I wish I could say that I’m making progress with the monster, but I’ve been working in fits and starts. There are two significant plot points that need to be resolved. And I’m stymied. I keep hacking away at it and making it worse, sort of like when I cut my own bangs in the fifth grade. I knew I should stop, but I just kept going.
Any advice?
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Betsy Lerner 
I’ve been hacking away and making things worse for 2 weeks now, so we’re in the same boat.
I flew to Alaska, stared at the whales, and read Marjorie Morningstar (500+ pages. Got the juices flowing again!
Be creative. Open to ridiculous ideas. Decide what shouldn’t happen. Write that. Afterward you’ll know. Unstuck, voila.
Why not introduce a cockatoo to the proceedings – Irritating or lovable – a permanent character or just a guest appearance – and see what happens;)
Go to the dispensary and buy a pre-rolled sativa dominant joint, maybe 24% THC or so. Light up, kick back and relax. See if any ideas emerge. If nothing else, you’ll get a good buzz.
I’ve found it helps to write sorry/crap scenes bcuz by doing that, it often results in a solution. It might take 20 of them, but eventually it happens. This is a wordy way of saying persistence pays off. 😉
I’m actually in the same boat, plus I have a beginning and an ending and the middle doesn’t exist. It’s driving me nuts.
“Any advice?”
I saw a meme on Bluesky yesterday, a photo of a cat crouched on a computer keyboard, with the caption, “Cat accidentally deletes 47 pages of work-in-progress, dramatically enhancing pacing.”
What’s the common word? “Murder your darlings”? Sounds like you may already have done that.
Keep what you have, set it aside, it’s bound to have some use to it, and rotate away.
Start over? Can’t say for sure. But you know what your story is about. If you don’t, then figure it out. Distill what you’re doing down to that, and pare away everything else. Then get back in the ring and fight the next round.
Will it be painful? Probably, but not painful like a gunshot wound. Will it be difficult? Better be, or you’re not doing it right.
That’s it. That’s my advice. Keep the change.
Assuming you’ve read THE CREATIVE ACT by Rick Rubin? If not, do!
Jody
Yes. Do keep going. Your bangs grew back and had no permanent grotesque effect except to your psyche. As a good friend (who is 90!) told me recently to detach. I am working on detaching from my past and letting go of what no longer serves me. I say let it go and keep going. Love and forgive yourself. If writing was easy, everyone would be doing it…and competition would be even worse. 🧡🩷💛💛💚💙💜
When Brian Wilson was stuck, he’d play boogie-woogie in another key. But most authors settle for long walks, showers, and naps. When not beating their heads against their keyboards.
John C. Krieg
Stab the beast to death by finishing no matter what, even if you think you’re on the wrong path, and it’s all just shit. Rarely is it really that bad, and something can usually be salvaged from a completed manuscript, but not from a manuscript that has never made it to completion.
Look to your street cred for reassurance. Most authors would kill for your reviews, so it’s doubtful that you are going to miss on this one. What you are really stressing over here is just making good better, and then pushing better to best. My God, I wish I had your problems.
Where is your agent in all of this? Make him (I know it’s he) weigh in.
Forge ahead. Stab the beast!
Last time I had a block, we left town. Then the snow closed the tunnel and we had to turn around and go home. I felt no pressure…I’d planned to relax all weekend and read, read, read. But, I pulled up the elusive chapter on my computer and spent the next two hours writing it until completed. Funny thing: I think it’s the best scene in the book. Step away…that’s my advice. Luvs. Jude
Think about how reassuring it is to read about your struggles. That should cheer you up. I think the history of a novel’s writing would be very interesting: the unsuccessful starts, the bog downs, the POV decisions, where to start decisions, and on and on.