Wrote myself into A Wall

Booklover83 · Post by **Booklover83** » 17 Feb 2012, 21:17

Hi Everyone!

I was working on a novel not too long ago and I only got about 4 chapters in before I realized I wrote my sorry ass into a wall. I was working on the amazing story and it was going so well and then I kind of wrote myself into the wall and have no idea how to get myself out of it without ditching the whole damn thing and starting over. How do my fellow writers work with this particular issue? Just curious because I am hoping to get my story out of the wall and I am starting a new idea outline too. So yea, how do you guys get yourselves out of the corner or from against the writing wall?

David_Jerome · Post by **David_Jerome** » 17 Feb 2012, 23:58

Well...if it's only four chapters in, why not just rewrite it?

Besides, we'd need more info about your story, and why you think you can't progress, before we can make any useful suggestions to help you.

Booklover83 · Post by **Booklover83** » 18 Feb 2012, 08:01

Thanks! Basically it was about a guy from the 13th century who can obliterate evil souls so they cannot move on in any way. I jumped into a scene that wrote me into a wall. I think I just have major writer's block now that I have slept on it a bit. May just scrap and start over but what do other writers do when this happens? Do you scrap it and start over or do something else?

David_Jerome · Post by **David_Jerome** » 18 Feb 2012, 09:52

It seems you haven't really thought the book through, and are making up the details as you go along. I'd suggest that you write a frame for your story first.

Write out what the plot is, and envision what you think the climax will be. Then, write out all the characters, write their character traits, back stories, abilities, etc. Then write out the setting of your story: include what things are in the setting, like rivers, oceans, buildings, headquarters, where the characters live...all of that.

When you actually start writing the story, you may decide to change details of what you've framed as you go along; but if you have a framework to guide you, that should help you overcome the writer's block.

Booklover83 · Post by **Booklover83** » 18 Feb 2012, 12:12

That could be very true! Time to re examine what went wrong:) I had not thought of what you said. Thank you:)

Maud Fitch · Post by **Maud Fitch** » 19 Feb 2012, 00:56

A bit of temporary improv can often solve a blockage, rewrite a few possible scenes so you go in a different direction.
Sometimes character dialogue can help you out of a tight spot. Or you can get the protagonist to think things through for you. He can talk out loud to himself, imagining different scenarios, thrashing around, pulling his hair and bemoaning the fact that his life may be over unless this obstacle is surmounted. I'm sure your ideas will flow again.

Ce-Ce Wroth · Post by **Ce-Ce Wroth** » 27 Feb 2012, 15:16

I have that problem all the time. I only managed to finish one book, and it was in the sixth grade, and Im still trying to re-write it. I just either work on more ideas and twist what I have around it to make it better and to get me out of the sore spot, or I just re-write, keep the idea, and take some of what I have and just add it into the new copy.

Booklover83 · Post by **Booklover83** » 27 Feb 2012, 15:20

I am starting to come out of the wall. Wrote the first paragraph of the next chapter the other night but I am working on a few different projects right now so I am happy.

Carla Hurst-Chandler · Post by **Carla Hurst-Chandler** » 28 Feb 2012, 09:35

Glad it is working itself out...and sometimes when you're blocked the only thing to do is to step back and focus on something entirely different and then return to it when you are fresh again

the tiger fights · Post by **the tiger fights** » 20 Mar 2012, 20:19

Walls are part of the writing process, but the beauty of fiction is that it boundless and therefore solvent enough to pass through such obstacles. Try using some writing techniques, like reordering your sequence of events, creating flashbacks, adding backstories, changing settings, inserting characters, incorporating dreams, expanding self-conflict, recalling memories, installing past relations or knowledge between characters, etc, etc, . . . and oh yeah, don't forget to plant some secrets.

steve p · Post by **steve p** » 25 Mar 2012, 15:16

Just keep writing as if the wall wasn't there and finish the book. By that time it's almost certain your first four chapters will need to be rewritten anyway. With the end in place, you'll then know what beginning applies and your wall will be down.

That's what I'd do, anyway

steve

Lon Dee · Post by **Lon Dee** » 30 Mar 2012, 08:46

I liked David_Jerome's response: think about each of your characters; open a new file and describe each of those characters; then describe the setting you're in. As you do this, you'll learn new things about each character and the setting that will drive your story. I often do an outline that can help. I usually don't stick to the outline, but at least it gives me some direction. Sometimes I do a full story outline of the whole book; other times just an outline of the chapter or even the scene I'm in.

Or, just go out and do something else for a while. Bike through the park. Drive through the countryside. Walk through the city. Anything to change your own setting until you've cleared your mind a bit.