5 Ways to Jumpstart a Stalled Plot

Writing a novel can be a deliciously unpredictable process. Characters can spring surprises on me. Plots can wind in fantastic new directions. But there’s one thing I can pretty much rely on when working on a fresh idea. Somewhere, and at some point, when I reach the middle, the book will threaten to stall. It will dig its heels in and obstinately refuse to take another step.

Good thing I’m aware of this pattern. Because it’s forced me to learn how to deal with it. I have several coping mechanisms for this type of stubbornness. One is to plot out the book well in advance. However, there are times even that doesn’t work and then I have to rely on the other tools I’ve collected through the years.

Here are five ways to get the heart of your plot beating again when it starts to flatline . . .

Let Your MC Loose

Think of the craziest thing your main character might possibly do. Come up with a list. Of course these actions shouldn’t be entirely out of the blue, but tied to their personality, their wants, desires, losses, etc. Then, consider how instead of that bizarre and insane act, your main character could carry out a modified version of it. For example, instead of flinging himself off a roof, your main character could throw a highly valued item off a roof or something else that would create emotional consequences in his life.

Imagine a Window

In my years as an avid runner, I used to pass by people’s homes and wonder about their lives. Do they eat dinner together? Do they argue? Who goes up to bed first? I’d create all kinds of scenarios in my mind. Sometimes the middle of a book requires an author to take a step back. To adopt a unique vantage point. Behold your novel and your characters as though you’re on the outside of their house, looking in. Stalk them if you must.

Kill or Introduce

Some middles beg me to get ruthless. There’s nothing left to do but kill someone off. Other times it’s not necessary for me to be quite so brutal. Instead, I invite an entirely new, albeit significant character into the mix. Think the mother-in-law in Big Little Lies.

Lift the Candy Higher out of Reach

Know what means the most to your character. Then keep it just out of reach. Or tease it close enough to touch, then pull it away. This creates beautiful tension. It’s all about understanding the acuity of timing.

Press the Button

Along the same lines as dangling candy, a wonderful way to add more tension to a plot is to make your character hurt. I know, so mean. But it works. And as the author are the one with the best insight about what will hurt the most. You have access to all the memories, the scars, the fears, and the insecurities. The middle is the perfect place to press all the right buttons to make it feel like things may never go right for the hero. Cruel as it may seem, pressing the button might be exactly what your plot needs to get a move on.

It’s been given the unfortunate nickname of Sagging Middle. Novelists, don’t disgrace your book like this. Don’t let it deserve that name. Imbue life back into the middle. Get creative. Break from formulaic writing. Free up the plot so it can breathe again.

A Keeper

I’m currently in the process of writing my fourteenth novel. I adore the early stages of crafting a story. I’ve also learned to pay close attention to an idea when the faucet transitions from a drip to a steady flow. In the past few months I’ve brainstormed several unique concepts for future novels. Most don’t stick. But there are those that do. These are the ones worth exploring for me.

One question I’ve pondered over years and years of writing is how I know when a story is a keeper.

How do I know when an idea is a keeper?

When the story begins to tell itself.

I wake up with character revelations. I go to bed with dialogue running through my thoughts. During conversations with friends I draw mental connections with what’s going on with my characters. I can’t shake the plot. It infiltrates my life—until somehow it’s become this undeniable thing I must address.

I trust I’m to pursue an idea when the characters begin telling me their story.

So, have a seat. Tell me, how do you know when you’ve begun something worth your time and investment?

Character Development 1:01 (Midnight – Noon)

When you’re in the brainstorming stages of writing a novel it’s invaluable to take the time to get to

know your characters. This doesn’t mean you’ll end up including all the things you might discover about your MC (main character). It only means you’ve done your homework and you’ve gotten to know your characters so well you won’t even hesitate when thinking about how they’d respond to certain situations.

I’m breaking up the clock to help you ask some imperative character questions. The following will enable you to get better acquainted with those most important to your story, which will in turn create a more believable, dynamic novel.

1 am

Is he alone or madly focused on composing? Does everyone in the bar have their eyes on him? Is he flying across country wanting to smother the old man snoring by his side? Has his checked his children’s bedrooms a dozen times since the break in? Does his back hurt too much for him to sleep?

