How do you go about solving pesky problems?

[ueonts]

If you have a problem when writing that you just can't seem to solve, what do you do? Or I guess more accurately, when you have a solution to the problem that you don't really like. Do you rethink the story in order to avoid the problem? Do you just go with the solution that you have? I know that it wouldn't be good to just keep something in a story that you know is subpar, but there are many times here I think trying to make something "perfect" really just leads to unneeded procrastination. What do you do in situations where you just don't know how to think about your story creatively enough to solve a problem and haven't been able to for an extended period of time? I know sometimes these "problems" can also sometimes end up becoming things you don't even want to change about your story in the end, but I also don't want to be lazy and leave things in that I shouldn't.

[morganicfoods]

Talk it out with someone. Especially if they're a writer too. Trust me! My girlfriend and I problem solve issues with our stories together all the time, and it usually works out. Even just talking about it and trying to explain it aloud can help.

Hope you can solve your problem(s)! I know it can be frustrating sometimes :\

[cherrystark]

I once read that a plot hole isn't started in the chapter you are writing, it's started five chapters before. I am paraphrasing, but if you are struggling with a problem in your story, it's usually best to go back a few chapters and start reviewing. But the best thing you can do is to give yourself a break. You can't think clearly to fix story problems if your mind isn't clear.

[TheLemmaLlama]

Honestly, the only consistent solution for me has been time XD I usually need my brain to chew on it slowly in the background, and eventually a better solution would pop up. So I usually shelf it for the moment and work on another aspect of the story instead (or something else entirely)

But if I really need a solution now, I'll just go with the subpar solution I do know about; I can always go back and edit it later if I reaaaaally feel the need to (But really, I just don't put myself in such a position to begin with; I only go with subpar story solutions for reasonably 'standalone' arcs that doesn't need me to uproot the entire rest of the story if I need to change it :P)