I've been attempting to write an escapist fantasy story  for a few months now and can't seem to get past a certain plot block in the story involving a deaf protagonist and his cat-shifter prince from another reality. It's fun to read and watch isekai, but writing it is too formulaic for someone like me who enjoys experimental ideas and challenges.

On the other hand, reading the news and seeing the affects of what's been happening in the US, I can't find the excitement from escapism as I was hoping for. On the other side of the spectrum, I've been toying with a realistic dramatic story with very flawed human characters and no-win situations. There's no magic spell that provide food and housing or half giant with a flying motorcycle. The world is too ugly and unsettled.

I've shown folks the start of my cat shifter story back in December, but I haven't shown anyone the realistic story that I have written on side recently during my writer's block.