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Posted By: Eleika Dec 13, 2004 - 03:15 pm

So I hate for this to be one of my first posts after my return to this site, but the truth is, I'm horribly stuck in the middle of my novel and I don't know how to get out. I'm finally finished school for the semester (save one exam, and that's a few days from now) and honestly, I need to get back to my other world. This semester was the worst I've ever had, but in some ways the best.

The thing is, I never did stop writing this semester. The story stayed in the background, but I wound up getting a whole 'nother chapter written. Still, the setting has changed for one character, and is about to change for the other, and I'm finding it horribly impossible to write. Every time I throw myself at it, I wind up hitting a nasty wall.

I don't know if all I need is someone to give me feedback. I thought that's what I wanted when I started this post. Maybe I just need advice on restarting a stalled story. Either way, what do you think I should do?

Posted By: Toki Suzukiko Dec 13, 2004 - 03:39 pm

Sometimes it is good just to go back and reread your whole story from the begining. If the setting change actually sounds really good in your story then maybe you should keep it. But if you don't like it then rereading will give you the motivation to continue with your original thoughts.

It works for me. But it is always worth a try.

Posted By: Magus Dec 13, 2004 - 04:48 pm

That sounds like sound advice to me. I'd suggest it as well. Maybe try to intigrate your old and new ideas together.

Posted By: Queen Ehlana Dec 13, 2004 - 07:34 pm

Write a story about your characters in French. Maybe that will motivate you.

Sorry, I really don't know what to say... Toki's idea is good: a nasty wall has been stopping you, so you go back a ways and gain some speed... Then you run into the wall at 100 mph and break right through to the other side.

Or you could always meditate. At any rate, bonne chance !

Posted By: Magus Dec 13, 2004 - 07:40 pm

Maybe try writing some short stories will help? Try short stories that are different, but not entirely so, from your main work. Maybe the ideas will come to you for what you really want.

Posted By: Eleika Dec 13, 2004 - 09:18 pm

Unfortunately, I've re-read it about fifty times. That doesn't seem to be the problem. And ... I did take a break, publishing some short stories set in the same universe, and starting a webcomic set there, too (but set at different time periods).

One thing that seems to have helped, a little, is writing scenes that will never be used. I'm restricting the perspective to certain characters, but I wrote a few scenes in which other characters' POVs are used instead. Anything to get me thinking about it.

Usually, brainstorming and thinking about it isn't the problem. It's actually *writing* it.

Posted By: Berry Dec 14, 2004 - 01:34 am

Hi Elekia, It sounds like your'e being awfully hard on yourself, and getting more and more frustrated. it's clear that college had taken up alot of your time mentally and practically. It might be that you are just trying to hard. Sometimes we have other stuff going on in our heads and there is not as much room for doing things how we are used to doing them. I know when i come up against a brick wall, when i get stuck with an issue (not always necessarily writing) it helps me if I reflect for a while.I don't know how that will work for you but a few questions may get you thinking and you can see whether it is useful or not. How do you feel about your story so far? what happens when you try to write that particular piece compared to when you are writing unrelated things? How do you feel about not writing that story anymore?

Posted By: cleasterwood Dec 14, 2004 - 04:57 am

Personally when I get like this I do research or put the story aside for a while, don't think about it, and eventually something will come to me. I was stuck on the beginning during my recent novel undertaking and I did that. It helped me because as soon as I forgot about it and let it rest, the story jumped up and told me it was time to write again.

Posted By: Eleika Dec 14, 2004 - 12:50 pm

I definitely will not set this aside. The problem is, it feels like I *have* set it aside for the semester (with that small exception of writing Ch 8 in early November). I used it sort of like one might use a "treat" ... it was a way for me to relax, or take a bit of a mental break. On the bus to school, I would work on my story. By "work" I mean I was usually brainstorming, world-building and (sometimes) writing. So, while these make great suggestions, my frustration stems from the fact that it feels like I've been *doing* this for long enough already. I want to move forward.

Posted By: Magus Dec 14, 2004 - 02:50 pm

Hmmmmm...

I don't know what to say at bthe moment. You obviously can't progress in the state of writer's block that you'r in. Maybe you should just put oit aside and work on some smaller writing projects until you feel that you can recommence writing it. But I'll think more on this and post later.

Posted By: Eleika Mar 13, 2005 - 11:33 pm

(Three months later ... where am I now?)

Hmm.

I just found this post again. It's rather depressing; it feels like I'm still going through the same problems ... even though I've written another two chapters.

I've re-read it til I've memorized every word. I've sat and reflected until I've passed out from fatigue. I even, finally, outlined what's going to happen from this point in the novel until the very end, and how the various storylines will fall into place.

But I can't seem to write. Or, I have trouble sitting down to write.

When the simple act of opening a file feels like too much effort ... that's depressing. But finding an old journal entry from over a year ago, and discovering that you were writing Chapter Six at the time (and are only on Chapter Eleven now, after much effort) is beyond sad.

"Writing is a verb first, then a noun," is what one of my profs used to say. That much, at least, is true. But it's not very encouraging when I seem to get most inspired late at night before I have to go to work, or the day before a paper is due ... or when I just shouldn't be writing. Gah.

Posted By: gnollslayer Mar 13, 2005 - 11:40 pm

I feel your pain, as I've dealt with such a problem before. It's going to sound much more arrogant than I intend, but the only way to get past this problem is to write. I know, it sounds like I'm telling you to do something impossible, but trust me. You don't have to be inspired to start writing. You can force it out. It will seem to you like you're just vomitting words onto the page (or screen), but as long as you're writing, you're better off than you were before.

If you're afraid it'll sound terrible, save your project as a different file and write in this one, that way if it doesn't work you can just go back to the part you already had down.

This is the only thing I've found that works.

Posted By: Eleika Mar 14, 2005 - 01:24 am

Thanks, Gnollslayer. I'm doing that right now.

The sad thing is ... I already know this. And just like going to the gym ... getting there (opening the file) is the hardest part.

Posted By: Magus Mar 14, 2005 - 04:19 am

Good luck Eleika! I'm sure you'll get through this.