Writing - What I Do

Writing Tips - What To Do When You're Stuck

Stuck on a sentence or a plot point?

Highlight it, leave it alone, go back in a day or two and it will often straighten itself out.

This usually works for me. If I'm in doubt, I highlight it, make a note about the problem, and then leave it alone. When I go back later, the solution is usually staring me in the face and I can change it.

My biggest flaw is stopping to revise or fix something in the middle of a writing session. IT ALWAYS MESSES UP MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT. Guess I'm a slow learner. I catch myself doing it all the time.



I do much better all the way around if I follow my own advice, highlight it and move on.

It also helps me get back into the story the next day when I go back to fix it.

Afterthought:
If you don't have a fix to take care of, do you leave yourself a tag for the next day? I always leave myself a word or two about where I'm headed or what I want to write next. It helps me jump right back in the water.