Well, first things first...
stop staring at the computer screen expecting something to happen.
The only thing that happens is your eyes dry out.
Next, take a step back and use a critical eye on your work.
Here are a few suggestions to help: Try to find what stalled your work.
Was it dialog? Was it plot? Did the characters run off on you and you're not sure how to get them back? Review your plot and characters.
Use the five W's...
Who, What, Where, Why, When.
Sometimes answering these questions helps you realign your plot.
Who are my main characters? Have you added too many side players? What is my goal? Do you have a set conclusion to your story? Where is your story set? Did your fantasy story get too complicated? Did your horror focus too much on the gore and not the plot? Did you spend excess time on setting description? Why did my characters act this way? Have you given a modicum of back history? Are my characters just crazy or will there be an explanation for their behavior? When will this ever end?Actually, do you have an ending plotted out? Get out! I mean, get out and get some fresh air.
Exercise is good - oxygenation, blood flow, endorphins, all that! Go stroll in the mall and clear your head, do some people watching! Visit a museum, or a zoo.
Sometimes stepping away and feeding your creative spirit can help.
Take a long hot shower/bath with a few drops of lemongrass oil or rosemary (oil, or clipping) both of these are great stimulants for the brain.
The scent of peppermint can be stimulating, mint tea or sucking on mint candy might spur you into action.
Read! Read other stories in your genre and be inspired.
Something light and humorous might help you relax and create.
Read your work aloud, into a voice recorder, or have a friend read it aloud for you.
Hearing your words in voice might help spur your story into action.
You can also use the recorder to brainstorm.
Free write! Jot down ideas and possible changes in your story, don't try to outline with this method, just scribble on paper or turn off your monitor and type.
Get a good night's sleep! How can your creative mind work on half-power? Edit! Review your work and correct grammar and spelling errors.
Sometimes running through the story several times will help you find plot errors or where you began to stall.
Start an outline! If you don't normally use one to plot your story, try it.
Perhaps a visual diagram will help a writer see what is needed to complete the story.
Send your story to cold storage.
I've saved a partial story that I lost interest in for two years! In a creative lull, I reread it and knew exactly what I needed to do to finish it.
If anything, you can reuse a great character description in a story that IS working.
Next time you get frustrated over a story that isn't working perfectly, don't delete! Look over these ideas and see if you can get it started again.
stop staring at the computer screen expecting something to happen.
The only thing that happens is your eyes dry out.
Next, take a step back and use a critical eye on your work.
Here are a few suggestions to help: Try to find what stalled your work.
Was it dialog? Was it plot? Did the characters run off on you and you're not sure how to get them back? Review your plot and characters.
Use the five W's...
Who, What, Where, Why, When.
Sometimes answering these questions helps you realign your plot.
Who are my main characters? Have you added too many side players? What is my goal? Do you have a set conclusion to your story? Where is your story set? Did your fantasy story get too complicated? Did your horror focus too much on the gore and not the plot? Did you spend excess time on setting description? Why did my characters act this way? Have you given a modicum of back history? Are my characters just crazy or will there be an explanation for their behavior? When will this ever end?Actually, do you have an ending plotted out? Get out! I mean, get out and get some fresh air.
Exercise is good - oxygenation, blood flow, endorphins, all that! Go stroll in the mall and clear your head, do some people watching! Visit a museum, or a zoo.
Sometimes stepping away and feeding your creative spirit can help.
Take a long hot shower/bath with a few drops of lemongrass oil or rosemary (oil, or clipping) both of these are great stimulants for the brain.
The scent of peppermint can be stimulating, mint tea or sucking on mint candy might spur you into action.
Read! Read other stories in your genre and be inspired.
Something light and humorous might help you relax and create.
Read your work aloud, into a voice recorder, or have a friend read it aloud for you.
Hearing your words in voice might help spur your story into action.
You can also use the recorder to brainstorm.
Free write! Jot down ideas and possible changes in your story, don't try to outline with this method, just scribble on paper or turn off your monitor and type.
Get a good night's sleep! How can your creative mind work on half-power? Edit! Review your work and correct grammar and spelling errors.
Sometimes running through the story several times will help you find plot errors or where you began to stall.
Start an outline! If you don't normally use one to plot your story, try it.
Perhaps a visual diagram will help a writer see what is needed to complete the story.
Send your story to cold storage.
I've saved a partial story that I lost interest in for two years! In a creative lull, I reread it and knew exactly what I needed to do to finish it.
If anything, you can reuse a great character description in a story that IS working.
Next time you get frustrated over a story that isn't working perfectly, don't delete! Look over these ideas and see if you can get it started again.
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