When you are
stumped on moving a plot line forward, what do you do to reinvigorate your
imagination?
Ah! Excellent topic this month, the “stuck” plot. In my
experience, when you are “stumped” in your story, it’s because something is
wrong with the plot. If you try to analyze what’s wrong, and come up with
nothing, it’s time to step away and regroup.
Flee the house and the computer.
 |
| Botanic Garden Montreal |
Get into nature with a long walk, maybe someplace new or to
your favorite park or Audubon preserve.
There is something about using your own feet to cover ground and look at
trees, water, birds, critters or flowers that is a very human experience, by
which I mean that people have been doing this—walking through nature for
millennia. No idea why, but it
does something to the mind. It loosens it.
 |
| Montreal Botanic Garden |
If you’re not a nature lover, visit one of your city’s
museums.The paintings are stories made with ink and color, the sculptures tell
a story in metal or clay. Photography may also inspire you. Walk around, look
at art. Become inspired.
Think about your setting. Is it as vibrant as possible? Is
the reader always right in the scene? Could it contribute something new to the
story?
 |
| View from Whitney Museum New York City |
Your characters? Look at people. Listen to them talk. Are your
characters fully developed or do they need more work?
 |
| A face with character! |
But if you are “stuck,” it’s probably the plot. If you are a “pantser,” which means
writing from the seat of your pants with no outline, jump ahead in the story if
you can. Maybe writing a new scene
will inform the one you’re finding so stale. If you have an outline or have
sketched out your story, you can jump ahead and write one of the “big” scenes.
Really dig into it. You can return to the “stuck” scene later.
Another idea! Do some research. Maybe you don’t know enough
about what you are trying to write. Possibly knowing more about the situation
(again think setting and characters, too) will help you move forward.
 |
| Congo Mask - MFA Boston |
Go to a movie, a good movie, not an “explosion” movie. Find
something you would never think to, maybe at an art house. Let yourself get lost in it.
Yet another idea!
Go to a concert. I find
chamber music or something classical sets my mind loose, but you may prefer pop
or rock of country.
 | |
| Tanglewood Shed at Concert Time |
Maybe the scene you’re stuck on doesn’t really belong in
your story. Can you skip it? Is it
in the right point of view?
Visualize it in your head. Is there drama? Conflict? Is the plot moving
forward? Or is this just filler that you don’t need?
 |
| Watch Out for Rattlesnakes on Restroom Floor - San Gabriel Mountains - CA |
The writers below also have interesting thoughts on this topic:
Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Anne de Gruchy https://annedegruchy.co.uk/category/blog/
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com
Marie Laval http://marielaval.blogspot.co.uk/
Dr. Bob Rich http://wp.me/p3Xihq-137
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog
Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Heather Haven http://heatherhavenstories.com/blog/
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Rhobin Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com
A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Anne de Gruchy https://annedegruchy.co.uk/category/blog/
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com
Marie Laval http://marielaval.blogspot.co.uk/
Dr. Bob Rich http://wp.me/p3Xihq-137
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog
Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Heather Haven http://heatherhavenstories.com/blog/
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Rhobin Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com
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