Writer block

[ACE THE GOON]

I’ve had chapters in the works for months most of them super long, what are some good ways to overcome writer block, because I have the draft but bounce onto something new, leaving undone chapters to be finished one chapter Took me three months although I’m proud of it I’m been working on a super long chapter for months now and I want finish it but can’t get past my writer block, ADVICE WOULD BE GREATLY Appreciate

 

[chris_brown]

What are you currently stuck with in your chapter maybe I can help

 

[gene.sis]

Maybe you can break down the chapter into smaller chapters and publish the first of them.

Getting some likes might boost motivation, so it might be easier to get inspired.

 

[Zeebop]

Switch to something else and come back to it is what I usually do. If you have an idea for what you want to happen, write up an outline or a synopsis, see if you can break it down into chunks. Go and do something else and write a chunk, go and do something else and write a chunk, try to nibble away at it.

 

[insertnamehere]

Indeed, if a chapter is "super long" and "takes months to finish" then it's almost certainly too long. On a screen, smaller chunks of text are easier on the eyes compared to paper. Also, the vast majority of online readers have very short attention spans, and this is only exacerbated by the fact that few come to CHYOA to simply read, if you know what I mean. Chapters longer than perhaps one or two thousand words (depending on context) are simply not worth the effort.

 

[ACE THE GOON]

Yes I’ve broke it down it’s almost the final chapter so I’ll grind through it slowly thanks for the advice

 

[Jaegarblk]

Indeed, if a chapter is "super long" and "takes months to finish" then it's almost certainly too long. On a screen, smaller chunks of text are easier on the eyes compared to paper. Also, the vast majority of online readers have very short attention spans, and this is only exacerbated by the fact that few come to CHYOA to simply read, if you know what I mean. Chapters longer than perhaps one or two thousand words (depending on context) are simply not worth the effort.

As someone who has literally read War and Peace for fun, I strongly agree with this. My reading habits on CHOYA are very different to offline.

Incidentally breaking up Chapters is also useful as a writing excercise and thinking what other things could happen or choices be made at the breaks. I find inspiration hits just by doing this. You don't actually have to add new branches. Often what happens is that I change the original Chapter.