Hello, everyone. I'm Wocalich. I went through the last chapter I wrote for The Great White Wolf's Daughter, but couldn't add much to it despite the break I took.
Why do I keep getting stuck? OTL Do any of you have the same problem? What do you do to fix it?
Jan '21
Jan '21
When I get really stuck, I’ve found it’s usually because I know where the story is heading and I feel like I’ve written myself into a corner somehow. If that’s the case, you can decide to take the story a whole different direction, or you can try to figure out how to fix the “problem” at hand. Maybe a relaxed scene to segue into a different chapter. Maybe adding a new character to shake things up.
Another random thing is to do some in-character fun (like this) as it helps me reconnect to my characters so they start talking to me again 
I was just guessing based off of what you said, so it might be something else altogether! It can also help to talk to someone about the overall plot and see if they have any ideas for what to do. (Or talk out loud to your pet - it’s amazing how we can work our way through our sticky points by ourselves lol) 
The tips already mentioned are really good. I've been stuck in writer's block for so long and I keep starting and stopping because I write myself into corners. To get around it and give myself some time to think about the problems, sometimes I write a scene from a later spot in the story that I'm more sure of, or put on some music to think to. I found this one song that captures the vibe of my book just right and it gets me into the writing mood every time I turn it on now. Maybe find yourself a theme song?
Typically, if I'm stuck it's because I don't have a solid plan for the chapter, especially if that chapter is supposed to set up or hint at something that's going to happen later.
If that's the case, then I typically step away to figure it out and I'll work on something else or another chapter.
I've also found that stepping away for a few days and coming back to the text will sometimes give me clarity of the issue and then I can fix it.
I think this is exactly the problem that I have. I decided to write over it and come back to it later, but I don't know. 
You could always leave it, come and then decide if you want to re-write
or
re-write and see where it takes you. Maybe the re-write won't be the exact fix, but it might be the process to that "ah ha" moment of what you want to do for the chapter.
You never know!
I've experienced this a lot of times, and it's quite frustrating!
Whenever I get the writer's block, I get many vague ideas and imageries in my mind, but I just can't write them and put them into words. However, the thing about writing is, you can always reread them and check them again later on.
Honestly, no matter how "crappy" my ideas are, I still try writing them nonetheless. I don't know, but sometimes, when I just keep writing and writing, my ideas get kind of better, and my writer's block just... fades away! And I think it's important that when you write, you're relaxed, not pressured. Maybe listen to refreshing songs or your favorite jams. Don't rush yourself and write the ideas you have in mind!
Anyway, I hope this helps, and that you'd be able to get "cured"! (^^ゞ
Changing up what I listen to definitely helps with writer's block. Sometimes music really helps me, but right now it seems like nightime forest ambience is what's working best for me. Another thing I find is that just going for a walk and getting outside can help you to decompress. It's like a refresh.
LOL 
it’s just our characters asking each other random questions. Chaos ensues. 
It’s great for learning little bits about your characters that wouldn’t come up any other way, though. And just for having fun 
I'd try just playing around for a day or two. By which I mean keeping the story in your head, but not trying to actually write. I'm also an artist, so I like to draw my characters in random outfits, and something about it tends to shake things loose. Maybe make them in a dress up game, or throw together some Pinterest boards for them. It lets you think about the story without the stress of actually writing, and let's you come up with some great ideas to get you remotivated.
My other writing block trick is just going outside and literally running laps until something clicks, but that's much less fun.
I haven't done much sit-down-and-write-all-day focused writing for years, but when I was working on the script for the first (and current) issue of Blue Star Rebellion, I just... wrote all over the place. No continuity at all. If a dialogue fragment occurred to me, I'd write it down, regardless of the order it was actually supposed to be in. My writing process seems to be like making a thousand jigsaw pieces, then going back later and assembling them all into a finished jigsaw.
It's kinda like when I'm art blocked. If that happens, I'll go through my reference library, pull out some figure photos and just sketch. Usually something will form from one of those sketches, and if not, at least I practiced. 
Even now, as I start thinking about where the plot of Blue Star will go next, I'm timeskipping everywhere. I can't write chronologically, apparently, so I'm jotting down fragments of moments, lines of dialogue, half-formed events, character interactions... Eventually I'll fill in all the gaps, and take care in the editing stage to ensure the emotions, tone, and pacing are consistent. It works really well for my messy brain.
I've got the same problem with one of my stories being stuck in stasis for quite some time now. 
I've only just been able to think on where I'm taking it and what I can do!
I found a couple things that worked for me was;
1) Listening to music that connect me to the story. I've got a spotify playlist for each of my comics that I listen to when I'm writing as they feel like they fit well with the plot/what I'm trying to say if that makes sense?
2) Just thinking about it! I like to lay in bad all snuggled up under the covers with a notebook and just lay there and... think. Play the story out in your head and see where it would naturally take you.
These are just my experiences though so they may not work for others haha!
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