Follow TV Tropes

Following

Having Writer's Block - stuck on where to go with a chapter

Go To

punkreader Since: Dec, 1969
#1: Feb 28th 2011 at 3:42:33 PM

Exactly What It Says on the Tin. I'm stuck on my first chapter (I have most of the rest of my story [read: fanfiction] written out, and the beginning has been...it's not behaving, and my main character is pulling a Rage Against the Author ("You're painting me as a drunk in the first chapter?" "Why am I the bitchy one?!" etc. etc. But, I digress.) Perhaps you guys can help me: I've got the chapter written up to a point, and then -BOOM-, I'm just plain, old stuck.

For time's sake, I'll write out a synopsis of the first chapter up to my "stuck point," though it isn't very long.

"Younger teenaged brother steals food/money/other random goods from the local helpless village. Younger brother takes these things back to the forest where he lives. Meets up with older half-sister, and gives her a knife that he managed to pickpocket. She complains about its quality. Both have Super-Senses of every variety due to inhuman heritage - she hears the clink of a good amount of money, and promptly forgets about the knife. Older sister fantasizes momentarily about what can be done with the money, then begins to eat. (They haven't eaten in several days - they tend to wait for the villagers to harvest their food before they steal it, making less work for the pair) After nearly choking on a tuber, she wonders aloud where the flask of wine is. Younger brother pointedly reminds her she already drank it - and that it's the "second one this month." Annnnd... that's my stuck point.

I'm having a hard time deciding what her response should be, and how this plays into her character. She does develop an alcohol problem later in life as a coping mechanism for dealing with an abusive husband. However, her tragic flaw (she's a tragic Chaotic Neutral antihero) is her greed. Her lust for money and material comfort leads her to do things that most women in her time period would only do in desperation (she takes up The Oldest Profession to earn money - she's wrong in a big way, and ends up even more empoverished than when she started - not helped by her having to blackmail and bribe her way out of the job later.)

Immediate thoughts? Suggestions? Once I get this first chapter written, this thing will finally take off (after four years of researching and writing and rewriting.)

Thanks so much!

chihuahua0 Since: Jul, 2010
#2: Feb 28th 2011 at 3:47:20 PM

Maybe you should have someone find them a few hours later while they're sleeping?

punkreader Since: Dec, 1969
#3: Mar 1st 2011 at 4:58:01 AM

That could work - I can certainly use it later, if it doesn't end up in the first chapter. Thanks!

Add Post

Total posts: 3
Top