There are many reasons why some authors struggle to write stories. (Or why they write stories and they don't always turn out great the first time). I've listed a few to see if anyone can relate. I've titled them Author Blocks because it sounds cool. Yes? No?

Author Blocks

#1- Language Barrier

#2- Difficulty describing scene

#3- Consistent Writer's Block

#4- Sporadic Writing due to lack of focus

#5- Difficulty describing characters

#6- Difficulty correctly conveying proper responses

#7- Difficulty writing dialogue

#9- Unstable plot

#10- Unstable characters

#11- Sporadic Writing due to lack of interest

#12- Difficulty with creating plot

#13- Difficulty with connecting to reader

#14- Unstable Setting

#15- Lack of Consistency in story

#16- Confusing plot

#17- Confusing Character Motivations

#18- Miscommunication to the Audience

#19- Sporadic writing to lack of time

As noted in the title, my blocks are #4, #6, and #18. This is more evident in the stories I'm currently writing for publishing since I put more thought into those stories, but even in my original fan fiction drafts I do this. In fact, I used to have Author Block #7, but I've gotten better with that one over the years. (Thank goodness). Over the course of...today, it would be thirteen years...I have written a lot of books. My originals obviously weren't great; I was only six when I started writing. But I can very safely say that, to this very day, I can't sit down and write one story for more than a week or two at a time. And if I do, I need to get as much done as I can before another story idea pops up. For example, I'm writing a book that I'm code-naming Turquoise for safety purposes. (I love you guys a lot, but I've worked so hard on this book and I'm not risking anything when I'm this close to finishing it). I've been writing Turquoise since I was thirteen. So...that makes it six years I've been doing this book. I got the notebook from my grandmother and I started to write it, but when I was fourteen, I got into Kung Fu Panda fan fiction and I wound up abandoning it for a while. I didn't get back to the story until I was sixteen and a half. And even still, I get sidetracked by other stories I'm working on, so I'm still working on it. (Thankfully, I'm almost done. A few more chapters and I'll be ready to revise!).

Author block #6 I blame partially on my brain. I have a very mild case of Asperger's Syndrome, which means that I have some trouble interacting...normally? (Is that the right word?) out in a social area. I can still get along fine and I can hold my own out in public, but it's kind of hard for me to do that. (For example, apparently dancing and singing along the radio station in the store is socially impolite. I don't know why; it's catchy!). But this carries into my stories and into the dialogue and actions of my characters. Which reminds me: pretend for a moment you're a bully trying to act like a tough guy. If you saw someone turn into a seven foot hawk rumored to be able to breathe fire, what would be your first reaction?

Then there's Author Block #18. I notice this more with the publishing books I'm working on, but I noticed in my original fan fiction stories that some information gets lost in the dialogue or bizarre phrases which completely throw the reader off. (For exhibit A,The Hollywood Kids, Season 1X7, False Alarm, act 1, had a miscommunication section until I changed it. Thanks to doitforthebrine for helping me on that one).

So, that's my list of blocks. I'm still working on them, but no one's perfect.

How about you guys? What are your Author Blocks?