Can't abandon another fic...

[jajalala]

Oh dear... I've always promised myself that I wouldn't abandon another fic, but I'm feeling mighty tempted... I thought I got over a roadblock in the writing, but now I'm not sure where to take it next. I have some vague ideas of where I'd like it to go, but no certain scenes or direction that's really driving me. I started the fic (a FE3H Marianne/Hilda) with enthusiasm and fluff in my brain, but now I'm getting into more serious stuff and trying to make moves towards an ending which makes me feel like I'm slogging instead of enjoying the writing... which is not a great sign.

Meanwhile my inspiration for some other WIPs has been popping off decently (though with their own unique roadblocks at times), so I procrastinate on that hard work by working on these nicely-flowing ones... But I'm so excited about these other works I want to start posting them already, even though I've promised myself not to do two multichapters at once unless I know one of them is ending soon.

Perhaps it's for the best. This procrastinating-with-other-WIPs is probably good for building a buffer before posting, though I'm distracting myself from actually sitting down and working through the issues of my main work. Every other time I've felt like this the solution has usually been to just sit and force myself to type, and usually a solution presents itself when pressed. That's why I usually write to a posting schedule (whether it's a specific "one chapter every Wednesday" or a vague "one to two chapters a week"), as it forces some of that discipline with the public accountability of "I told readers this would update this much, I should honor that." Perhaps the real issue with this fic is that from the start I declared it wouldn't have a schedule. I started it a few weeks after moving for the second time in a few months, and was in the kind of bustle that I didn't feel like I could promise anything. But now I'm on steady ground, yet procrastinating and avoiding the fic with the excuse that "it's just for fun I shouldn't force it"... but like exercise, as much as I sometimes dread it, I always feel much better after having written and gotten through it (And oh boy the sweet feeling of seeing the "incomplete" symbol on AO3 change to a "complete" symbol.... feels incredible).

Comments

[vriddy]

Ouch, always a tough decision!! You've written so many stories now, maybe that slog is just part of your process and something you can plan for? I know whenever I get to the 75% part of a long story I start really hating it, it feels trite and boring and sucky and generally all bad feelings. I power through it by telling myself I'll just post anonymous, and maybe I'll learn something from writing an ending for it 😂 I realise that doesn't work as well when part of it is already posted! Could you set a schedule and announce it now that you're more settled, if that helped you in the past? 🤔 Good luck with getting to the finish line and building those buffers!!

[jajalala]

Ahaha thank you for the encouragement!! And I do think you're right that it's that 75% area that's kicking my ass... Love doing all the fluff and fun times between the start and end, but having to start wrapping it up into a neat little bow to end it is brutal.

And ahaha no I'm def not in the "posting anonymous" zone, but maybe I'll try and declare a schedule for the next chapter I post... If I can get that next chapter posted 😂

[vriddy]

I guess 75% is around the part where we have to stop creating problems and start really solving them? 😂

I usually end up posting under my account anyway, but telling myself I have the anon option when possible (I do have a lot of series 😅) keeps me going, lol. Hope you can get that next chapter out and hopefully get back onto the boat again :D

[weatheringtea]

I've found a posting schedule really helps me too. I never used to use one, but when I got into the meaty part of my story, it forced my brain to try and solve things. Nothing wrong with changing your mind and switching to a schedule if you think it'll help! It might just need one of those chapter passes when you write the draft and go "wow, so that's garbage" but then the chapter you write to replace it is something you really like.

I'm feeling that slog too now u.u I'm in Plot Climax, but my brain just wants to write Characters Doing Stuff lol. I'm going to have to force myself to grind it out for the next while (like exercise haha)... I want that "Complete" too~

[jajalala]

Yess sometimes force is needed for the brain... It's so tempting to be like "Ooh it's not *~*flowing*~* right now, I don't have ~*~Inspiration~*~, so I should take a break and come back later once I've caught that nebulous concept that will fix all my woes"... but ultimately the solution is to actually sit down and focus on it, and a deadline forces that sit down to actually happen instead of being put off. You're right, even a scrapped chapter is at least a starting point for a better chapter.

Good luck on you climax!! That's a scary part to be in, the pressure is on a lot higher than the Characters Doing Stuff times. I hope we can both get that beautiful little "Complete" symbol sooner or later!