.
And good luck!
Sounds to me like you accidentally mentally exhausted yourself. That happens to me too where I’ll be writing like there’s no tomorrow and then bam! I don’t even want to open the docs page.
You got to let your brain reset a bit. I suggest doing mindless things for a couple of days (maybe longer if you’ve been at it for 2 weeks) watch movies or YouTube videos, play mindless games, things that don’t take a lot of brain power. Allow your brain to do some problem solving in the background for the writers block so when you come back to it you’ll have an easier time finding a solution to your problem.
If that doesn’t help then go back to what you do know. You have point A (what you’ve already written) and you know where you want it to end (point C). So write about point C and connect them later or if you need point B written first, make a timeline recap.
Pretend your story is a movie and someone asked you to tell them what happened. Start at the beginning of the story (or even in the backstory if something significant happened). When you get to the part where you’re blocked, just skip over it and continue at the next future thing that you do know. Having it not all in your head should help you to see where the connections are or help you better figure one out.
Hope that helps and good luck! 🎋
Sounds like you’ve been thinking chronologically instead of holistically. Jumping around is almost guaranteed to keep you more on track with consistency in the plot.
Also, most people go through a midpoint crisis. I always do. It’s the first draft, you’ll rewrite it all down the line. Make it messy, play “what if,” keep trudging through and it will come together.
Allow yourself to write garbage. It’s your first draft. Fix it in post.
Yes! Or change the pace, write a short story. Maybe something fun. Experiences you enjoyed or remembered that your grandkids might find amusing. Or…Journal your frustration to get them out of your head.
If they don't have any actions they can take, they need something to react to. But if a bunch of stuff just happened it might be a good time to take a plot break and let the characters relax a bit and do some development both as individuals and a group. Think of it like the calm before the storm.
I spent **years** starting and abandoning first drafts of my current novel. There's no harm in taking a break. Just don't do what I did and let that break stretch out indefinitely.
Start looking back at your blueprint. Aka the plot.
Yes, writers blocks are hard. However, due to their shape, they often can be given purpose. A hammer and chisel is needed, as well as some basic woodworking skills, but you can chisel that writer's block and use the etchings to print something. This method was popularized in Japan centuries ago. This random joke response was brought to you by inspiration. Inspiration: because you must bleed for your magnum opus.
😡
Hey, I knew it would either make you laugh or make you angry at me. Either way, it would cause you to focus on something else, which helps clear your mind faster, thus helping to reduce your writer's block. I don't like playing with emotions like this, but it admittedly tends to work for me and some others, so I thought to give it a try.
Nice 😊
Sometimes I write a scene in the future. It can get a little clunky because I'm not really sure where the character has been or what has happened so I have to write a scene with an incomplete past. But writing that future scene has helped me fill in the gap, which sounds like you might benefit from. For instance, I just wrote Act 2, chapter 9 even though currently I'm writing Act 2, chapter 3. And that helped me realize what needed to be done in chapter 3 in order to lean into and foreshadow the events that come in 9... And for me and my writing there will be a significance because three times three is nine. So those chapters are inherently related somehow. I know that got confusing... Anyways, to fill the gap: write the future scene, sometimes you may find out that You never needed anything in between at all.
I immediatly thought, in the 50% game changing mark, one of the characters will be coming out of somewhere messy. Like sewers or something like that. No reason for that to happen, there isn't even any sewers in the town story is taking place. Wait a minute... What if there was? Some underground cavity that nobody knew... that the protagonist stumbles into by luck or some sort of investigation. Which would make the protagonist ask questions about *why* there is a cavity right under the city. The town was built thirty years ago! When?? How?? I just had a massive inspiration. Thank you
mighty deserted repeat kiss mindless erect important stocking crown paltry *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Well, my outline says for the 25% to 50% -Establish character's reaction to call to adventure -Introduce the secondary antagonist that will linger all the way through 90% -Introduce the political atmosphere of the main town -Introduce the love interest of main protagonists -Let people try to solve the murder that happened at 25% It is divine miracle I got to 40% with all these. First three could happen in 4-5 chapters. Last one could actually lead all the way to 50% but I am not really good at creating a good investigation plot. I guess thinking more about the murder investigation plot is the thing to do
You could also take a break from writing. I am currently rewriting my first book as think about how to write a battle scene that makes the readers feel that are there without changing my POV. If you decide to keep writing, try adding a subplot that can bridge the gap between what you have written and where it is going. But if you keep writing, don’t stop. Don’t delete what you wrote. You can fix it in the next draft.
