Finishing my work

[blackstallion21]

I'm what I would think I can call a seasoned writer at this point in my life, and I have a bunch of poetry and a good handful of stories that I started and can't seem to finish...

What do you all do as writers to get over Writer's Block?

Any comments on this matter would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ElectricBlue]

Not that I get writer's block, but if one thing's going slow, I write something else. Everything I've released since 2019 has been a side project while I've been writing something else. It's my modus operandi for this decade. Works fine for me, I've never worried about it.

There'll come a time when I forget where those 2019 WIPs are, which would be a bit of a shame - but if I really wanted to finish those stories, I would.

 

[StillStunned]

What do you all do as writers to get over Writer's Block?

It might help to figure out what's causing the block. Are you too tired (mentally, physically or emotionally) to write? Too distracted by other things? Are you stuck on the plot? Have you simply lost interest in the story, or realised perhaps that there wasn't really enough tale to tell in the first place?

For some of these causes - tiredness, lack of interest - the answer will be "suck it up and push through, or else abandon the story." If the problem lies in plot, you might need to analyse what you have and work out how you want to move forward. Maybe take a look at some structuring or plotting methods like Save the Cat or Freytag's Pyramid.

If you need encouragement, this place is generally quite helpful. Of course, then you risk not finishing your story because you're wasting all your time, energy and creativity here.

 

[blackstallion21]

First of all, thank you for responding, and I feel where you're coming from... But there en-lies part of my problem... All of these stories are old work from the archives and I want to finish them before starting any new projects... I have too many stories on the hook to start anything else so essentially, they are all side projects until I can get some of this work completed.

I've even tried "employing" AI and trying to get help there, but it's not original quality, and more over, AI doesn't help much when it comes to writing erotic stories lol... It's actually HYSTERICAL trying to get the apps to help in the way you need them too. (Although I've never really liked AI, it most definitely doesn't replace a human brain, in any way, shape, or form in this matter!... Even some of my darker poetry, where I was trying to add feeling, AI told me to contact emotional support for possibly being suicidal! LMFAO LMFAO LMFAO!!!!!!!)

Sooooooooooooo

They're en-lies my issue!

 

[blackstallion21]

It might help to figure out what's causing the block. Are you too tired (mentally, physically or emotionally) to write? Too distracted by other things? Are you stuck on the plot? Have you simply lost interest in the story, or realised perhaps that there wasn't really enough tale to tell in the first place?

For some of these causes - tiredness, lack of interest - the answer will be "suck it up and push through, or else abandon the story." If the problem lies in plot, you might need to analyse what you have and work out how you want to move forward. Maybe take a look at some structuring or plotting methods like Save the Cat or Freytag's Pyramid.

If you need encouragement, this place is generally quite helpful. Of course, then you risk not finishing your story because you're wasting all your time, energy and creativity here.

This is answered in the post beneath yours lol. We were writing at the same time and you just posted first... Lol

Thanks for your response... Maybe you can get some incite from my other comment, and further help from there...

 

[Seurat]

I'm what I would think I can call a seasoned writer at this point in my life, and I have a bunch of poetry and a good handful of stories that I started and can't seem to finish...

What do you all do as writers to get over Writer's Block?

Any comments on this matter would be greatly appreciated!

When you figure it out, please post your solution here. I have tons of partially finished stories.

 

[blackstallion21]

Thanks... You got it, I'll do the leg work for ya!

 

[StillStunned]

This is answered in the post beneath yours lol. We were writing at the same time and you just posted first... Lol

Thanks for your response... Maybe you can get some incite from my other comment, and further help from there...

Not all stories get finished. I have a separate folder called "Dead ends and false starts" where I put abandoned projects so they don't clutter up my WIP folder.

There's often a reason why writers abandon stories. I suggest you read each one and see if it sparks any inspiration. If not, move it into an "Abandoned" folder and move on.

Writing is supposed to be fun. Don't feel obliged to finish a story just because you started it. Instead, write something else that you can feel excited about.

 

[blackstallion21]

Not all stories get finished. I have a separate folder called "Dead ends and false starts" where I put abandoned projects so they don't clutter up my WIP folder.

There's often a reason why writers abandon stories. I suggest you read each one and see if it sparks any inspiration. If not, move it into an "Abandoned" folder and move on.

