The
topic of our Round Robin for August is: When you are stumped on moving a plot
line forward, what do you do to reinvigorate your imagination and get your
characters moving?
My
post today is going to be very short, because whenever I am stuck in my story -
and it happens more often than I would like - it's basically because of one of
the following two reasons: either I have lost touch with my characters; or
there is something wrong, somewhere, in the story and I know it, but tackling it
requires far more energy and imagination than I feel I have, so I am trying to
ignore it and plod on...and it doesn't work.
Losing
touch with my characters happens quite a lot in my case. First of all because I
have a day job and can't spend as long as I would like writing and focusing on
my stories. But also because I get too enthusiastic about researching
background information, and easily sidetracked by facts and anecdotes I find
fascinating but which, although more or less relevant with what's going on in
my story, distract me and take me further from the heart of the novel - the
characters.
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| Photo courtesy of Pixabay |
Of
course, I can try the usual remedies, which quite often will help get my story
going again: a long walk, a conversation with myself (I do that quite a lot) or
with a trusted friend about my story, eating lots of cakes in the hope that the
sugar rush will stimulate my imagination...
But
sometimes I need to go back to the very beginning, and the most
important: the characters, their essence, motivations, personality, flaws and
qualities, what makes them unique.
I look at my notes, start reading my story
from Chapter One all over again, and try to recapture my feelings for my hero
and heroine, and that wonderful enthusiasm and passion I feel when starting a
new story and I am completely in love with my characters. With luck it won't
take too long before the characters talk to me again and I can hear them, see
them, and fall in love with them all over again. Then they can sort the mess
they have made later on in the story, and get the plot going!
Once, for my contemporary romantic
suspense A Spell in Provence, all I needed to get the story flowing
again was to change the name of my heroine - from Alex to Amy. How odd that a
simple change of name should open a whole lot of new possibilities.
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| Photo courtesy of Pixabay |
However if the characters still aren't
talking to me and don't get the story moving, then it is probably a sign that something
is drastically wrong with my plot, and I may have to rethink my novel, which is
very scary.
This could involve reviewing my characters'
motivations, getting rid of a character - or create a new one - or tackling the
novel from another angle. It could also mean starting the story from a
completely new place.
This happened when I was writing The Dream Catcher.
I reached about 20,000 words and got stuck - really stuck. Something wasn't
right. My plot wasn't going anywhere. It felt contrived. I left it for a while,
then had a rethink and changed the starting point of the story. And as if by
magic, the words starting flowing and everything fell into place... Well, it
wasn't quite as easy as that, of course, but at least it worked!
If I have
tried all that and I still can't get the plot going, then it might be a sign
that there is only one thing to do. Give up. At least for a few weeks or
months. I hate giving up on a story, but I have done so in the past. Some
stories I have picked up again. Some are still dormant in my computer and my
mind - but dormant isn't the same as dead. I will write them one day when I figure
out what is missing and how I can fix it...
The
following authors are taking part in the Round Robin and would love a
visit from you!
Diane
Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Anne de Gruchy https://annedegruchy.co.uk/category/blog/
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com
Marie Laval http://marielaval.blogspot.co.uk/
Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/
Dr. Bob Rich http://wp.me/p3Xihq-137
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog
Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Heather Haven http://heatherhavenstories.com/blog/
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Rhobin Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com
A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Anne de Gruchy https://annedegruchy.co.uk/category/blog/
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com
Marie Laval http://marielaval.blogspot.co.uk/
Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/
Dr. Bob Rich http://wp.me/p3Xihq-137
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog
Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Heather Haven http://heatherhavenstories.com/blog/
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Rhobin Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com
Excellent advice, Marie.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Paula. It's just what works for me most of the time, that's all. But unfortunately sometimes I do have to give up on a story...
DeleteI know what you mean about research. I write historical romance, too, and often start off researching one thing which leads to another and if I'm not careful I'm down that rabbit hole in no time.
ReplyDeleteExactly, Victoria. One thing leads to another and I just can't stop!
DeleteYay! I'm not the only one who loses touch with my characters occasionally. I generally, depending on how long I've been out of touch, will go back a few chapters or even all the way to the beginning and read what I've written so far. Usually I get to the stopping place and hurry to get on with it as ideas bubble in my head.
ReplyDeleteIt happens regularly with me, and then I do have to go back to the very beginning. Thank you for you comment, Skyewriter!
DeleteVery thorough! Enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Heather. It's just what works for me - most of the time!
DeleteLots of truth in here, Marie! I, too, find that the more involved I am with my characters the easier the story flows.
ReplyDeleteMarie, I also talk to myself. A lot! It's funny how your (and my) mind can sense something is off with the story and stop the flow of words. I've done exactly what you have. Enjoyed reading your post.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment that "either I have lost touch with my characters; or there is something wrong, somewhere, in the story". Those are usually my problems as well. And interesting that changing a name can open up the writing process. I enjoyed the post.
ReplyDelete