General Writer's Block thread

Sounds like you should consider self-publishing.

...Seriously, though, how do I beat writer's block?

I feel like I'm trying to drive through mud here. Sure, sometimes the wheels will hit just the right spot and I'll shoot ahead, but usually the truck is just stuck there. Most of the advice on the internet I've seen is basically either "writer's block isn't a thing" (how very helpful), "just write" (yes, that's what I want to do, now tell me how), or "believe in yourself" (the theater's that way, kid's movie character). Nothing actually concrete, or at least not anything concrete and practical. I don't know what to do.

'Just writing' through blocks also pisses me off because, due to the way I write, it often results in my story unraveling into an unsalvageable mess further down the line. These days, when I have writer's block while working on a personal solo writing project, it's due to one of two reasons- I didn't think through the plot enough in the first place, or I can't come up with a way to describe something that satisfies me. Once, I spent a solid two weeks stuck on a chapter whose full progression I knew heading in because I couldn't find a way to describe my protagonist laughing scornfully that captured the scope of his feelings well enough. And it wasn't really something that I could have 'just written' through, because the description I came up with added a major undercurrent of indignance that's changed several of his future decisions.

Going off of that note, think about why you can't come up an idea for what to write next. Did you dive into writing the story without really thinking through the plot, cast, setting, or some other important aspect, and now you're unsure what should happen next? Is some important aspect of the story putting you off or not exciting you like it used to? Do you have a stronger idea of what needs to happen later, but just can't figure out how to get from here to there? Or do you actually know what needs to happen, and just can't find a way to put it into words that satisfies you?

Once you have an idea as to why you can't seem to get any words down, you'll be able to target your efforts. Try a different planning style for the story you didn't think through the first time, experiment with parts of the story that aren't exciting you, etc. And remember that everyone's preferred way of getting words on the page is different, and that there are lots of ways to fix these problems, which can sometimes include just giving it time or even starting over- the challenge is finding the way that works for you, and helps get you the results you want.

That sounds like great advice. There's just one problem on my end. Right now, I can't even start. Anything. I can't start any projects, even the one I thought I wanted to start.

Then do exactly the opposite. Maybe your brain needs a break. Go do something completely unrelated to writing. Skateboarding, videogaminig, playing the flute, hiking the wilderness, whatever your thing is. Two days from now, sit back down and start over.

And then once you feel up to tackling why you're not feeling it, think about why you're having problems starting anything- the first step to solving any problem is determining why it's happening. Until I came to Writer's Block six years ago (holy shit it's been that long) I never really wrote anything, either, I just played around with a cast of characters and a setting that mostly existed in my mind. I also kept doing this thing where I'd come up with setups that interested me, but nothing that would actually drive a plot. It turned out that I didn't really understand how stories work outside of tropes, which was caused by a lack of practice and not reading enough. Sometimes I still go multiple days without writing a word because college or work left me worn out. Your problem will almost certainly be different.

I sometimes have writer's block but I tried my best to work through it. if not, looking up a phrase or practicing rephrasing might do the trick.

anyway, how can one get a mechanic and an assassin to have common interest? considering that the assassin is a bit sadistic.

That sounds like a joke: " A mechanic and an assassin enter a bar..."

I saw the discussion in the relationship critique thread- start by giving the two things that they like to do together, things that they have in common. Look into giving them compatible dreams for the future. Their jobs don't have to have anything to do with these things- some people do build their identities around their jobs, but just as many or more don't. And since having their identities be based around their jobs would be a hindrance to them getting into a relationship, it's your obligation as the writer to look outside their jobs if you want to make this work. Maybe they're both cat people and want to foster cats someday, they like to unwind with video games after work, they're interested in cooking, or they like checking out bars. Springhole also has its own section on romances.

I know how it feels- I'm working on developing a couple in my current story, but I'm at least starting after they're married. It's very easy for me to picture them being cuddly and devoted to each other, but that's just infatuation. Even though this relationship is a significant part of their personal stories, I still can't come up with much that would make sense for them to have in common, or compatible dreams for the future. Also doesn't help that one of them is significantly more developed than the other. (I'm not asking for advice on this relationship, I know what needs to be done- I'm just sympathizing.)

edited 29th Jan '17 7:33:23 PM by CrystalGlacia

silvas kinda has an interest in vehicles most notably hoverbikes and likes cracking jokes most of the time, though his humor is a bit black comedy oriented.

and for the cat person thing, they both like pets in general, so, not exactly cat people.

It's more about having compatible personality traits and personal values. How do they each react to challenging problems? To dangerous situations? For example, if they both, lets say, place loyalty to family and loved ones above just about anything else, then start there.

that's a good start. i might consider that.

So, I have a character who I'm planning to give an injury that permanently disables her. Specifically, a high fall in the middle of a pivotal battle caused by a non-lethal gunshot will result in the severe breaking of bones in her right leg as well as a tear in her Achilles tendon. However, for the sake of the story after that point, I need to know a few details about the treatment for that kind of injury, as well as details about recovery from such an injury.

First of all, the time period, at least in terms of technology available, is the 1880's. Which is relevant, because I figure the character will need a painkiller for at least the beginning stages of recovery. Right now I have three options, and I'm not sure which is best. First, there's Morphine, which seems to be effective but also possibly odd for a group of vigilante fighters to have on hand. Then there's Lanadium which I've heard was pretty available to the public, but I've got no solid confirmation on that. Lastly there's whiskey, which I think fits with the wild west theme of my story and is something that would surely be available, but I know isn't actually the biggest help (in particular I'm wondering if it would actually hinder the healing process). I think a second opinion on that would be helpful.

