whine groan complain

[edenfalling]

"Paint the Town" has been going in circles, as Ginny tries to talk herself into or out of various actions and attitudes.

But I've identified the problem: this is the exact same thing that happened to me when I was writing Bluebell, one of my original stories. I spent page after page of conversation -- a good several thousand words worth -- between Bluebell and the fox, trying to hash out an issue that I, the writer, wasn't sure how to deal with. It really had nothing to do with the characters' opinions.

I'm doing it again, not because Ginny and Hermione are wavering about what's been happening (though there is some of that) but because I personally have very little idea of the upcoming details, and am trying to hash them out as I write.

No wonder I feel like I'm going nowhere.

On the other hand, I think I figured out how to write the next dream scene in "Secrets," which was stalling me for a while, because I didn't want to put in the mental effort to plan it out.

And now you've just seen my two forms of writer's block: the author unsure of her story's direction, and the author being an avoidant lazy bum.

Comments

[erised1810.livejournal.com]

I've done that too. it'll startot fel liek you're inther and writing up an account of what's goign on. as if your'e doign mprov theatre stuff and ou jsut han on in ther untiil you know where t ogo.
haveyo uperhaps bene roleplayign alot? thats' wher i seem to have got it from. I had this marauders story that literally had a useless scene of a page where stuff happened and it was tiem for someoen to tell their next story and had to sort of decide among them. i was al lthe while thinking up somethign that coudl be good for the next. it sounds too silly when you reread it and it's much nicer now i've polished that stain out of the way.
Goood luck!

[edenfalling]

Having never role-played in my life (well, beyond one acting class, but that's a different kettle of fish from these online things), I'd have to say that's not the problem.

See, basically I've hit a snag in the storyline and I'm not quite sure where to go next, or how to get where I want to go next. Normally this is when I stop writing for a while and let my subconscious chew on the issue for a few days or weeks. Except I want to finish this story sooner than that might allow, so I've been beating my head against the brick wall of an uncooperative plot and characters.

Both methods do eventually get me over the sticking points, but the first one is a lot less stressful!

[erised1810.livejournal.com]

I see. I can onl ywish you godo luck. I'vebeen stupid enoug hto lethte dalogue go on and on in hopes of fidnign sometihng to move the story forward again. only to find out later that i'd need to edit otu alot of nonsense.