I wish I had the resolve of those AO3 authors. I love my stories and want to write it but when I sit down with the half finished chapter I can't work on it more than one sentence at a time. Same with most other creative projects I do. Even if I really want to do it my brain refuses to brain.
Writing one sentence at a time is still writing ❤️ Just because your brain isn't going about it the way that you want it to doesn't mean it isn't doing it at all.
You'll get there, anon. You just have to keep at it - at your own pace and in your own time.
As someone who goes through periods with the same thing, I think it's also important to give yourself permission to lower the bar for entry.
Did you open the document and reread what you already have? Great, it's now fresh in your mind so the next time you get a chance you'll have an idea of what you want to add. Or you'll get a fresh look at the issue that has been tripping you up and you may have an idea to address it. (Neither of these require adding sentences)
Did you think of world building and backgrounds for what's happened outside of the story you're writing? Great, you're exploring the world that you are building.
Did you just add a note to your document? Perfect, you have something to use as a guide marker. I'll add notes to my drafts that range from "Add X" or "And this is when Y gets punched" to "Never change this sentence, too perfect for end of chapter" or "Let character lock other characters in closet for shipping purposes". It means you're connecting with what you've done, praise yourself. You've written something.
Did you change a word in a sentence and that took all your energy? Been there, think of it as a damaged door. Before you can go through the door, you first have to get it working. And sometimes by the time you get it working you need a break.
Did you talk with a friend (even outside the fandom) about a detail of the story? Excellent! It's still on your mind, you still want to share it.
Did you find a song that resonates with your story or character? Awesome, you can make a note of it or add it to a playlist just for you. I usually have a playlist for each story I'm working on, so when I want to get myself in the zone (even just for reading) I can put on that playlist. To the point where there are times a song comes up outside the playlist and I start thinking about my story.
Did you read something that reminds you of your story? Two cakes theory, it's not about comparison it's about seeing other's works and going "Yes!!!".
I'm running out of examples, so I'll close with this: writing a story is just the tip of the iceberg. Not only do you not see a lot of it, it also took a while to form.