Onto a more pressing topic for me though, I want the character to eventually recover (but not completely). See, by the time she recovers as much as much as she's going to, she'll be able to stand... but sustain a permanent limp. My biggest concern about this has to do with the time frame of the story. The character will certainly be unable to do anything for a long period of time, but I want that character to have an arc in the time before the climax of the whole story, which is currently set to take place about two months after the injury occurs. Right now my plan is to have her able to walk with crutches by the end of the second week, and not long after that I want her to be doing some assistance work for the medics. Then by the end of the second month I want her to be able to take off the cast and be able to walk unassisted, but be pretty much unable to run. I also want her to be strong enough to be able to handle herself at least a little bit, as I want her to play a role in the climax. I'm not positive if that length of recovery time is within the limits of suspension of disbelief, especially since this character's absolute worst fear is helplessness and as such this character will be willing to push herself to the point of damaging herself just to deny the idea that she may never be able sustain herself on her own ever again. I'm also not sure if the injury leaves quite enough of a lasting impact on the character, as I don't really want to sugar-coat the situation, but on the other hand this character is one of the three most prominent protagonists in my story and her defining heroic trait is stubborn determination.

So what do you think? Should I edit the story to allow for a different amount of recovery time? Is my old-timey medical research too far off the mark? Or am I in over my head and adding in an arc which would be considered padding to a story focused on a civil war in the wild west between anarchist terrorists and the country's populous?

@Steomasaurus: The settting of broken bones is one of the those treatments that hasnt changed much with the passage of time. The principle method, then as now, is setting the bone followed by immobilization. How long she is incapacitated and how cleanly she recovers depends on the seriousness of the injury and how skilled the bone-setters were. If your amatuers do not have the ability or materials to build a cast for her, then the best they could have done would have been a splint, followed by bed rest. Assuming her injury doenst become infected (which could kill her, or force an amputation) then healing would have proceeded more or less at the same rate and recovery as today.

If you need her to end up with a permanent limp, simply have the bone setting be less than perfect, which is easily explained under combat conditions, or if done by inexperienced amatuers, or else have her resist complete bed-rest, insisting on some mobility during recovery, perhaps because she feels compelled to help her friends for some reason during the healing phase.

I wonder if I could make a general idea dump thread for myself? I have too many ideas but they're a mess in my head even if I write stuff about them (I'll still try to make the RPG Maker Snow Queen game but I have two distinct sets of settings ad plots and I don't know which one to pick). I also have a ridiculous idea for a Sailor Moon OC and I feel I need to discard it but I don't know how? Or at least turn into something I can use it later. Maybe I could post these things in this thread or in the character development thread?

First, the Character Development Thread discussion is not used for that. It's a discussion area for a special roleplay that's aimed at helping writers work with their preexisting characters.

Second, if you have ideas that you're not interested in writing yourself, but are just throwing out for anybody to take without any expectation of credit (like leaving an old couch on your curb with a 'free' sign taped to it), you want the Free Idea Dumping Ground. If you want help choosing between two or more ideas to write, posting here is fine, as is making your own thread. As for your Sailor Moon OC, there's no shame in not immediately knowing a good use for every idea that pops into your head. Write down the idea in your medium of choice for writing notes so that it's there for when you do end up needing an idea for character in some other story, and just take the bits and pieces of the character that you need.

Ah, sorry. I remember using a thread to discuss character development a long time ago but I might be confusing threads or forums.

And I kind of intend to write the idea somehow? But I might dump in the forum if I decide not to write it. The thing about the Sailor Moon OC is that I kind of wanted to use her, but it feels kind of embarrassing because the idea makes little sense and I have a tendence to make OCs that'd probably work better as characters for independent stories.

I feel kind of silly posting here, though. Like I'm wasting people's time? IDK.

edited 13th Mar '17 9:34:01 AM by eital

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edited 14th Mar '17 5:37:08 PM by eital

I tried asking in another thread a few days ago, but I didn't get an answer, so I'll try it here: how does one write Slice of Life? I want to use Slice of Life to develop the characters and setting, but I have no idea how to do it interestingly. I think bringing together fantastic and mundane elements can not only make the fantastic more wondrous but the mundane extraordinary.

I've seen Slice of Life done well, but I haven't read Slice of Life except maybe in Brazilian crônicas and a handful of online short stories. If it's helpful, it's a kind of superhero setting. It isn't over the top, but it isn't grim and gritty either.

I've been trying to come up with a character for an RP game and I have two good ideas, but just can't choose between them. Is this the place I can discuss them?

Victin: Slice of life is like being a comedian. You have to find the nuances in every day life. You have to be able to take the small slow stuff and find the entertainment. The truth, the amusement. Etc.

@Booky: I don't know what other thread I could suggest you - maybe Random Questions Thread? Well, you could also try asking here and see if people answer. I suggest you pick the character that will make roleplaying more interesting for you, fellow players and GM.

@Mr AHR: Any suggestions on how to convey that through writing? Or maybe suggestions of works I could read for inspiration?

Azumanga Daioh/Yotsuba are good manga for it.

I meant like, purely textual examples of Slice of Life.

@Victin: Examples

edited 19th Mar '17 6:49:25 PM by DeMarquis