Approach your work differently to reach The End.
Almost all writers get stuck at some point. Maybe, mid-way through a novel (or work of non-fiction) we can’t decide how to move the story (or narrative) along, or we're bogged down in logistics (How do we get each character exactly where they need to be for the ending to make sense?) or have a lead character whose voice can’t be heard above the din of all the minor, suddenly more interesting characters.
Often, however, all it takes to get back on track is a simple change of perspective.
How You Write
Change where you write. Move from a desk to a sofa, inside to outside, home to coffee shop.
Normally an early morning writer? Switch to writing at the end of the day. Or write in your lunch break.
Write with background music playing. A chatty radio station might force you to up your concentration.
Always write on a laptop? Now, write in long hand. Or dictate your story on your phone or laptop.
Write standing up.
Write in ten-minute bursts throughout the day.
Do a five-minute HIT workout after each new paragraph.
What You Write
Write from a different character’s perspective.
Introduce a new character.
Write from a non-human perspective.
Write a scene that’s pure dialogue.
Write a scene that’s pure internal dialogue.
Write the entire next scene in no more than 200 words.
Begin the next chapter/scene in an entirely unexpected location.
Write a flashback.
Add a moving scene to a comedy and a funny scene to a drama. I
Move your story ahead by one day, week or month.
Skip ahead and write the last chapter.
Commentaires