I have known Bruce Hale for many years and I am always struck by how funny, kind and generous he is. He's a huge supporter of the SCBWI and full of great ideas, and I will sit in on any talk or workshop he gives. Author of the wildly successful Chet Gecko series, Bruce gives us the Writing Tip of the Day.
A CURE FOR STORY STUCK-ITIS
Often, I find that when my story bogs down I've lost track of what the character wants or I haven't given her a strong/meaningful enough goal to carry her through. If the character is actively trying to solve a problem, your story will keep moving forward. Of course, it’s one thing to say this and another thing to accomplish it. Here are a few techniques you might try to get unstuck:
• Character journaling: Write journal entries as if you were that main character. Sometimes in the free flow of writing, a new idea will shake loose.
• Interview your character: Write this in Q&A format, with you posing questions and your character answering. Ask what she’s feeling, what she wants – anything that will help you get past the stuck place. The answers might surprise you.
• Brainstorming: It’s vital to do plenty of this before you begin writing. Sometimes I’ve gotten stuck because I didn’t allow the story idea enough time to gestate before I tried to push it out into the world. Play with the idea before writing. Let it grow organically.
• Dream seeding: Writing is a head game. (And some of us are head cases because of this!) Let your unconscious mind lend a hand. Before you go to sleep, hold the key story question in your mind, whether it’s “What happens next?” “What does she want?” or “How does he get out of this predicament?”
And if all that fails, try putting your story aside and working on something else for a week. The brain break may do you good.
I really appreciated the suggestions, Tina and Bruce. I have two characters who won't shut up, but they keep jumping ahead. I think a little Q & A is in order!
Posted by: Mary Ann Fraser | January 13, 2010 at 07:00 PM
I love the Interview a Character tip. Much better than talking to them in my head (or out loud at the grocer store)!
Posted by: Amy | January 09, 2010 at 06:57 AM
really a good idea.....Thanks Bruce and Tina!
Posted by: Christian Louboutin Pumps | August 04, 2009 at 05:08 PM
I hadn't heard it called "dream seeding" but I love that! Sometimes when I'm stuck, I'll let something rattle around in my head and do something totally mindless, like take a long bath. And then Eureka! I'm unstuck. Also a little pruney. Thanks, Tina, for passing along Bruce's great tips.
Posted by: Cathy C. Hall | May 19, 2009 at 07:54 PM
This is truly helpful. Thank you so much for sharing!!
Posted by: Rita | May 19, 2009 at 01:55 PM
Thanks for the home remedies for stuck-itis! I love the idea of character journaling. A sure cure :-)!
Posted by: June | May 19, 2009 at 09:37 AM
Solid, sound advice. Nice job, Tina and Bruce!
Posted by: Terry P. | May 19, 2009 at 08:05 AM
Great advice - Thanks Bruce and Tina!
Posted by: [email protected] | May 19, 2009 at 08:01 AM
Thank you, Tina and Bruce. It helps to hear prominent writers' tips for solving story problems. I heard the tip about dream seeding the other day at a Georgia Writers Association meeting.
Patricia Cruzan
Posted by: Patricia Cruzan | May 19, 2009 at 03:42 AM
Great tips from Bruce and very timely as I'm suffering from a bad case of stuckitis. I'm off to sleep on it and hopefully my dream-seeds will sprout stalks strong enough for me to climb out of Stuckville.
Thanks Tina and Bruce!
Rilla
Posted by: Rilla | May 18, 2009 at 11:32 PM