A Challenge of Writing

[unspeakablehorror]

The writing problem where I can come up with plenty of ideas for a story, but finishing the next chapter remains elusive is a very specific and annoying problem that I have.  Just wrote out a whole scene again that absolutely does not happen in the next chapter.  It's nice that I can engage in the process of writing still, but it would be even better if I could pinpoint what's preventing me from completing this process with the chapter draft I am actually trying to finish.  I have never worked purely linearly, but when I'm fully engaged with the writing process, I can make sequential progress as well as writing future scenes.  I simply do not know what the block is. 

Comments

[reg_flint]

Maybe your block is chemical. I get a million ideas and suddenly as I'm writing the ideas, the thing just collapses. I've written a lot and it seems I can only do it with excessive coffee or (as I now know) with Ritalin for my ADHD, which I can't take with my other meds. Oh well. Maybe you could self-test for ADHD. The likelihood is very low but may as well see.

[unspeakablehorror]

I do find caffeine helpful for being both awake and focused. It does not necessarily help me write any more, though.

I have...periods of time where I write incredibly prolifically and I can barely type quickly enough to transcribe the ideas, and then I have times where nothing seems to come out, or come out the way I want it to, at the least.

It's not necessarily entirely a bad thing, even. Sometimes I neglect my other interests and even important matters when I get so immersed in my writing. I do really enjoy that inspiration when I get it, though.

It's possible that my brain is...greatly less than optimal, lol, but even though I suspect there might be medications that could help that, I've been reluctant to pursue those. My specific history with caffeine in particular, and my body's violent dislike of its side effects (even with the positive benefits I receive from it) to the point that I have to be careful how much chocolate or tea I consume, has probably not helped in that regard.