I know none of us here are doctors, and I should really see one in general. Not to mention, you folks don't really have any background information about me (which I find good), but since I can neither afford a doctor or alcohol, this is my best shot. Story is, I check when was the last time I wrote something and it's apparently April the 16th. I did something to try and ostracize me with some other communities, but as I write this, it's been 7 days and I haven't finished my attempted prompt story. It's almost 1K words, which is half my former writing standards, so there's that I guess. I can't really tell if I'm just very lazy, or I got writer's block. Anyone know the difference between the two? I'd appreciate it.
Set a specific time per day aside where you sit down and write. Force yourself to do it, that means no distractions, no youtube, no checking other sites. You sit there and either write or stare at that blank page for at least half an hour. If you can't do it, it's procrastination, if after half an hour the page is still blank you have writer's block.
I distinguish the two like this: It's procrastination if I already know what I need to write, or have a solid idea of how the chapter is going to go, but choose not to write. For example, when I need to write a sex scene, and I already know how that sex scene will progress, but put it off and do something else because I'm not in the mood to write something sexual; that's procrastination. On the flip side, if I have no clue what I want to write, or how to write the idea I have in mind, that's what I'd consider writer's block.
I like this split. I'd add a third category, which kind of falls in between: I've chosen what I want to write, sketched out the high level plot and anything. I'm focused, I know what I want to write, but whatever words and sentences and paragraphs I put down, they're just not working. It's possible that the plot I decided upon just sucks. It hasn't happened to me much, only a few times, but in my experience, if it happens during an established story, the best remedy is just to backtrack and try to develop your plot into a different direction. If it happens at the start of a brand new story, the best thing to do is to just toss the whole thing. Ideas are a dime a dozen. Execution is what matters.
I suppose I should give you folks an update. You've all been helpful, really, but I finished my little project, and let me tell you. I absolutely hate it. Poor word choices, weird paragraph lengths, and actions so non-descript, me putting asterisks on both sides of the paragraphs would've been much more engaging.
I have no problem writing, including writing a LOT, once I knuckle down and get started. It's getting started that's the problem, not the actual writing. That's procrastination. Procrastination is definitely my superpower. If you aren't enjoying your writing, you shouldn't write it, and if you don't like the result, you shouldn't publish it. Don't put your name on something you aren't proud of. This isn't a job, and there is no pressure (except peer pressure from fans, I guess...) If you're not enjoying the process or the result, it probably explains why you're having such a hard time getting it done. In the long run, it's probably worth finding a story idea that you enjoy more, even if doing so means your initial start is delayed. Alternatively, if you like the story idea, but hate the process, you should change the process. Maybe get a co-writer. Maybe try using AI. Make your chapters longer, or shorter. Switch from first person to third, or the reverse. Try out your story in a game universe, or switch your setting (for example moving from real world to magical, or sci-fi). Etc.
As long as you hate it and can say, "okay, that's done," and try something else, it seems like a good enough outcome. A lot of stuff is like that.
I agree. I have a lot of unpublished stuff that wasn't worth the effort to clean up and post. But it is still a reservoir of ideas and scenes that I have repurposed over time.
Congratulations, at least you wrote something! It's not bad if crap comes out of it. At least you have a basis with which you can continue to work. The next step is to analyze what you don't like about the text and change those parts.
