“What do I do when I get stuck in my story?”

When writers come to a dead stop there can be a tendency to panic.

It’s important to remember that our idea of our story is never the whole story. When we try to figure it out, we tend to dig a deeper hole.

Story is alchemy. As our novel progresses it becomes something else entirely, and when we hold onto our initial idea, we reach a point where we can’t move forward.

Here’s the solution. Rather than looking at the “apparent problem” that your protagonist is struggling with, notice that underneath it lies a dilemma. By exploring the nature of this dilemma, you will be led to a deeper understanding of the character.

Character suggests plot.

By exploring the character’s dilemma, plot will emerge, and you will get to the end of your story.

Learn more about marrying the wildness of your imagination to the rigor of structure in The 90-Day Novel, The 90-Day Memoir, or The 90-Day Screenplay workshops.