2 am

Is she just getting up for work? Does she wake to write down her dreams, convinced they mean something? Is she reaching for the man by her side or turning her back to him, tears sliding down her cheeks? Is the cat asleep on her head again? Does she pace the room, debating whether she should pop yet another sleeping pill? Where are her slippers? Her favorite books? Her clothes laid out for tomorrow?

3 am

Does he wake up now so no one will see him leave his apartment, no one will know? Is he sweating? Trembling because the sickness has taken ahold of his entire body? Or because he’s going through withdrawal? Is he calling his father to tell him he’s sorry because he knows he’ll never pick up in the night? How many lights does he have on the phone? Is there food by his bed? Cigarettes? The Catcher in the Rye, his favorite book from high school?

4 am

Did her cold keep her up sneezing all night? Does she crawl under the covers to hide from the light? Is she the only one running on dark streets? Is she rocking the baby and singing that song her mom used to sing her, botching up the lyrics wonderfully? Is she counting the minutes until he gets off the plane? Rolls over and goes to shower? Says the three words she’s been waiting to hear her whole life. “I’m leaving you.”

5 am

Is his headache keeping him from getting out of bed? Does he snap open the paper and read for hours upon his Egyptian cotton sheets? Do yoga in bed? Close his eyes and pretend to be making love to his late wife? How many soaps are in the shower waiting for him? What kind? Is his bathroom dirty? Does he nick himself shaving? Often or almost never?

6 am

Is she quiet when she gets up, or does she blare “What’s Going On?” by the Four Non-Blondes? Does her dog pounce on her, anxious to go out? Does her teenage daughter slam the doors and curse because her son has claimed the bathroom first? Is she well-rested? Excited about the day? Dreading every moment that’s to come? What’s the first mirror she looks in? Is she at peace with what she sees? Did the garbage truck wake her up again? The birds? Her husband with a scary-confused look on his face?

7 am

Is he late again? How many cups of coffee does he consume? Does he wake up on the street next to a homeless guy? Is traffic the thing that’s going to make him seriously lose it? Does he whistle on his way into the office? Check his phone a million times? Overly tip the cab driver? Is he sure that she’ll see the zit that’s formed a crater on his face? Or the stupid ways his legs look in gym shorts? Or will she make fun of how he croaks when he’s called upon in class?

8 am

Does she ride with friends to work to save on gas? Or is that just what she says, but she appreciates that they’re built-in designated drivers after their late nights? How much time did she spend on makeup? Her hair? Her presentation? Does she open the fridge and cringe at how little food there is to pack in each of the brown bags her kids take to school? Is there a wine spill on the living room carpet she has no idea how it got there? But fears it has something to do with her fourteen-year-old and the friend she had over last night? Is she self-conscious about her breath, lack of bras that fit, scuffed shoes?

9 am

Does he take the first meeting of the day outside? Is a kayak ride exactly what he needed this morning? A good lay? More drugs? More money? Less stress? Some kind of reconnection to the faith he had in his youth? Is he already tired? Hyper-energized and annoying everyone in the office around him with his inappropriate jokes he hopes will get him fired someday soon?

10 am

Is she staring at naked body in the mirror? Pumped at the weight she lost? Mad about the breast she lost? Terrified at not knowing more about the virginity she lost? Does she make a list of pros and cons to finally make up her mind? Or a grocery list? Or reasons to die or not to die? Is she crazy bubbly or depressingly dull at this hour? Does she wish everyone could see the party side of her that comes out during late night hours? Is she going to confront her professor, scared he will flunk her if she goes in with the truth?

11 am

Does he quit and go buy a boat? A flight? A tennis racket? Is his belly grumbling and he finds himself cursing his stomach staple surgery? Does he get embarrassed when his cheeks flush, afraid everyone at school will say his girly? Is he “too” girly? For himself? His dad? Why does he care? Is he tired of caring? Does he put on his new super expensive sneakers, but then find himself cleaning them off every hour so they won’t get dirty? Does he buy his friend lunch? Does he climb the tree he knows is outside her window? And stalk her? Propose to her? Knock and smile?

~

If you ever get stumped while writing a novel ask questions like the above. Don’t settle for the usual suspects. Probe. Dig. Go out of your way to get to know your characters. They’ve been waiting.