Writing is supposed to be fun. Don't feel obliged to finish a story just because you started it. Instead, write something else that you can feel excited about.

Again... I totally feel your stance but in my case, I am planning on "putting down the pen" after all of these stories are finished. I'm getting older and writing erotica started when I was young... Highschool young, and I would like to get these off of my desk and to wrap up this chapter of my life. I hit 40 last month and writing erotica doesn't coincide with my next chapter. (Or so I am thinking currently...)

One of my favorite writers just hung up her hat as well and it's something that I think all of us will do at some point, and I would like to get these together, publish my second erotica book and be done...

Soooo in my case, ALL OF THESE MUST BE FINISHED! They have stayed in the Archive folder for wayyyyyyy too long!

 

[TheWritingGroup]

Soooo in my case, ALL OF THESE MUST BE FINISHED! They have stayed in the Archive folder for wayyyyyyy too long!

If you feel that way ...

Write them. Even though you're blocked. Just write them. Deliberately write them below your normal standards, just churn out words. Then they're "done" and you can move on.

 

[JGittes]

If these stories must get finished, the only cure is ass to chair and finger to keyboard. Use glue if necessary.

 

[AlinaX]

I hit 40 last month and writing erotica doesn't coincide with my next chapter.

Still a baby! Forty is when I jumped back into writing.

 

[alohadave]

All of these stories are old work from the archives and I want to finish them before starting any new projects... I have too many stories on the hook to start anything else

Let them go. If you haven't finished them by now, there's probably a reason for that.

Put them in your long term archive and work on something new.

 

[Rob_Royale]

Let them go. If you haven't finished them by now, there's probably a reason for that.

Put them in your long term archive and work on something new.

That's an excellent point. Unfinished projects are a stressor that can really inhibit your enjoyment of a hobby.

To use a modeling analogy, sometimes it's better to toss all unfinished builds in the scrap box and use them for extra parts. Then get out a new kit and have at it.

 

[IWroteThis]

Again... I totally feel your stance but in my case, I am planning on "putting down the pen" after all of these stories are finished. I'm getting older and writing erotica started when I was young... Highschool young, and I would like to get these off of my desk and to wrap up this chapter of my life. I hit 40 last month and writing erotica doesn't coincide with my next chapter. (Or so I am thinking currently...)

While I started writing erotica in college, I was in my fifties when I created my account here and started sharing them with others. I'm still ramping up my writing, and I don't see the end in sight.

Just for Literotica, I have roughly 50 WiPs in the active folder, nearly 20 WiPs in the inactive folder, and several hundred story starts, story ideas, and snippets waiting in reserve. That's more than all of my non-Literotica writing combined, but there's still a fair number of WiPs intended for different audiences.

Soooo in my case, ALL OF THESE MUST BE FINISHED! They have stayed in the Archive folder for wayyyyyyy too long!

And, there is why you have writer's block. You have set an unreasonable expectation that guarantees failure, so why even try?

 

[BeechLeaf]

I agree, use them for parts. I know how it feels, you can't just throw that good writing away. So don't: keep it, but look for what's good about it. One clever idea? Some natural dialogue? An unexpected twist? Often, if you've been trying to write it as a continuous story, you've got bits that are really good, and bits that just smooth the route up to those. Look at them and identify the small parts that you definitely must keep: put them in a file. Decide to use them in the future. But scrap the original idea of the story they were in. You'll be able to use an old good idea in a new story.

 

[AlinaX]

Print them out, cut into individual paragraphs, mix them up, and you have a fun jigsaw to solve.

 

[yowser]

Write about writer's block.

How it drives you nuts. Then include all the pieces in your WIP attic, finishing them if you can (and tell us where and why you were stuck) or not (again telling us why.) It will an education for us all, you'll be done and have performed a mitzvah.

 

[Bazzle]

I do my *research* I write Only fans model profiles.

Why do they do what they do.

Often there is an interesting love story or rejection alongside the desperate need for cash. Or boredom.

 

[AlinaX]

I do my *research* I write Only fans model profiles.

Why do they do what they do.

Often there is an interesting love story or rejection alongside the desperate need for cash. Or boredom.

That sounds intriguing.

 

[StillStunned]

In case the OP is feeling bad about leaving stories unfinished: Your longest failure