Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
When I start writing a story, my brain goes into overdrive, and I develop plot twists, character quirks, and other ideas by the dozen.
But…
It took me a while to commit words to paper for my latest WIP, as all my thoughts seemed to wind themselves into one huge confusing muddle.
So much so that I have been wondering if my muse has set me on a mission to sort my own life out first.
I have been trying to figure them all out by making notes about everything, but I am getting nowhere fast. Whichever avenue I wander down, it’s as if something is stopping me. I don’t usually suffer from writer’s block, but I was getting worried. With everything else going on in my life, I don’t want to be deprived of the only escape I get.
I began to realise what might be happening when I wondered if it was normal to identify with a character so much. I will try to explain what I mean, although I’m not sure I understand it myself.
The leading character in my new story seems to have problems similar to mine, but this wasn’t in my head when I started writing it. The confusing part is that I don’t think my problems are solvable, so what does that bode for the story?
How can I solve his problems effectively if I cannot solve my own?
Impossible doesn’t work well in fiction, not for long anyway. I must find an answer or start a new story.
My character isn’t quite as old as me. He isn’t bound by a sense of duty or loyalty like me, so I should be able to solve his problems. Probably because somewhere in my head could be the answers to mine…
Writers, is this a problem you have encountered before?
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