As June Carter Cash would say, “Time’s a Wastin’” so get to it! It’s time to bring some characters to life.

*Excited to launch my new website. Goal is for launch is this summer!

Character Development 1:01 (Noon – Midnight)

When you’re in the brainstorming stages of writing a novel it’s invaluable to take the time to get to

know your characters. This doesn’t mean you’ll end up including all the things you might discover about your MC (main character). It only means you’ve done your homework and you’ve gotten to know your characters so well you won’t even hesitate when thinking about how they’d respond to certain situations.

I’m breaking up the clock to help you ask some imperative character questions. The following will enable you to get better acquainted with those most important to your story, which will in turn create a more believable, dynamic novel.

Noon

What is your MC’s favorite food? Is she eating lunch alone? Does she binge eat or peck away at her food? Does she skip lunch all together because she’s too busy working? Is she on a night shift and still sleeping at this hour? Is she tired of turning down an annoying coworker’s lunch invitations? Is she throwing Lunchables on the table for her four grumbly children?

1 pm

Does he keep track of every hour, obedient to his OCD tendencies? Is he polite, holding doors for those behind him when he reenters his work building? Does he have a crush on every woman he gets in the cab with but has no idea how to initiate a conversation? Does he chew his subordinates out in a holy tirade if they’re late to the office after lunch but he’s always late himself? Is there a quick trip to the dry cleaner? The bar? The woman he looks after at the nursing home down the street from his office?

2 pm

Is she a loud yawner? Does she beat herself up for staying out late one too many nights in a row? Is she dead to the world on the couch, desperate to find the remote? Does she have makeup on and is it wearing off by now? Does she take her earrings off every afternoon at this time? Is her best friend waiting to gossip with her at the water cooler? Online? At the mall? What does her home look like at this time? Immaculate because the cleaning crew just finished or a tornado of toys because it was her turn to host the playdate?

3 pm

Is he worked up, regretting the email he sent her last night? Does he take the dog for a three hour walk? What snack is he craving? Are there people waiting to hear back from him he keeps blowing off for some reason? Does he take his sweater off, afraid he’s going to sweat too much and everyone will know? Is this the time of day he goes to war with his headaches? Has he gone to a doctor? Is he afraid too because of what happened to his dad?

4 pm

Does she get her second wind? Is she tempted to hit on her boss? Is she scared the gym coach will be waiting for outside the locker rooms? Does it take everything inside her not to quit because she needs this job to feed her kids? Is she pouring her first drink? Her fourth? Is her best friend complimenting her clothes again this week in attempt to hide that she’s been sleeping with her husband? Is she signing up for her first missions trip? Does the idea of spending the rest of the night alone depress her beyond belief? Is she excited to see her boyfriend after he’s spent years serving abroad?

5 pm

Is he going on his first date ten years after his wife died? Is he cursing with the windows down in traffic, cutting people off left and right? Is he dreaming of another life, one where he doesn’t has to face his ailing mom and deadbeat dad when he gets home? Is he about to get a promotion? Is his receding hairline pissing him off so he yells at his kids and then feels bad about it? Does he scrub up before surgery or forget one time, then fight fears for the rest of the night?

6 pm

What kind of home does she live in? Is a meal on the table? Does she check online to whip something up for her family? Has she secretly thrown out her food for weeks while her parents applaud her for her excellent grades and her nomination to student government? Who is excited to eat dinner with her? Who isn’t? Does she talk to the homeless man on the step before she enters her apartment or does she shove his bottle aside and kick him a little to make sure he’s not dead?

7 pm

Is he on deadline and hasn’t stopped running all day? Do his eyes blur when he pulls her picture out of his desk drawer, running his thumb over her impressionable smile? Does he run seven miles every night at this time? Is his beer belly starting to grow? Is he rooting for his favorite team at the bar with his friends? Or by himself as he wonders when the hitman will every show up? Does he wish he could go to all the nicer restaurants in town, counting the small change in his wallet? Or is he at a fine restaurant wondering when all this—the chandeliers, the over attentive waiters, the tiny displays of food on his plate became important to him?