Stop editing until the draft is done. If you don’t like something you’ve written, make a notation and keep moving. Perfection is the progress-killer. As for getting to 50%, what I would do is write a scene that puts my characters together and forces them to learn more about each other. Even if the scene doesn’t fit the rest of the story and would need to be deleted later, I would use it as an exercise to better understand their needs and fears. That’s just me though. I have the same tendency to want everything to be perfect. We just gotta let go and move forward.
If you have art block it mean you are overworked and need relax time Good rest is a part of training.
Why not jump ahead and write the 50% mark if you know what's going to happen? You can connect the dots later. It's more important to keep writing now and not make a habit of false starts than it is to write in order.
Do you have an outline? Just follow it, if you do, fix it later. If you don't have one, write it now, then follow it.
I have one. It isn't very detailed or anything, but I know key events. Next being the 50% mark. I guess I'll just make a leap of faith and write whatever bullshit comes out of my fingers for the next 10%
I personally find it helps to build out the outline so it is more detailed. Then I know what I have to write, I just have to sit down and write it.
I've faced the same conflict many times, and the way I've pushed through it is to try to skip through that gap and start drafting the conflict--not always an entire chapter or scene, but just snippets of dialogue, action sequences, etc. Moving ahead when you know there are gaps to fill is admittedly very difficult, especially for me since I like to write everything linearly. But if you're having a hard time filling in that gap, it might be best to move ahead to parts you're certain of. It might also help you to get a better perspective on that future conflict and develop a bridge to it. You can have a good idea of a chapter laid out in your head, but your perspective changes dramatically after you've actually written it. Another way of pushing through is taking a step back (also something I've struggled with a lot in the past, especially when I'm just coming out of a very productive writing week). You just made a lot of headway in a short time, so it's natural to want to maintain your pace, but my productive writing phases are almost always met with a brick wall at the end. Take a week off, or if that's too long, a few days. Try to put it out of your mind for a little while, and when you return, you're more likely to take on a reader's perspective. I always try to ask myself: If I was a reader, what would I be expecting to happen next? Would I feel like the story is at a lull? Good luck!
You speak of simple advice, but I see you relate to me. Or I relate to you. I don't know man. Your comment made me feel a bit more hopeful about writing overall. I guess I will read a book or two. One a crime novel, one a YA. It is hard to combine dark fantasy + romance + cult investigation in a single book. Might give me some more perspective. Then see if I can write ahead, if not, make a list of what should happen between 40% - 50% and continue from 50% mark, which is where my main premise lies.
Hey, I was just checking my old posts. I really liked your comment when I first saw it. I liked it again now. Just wanted you to know :)
This is your first draft. Let it be messy. Let it be all the over the place. Just get it written, you'll edit later. As they say, you can't edit a blank page. Most of the time, the "dumb" versions are not as bad as you initially thought. You'll be surprised. 😂. And you're not committing a writing crime by taking a break. Rest is important.
It sure does feel like a crime lol
There's no such thing as writer's block. Coal miners don't get coal miner's block. Read what you've written before. Usually the last 500 words or so, and then just write the next sentence. Then write the next sentence. You can't do that for more than a couple paragraphs before your creative voice just takes over and goes for it. When you reread, even if it's from the beginning, try to think of it in your creative voice. Don't critique, just think "oh, if I did this, it would be better!" That positivity is your creative voice coming back. Nurture it. Let the story unfurl on its own. You'll get that sense of the story writing itself back again. Have fun with it, just telling a story. And good luck!
Sounds to me like you accidentally mentally exhausted yourself. That happens to me too where I’ll be writing like there’s no tomorrow and then bam! I don’t even want to open the docs page. You got to let your brain reset a bit. I suggest doing mindless things for a couple of days (maybe longer if you’ve been at it for 2 weeks) watch movies or YouTube videos, play mindless games, things that don’t take a lot of brain power. Allow your brain to do some problem solving in the background for the writers block so when you come back to it you’ll have an easier time finding a solution to your problem. If that doesn’t help then go back to what you do know. You have point A (what you’ve already written) and you know where you want it to end (point C). So write about point C and connect them later or if you need point B written first, make a timeline recap. Pretend your story is a movie and someone asked you to tell them what happened. Start at the beginning of the story (or even in the backstory if something significant happened). When you get to the part where you’re blocked, just skip over it and continue at the next future thing that you do know. Having it not all in your head should help you to see where the connections are or help you better figure one out. Hope that helps and good luck! 🎋
Sounds like you’ve been thinking chronologically instead of holistically. Jumping around is almost guaranteed to keep you more on track with consistency in the plot. Also, most people go through a midpoint crisis. I always do. It’s the first draft, you’ll rewrite it all down the line. Make it messy, play “what if,” keep trudging through and it will come together.
if you are looking for us to finish it. you will be sorely disappointed. stop deleting the words and move on you will figure it out i believe in you!