Crossing Genres... or Something.

[RedMonkeyButt]

This may not be considered crossing genres, since it's still fantasy. But I'm working on a story that involves humans only, and it has stopped completely about 1000 words in. I haven't even gotten to the fun parts. I don't usually write stories that have only humans in them, so this is new. I'm constrained to the laws of physics and other bullshit, and it's hard.... *whines*

Has this ever happened to any of you and how did you get past it? I'm not blocked - I've had that happen and it sucks but this isn't that. I know where I want the story to go, but it's stalled. I don't want to have to rewrite everything because I've already done that once. But... *grrrrrr*

 

[Cruel2BKind]

I've had that happen. I've had a couple of stories that I could finish with a good twenty minutes of concentrated writing, but they are just blocked. It usually happens on sex scenes. When I'm in the mood to write sex scenes, I can write sex and story equally well. When I'm in the mood to write story, I usually get very little done as far as sex scenes.

Just power through it. The way I do it is I FORCE myself to write at least one sentence every day on a story that is stalled. Eventually, the stall will just go away and you will be able to write fluently again.

 

[PennLady]

This may not be considered crossing genres, since it's still fantasy. But I'm working on a story that involves humans only, and it has stopped completely about 1000 words in. I haven't even gotten to the fun parts. I don't usually write stories that have only humans in them, so this is new. I'm constrained to the laws of physics and other bullshit, and it's hard.... *whines*

Has this ever happened to any of you and how did you get past it? I'm not blocked - I've had that happen and it sucks but this isn't that. I know where I want the story to go, but it's stalled. I don't want to have to rewrite everything because I've already done that once. But... *grrrrrr*

Well, what is it you want these humans to do? Is this historical fiction, contemporary fiction, or something else? I write plain old humans a lot of the time, and yeah, it can be hard. But if you can tell me a bit more about the context or plot -- via a PM if you want -- I could answer ... well, I could answer.

 

[RedMonkeyButt]

I'm sending you a PM, PennLady, because this is a little awkward to explain... >.>

 

[PennLady]

I'm sending you a PM, PennLady, because this is a little awkward to explain... >.>

It always is.

 

[AirRichard101]

Betcha it'll involve a hockey puck...

Sorry, PL, I couldn't help myself.

 

[RedMonkeyButt]

Betcha it'll involve a hockey puck...

Sorry, PL, I couldn't help myself.

Not sure about the inside joke here...

But no. If it involved a hockey puck it probably wouldn't be giving me issues. Or hell, a hockey stick! But apparently, I can't write straight human... *shrugs*

 

[nicecthulhu]

But apparently, I can't write straight human... *shrugs*

I disagree with you, you can write straight human, RedMonkeyButt. Your succubus and demons came across as very human (call me crazy) in that one story of yours, well aside from the magic and supernatural sex.

Sorry, if it's fantasy why are you worrying about the laws of physics? Mainstream and SF have to (and sometimes don't), but fantasy can bend any physical law that it is required to.

As for the bullshit, ??

If PennLady can't help you, maybe you should set the story aside for awhile and write something else. Your subconscious might come up with a solution, if left alone with the problem for a few days.

 

[PennLady]

Betcha it'll involve a hockey puck...

Sorry, PL, I couldn't help myself.

LOL I bet they have their uses. And they do get frozen for games.

 

[PennLady]

Not sure about the inside joke here...

But no. If it involved a hockey puck it probably wouldn't be giving me issues. Or hell, a hockey stick! But apparently, I can't write straight human... *shrugs*

The inside joke is that MugsyB and I have written a number of romances between a woman and an ice hockey player. She started it, and most of hers are still available. Most of mine I had to take down, although I'm currently working on one called "Rhythm and the Blue Line."

Really, I am working on it. Even wrote something on it this morning!

 

[litfan10]

Hey RMB, I've had stories going like you describe where I have the part I have written and a strong sense of the ending scene but no idea of the road between the two. I skip ahead and write the ending that I have in mind. Usually once I finish that I have a stronger sense of the whole story and can get that between part.

 

[RedMonkeyButt]

I disagree with you, you can write straight human, RedMonkeyButt. Your succubus and demons came across as very human (call me crazy) in that one story of yours, well aside from the magic and supernatural sex.

Sorry, if it's fantasy why are you worrying about the laws of physics? Mainstream and SF have to (and sometimes don't), but fantasy can bend any physical law that it is required to.

As for the bullshit, ??

If PennLady can't help you, maybe you should set the story aside for awhile and write something else. Your subconscious might come up with a solution, if left alone with the problem for a few days.

My succubus and demon came across as human because they are just plays on the same genetic material inside that world.

And it's not fantasy in the sense that there are unicorns pooping butterflies and eating gnomes... it's fantasy in the sense of a daydream.

The inside joke is that MugsyB and I have written a number of romances between a woman and an ice hockey player. She started it, and most of hers are still available. Most of mine I had to take down, although I'm currently working on one called "Rhythm and the Blue Line."

Really, I am working on it. Even wrote something on it this morning!

Oooh... so hockey pucks may have different uses... Gives a whole new meaning to Ron White's "I may not touch bottom, but I will stretch out the edges..."

I just got past one of those - it felt like each word weighed 100lbs. After a couple of days I realised I was pushing the storyline too fast: there was something I'd overlooked in my rush to get to my planned destination. As soon as the penny dropped the words flew. Maybe your subconscious is trying to butt in.

Maybe I do need to slow it down. *shrugs* I'll just have to break some of those "rules" from the other thread and not have fucky fucky very early on...


Thanks for all the advice. This is really throwing me for a loop. I've had writer's block, I've had the I-don't-feel-like-fucking-writing block. But I've never had a story stall out like this before. It's just a weird feeling.