8 pm

Is she going to join the circus tonight against her parents’ wishes? Does she wish she had just one more month left to spend with her growing grandkids? Is nothing on TV so she decides to visit the dealer on the corner? Or sleep with her neighbor after he’s pursued her for months? Does she already have her pajamas on or stilettos? Is she exhausted after another day wheeling around her handicapped child but she’s never felt more fulfilled in her life? Is she going to make the call? Write the letter? Take the risk? Or just go to bed early?

9 pm

Does he buy wine for the party where everyone will be straight but him? And does the hostess know? Will she treat him weird? When does he pop the question to his girlfriend and will she think it’s only because she told him she’s pregnant? Does he down two fingers of scotch or abstain because…? Does he avoid going to bed because sleep is futile? Is it time to go to the hospital to finally see her? Or time to see the doctor about that little problem? Why, he wonders, does nighttime always bring so many questions?

10 pm

Is she watching the game? Writing her dissertation? Snacking for the hundredth time today? Does she beat herself up over telling him her secret earlier today? Can she trust him? Is her bed comfortable? Are there crumbs in it? Too many memories of random lovers? Does she write in her diary that she’s afraid? Her journal? Say it as a prayer she’s not sure will be heard?

11 pm

Does he sleep with the lights on because that’s what he’s done ever since the attack? Or since his time in prison? Does he call and hang up? Is he reading that thriller he can’t put down and secretly wonders if it’s time he take a stab at writing? Does he wrestle with whether he loves her, twisting the sheets around himself like a mummy? Or is he wrapping his arm around her waist, breathing in the sweet scent of her shampoo? Is he playing a late game of soccer? Or planning his trip to Paris? Or fighting demons in his sleep? Does he doubt anyone cares he’s alive? In the darkness, is he letting go for the first time ever?

~

If you ever get stumped while writing a novel ask questions like the above. Don’t settle for the usual suspects. Probe. Dig. Go out of your way to get to know your characters. They’ve been waiting.

As June Carter Cash would say, “Time’s a Wastin’” so get to it! It’s time to bring some characters to life.

I 8 Mondays--Best Writing Advice

There was a time when I used to 8 Wednesdays. For the next couple weeks I’m going to 8 Mondays.

Today I’m hitting you with 8 of the best pieces of writing advice I’ve ever received (quick recall so I likely neglect to mention at least a dozen others…always another post for another Monday). I’m taking the advice I learned and serving it to you Wendy-style (which basically just means giving it to you topped off with my own experience).

Give every character a secret

I don’t remember exactly where this one came from, but it sounds like a Donald Maass tip to me. Constructing novels with this in mind has done wonders to ramp up the intrigue factor in my books. It invites twists in my stories in unexpected and plot-developing places. Secrets = gold for whenever you need more tension.

Sleep on it

It’s imperative to give your story time. Think of your ideas like old school Chia pets. They need time to grow (some more than others). I’ve lost track of how many times I thought I had a story wrapped up and one long soak in the tub or one sleepless night later I’m toying with a whole new spin. Not thinking days or weeks even on this one. Try months or years even.

Motivation is king

Always know why your character chooses to make an important decision. Take copious notes. Study your characters the same way you memorized everything about your significant other in the early stages of the relationship when you’d do anything to prove how in love you were.

Don’t be married to being a plotter or pantser

I used to be a pantser. But I’ve come over to the dark side. Or should I say the partially lit side. I’m both now. I plot and I pants. And I can tap my head and rub my belly at the same time. There are valid points about writing a novel using each of these methods. Get to know what they are. Experiment with both. (Plotters, it won’t kill you.)

Make every sentence work to further the plot

Don’t waste words.

Start in the center of it all

Don’t build up to your start. Invite the reader straight into the center of the action. There’s time to explain. And if you’re a seasoned writer, you’ll find a way to incorporate setting and character introductions skillfully as you throw your readers in the ring.

Theme meet Character, Character meet Theme

Know how the theme of your story influences every single character. Work it. Work it.

Create a satisfying ending

while leaving the reader longing for more.

I’ve read dozens of books on the craft. I’ve also written thirteen novels, and I don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. I can honestly say the above 8 are the nuggets of advice I keep coming back to. They’re my compass, navigating me through the sometimes rocky terrain of completing a work. Hope they help!

*Another helpful resource.