Sometimes I struggle with a story. I love it when story practically writes itself…that rarely happens. Usually I just plug away writing draft after draft until the story gels.
I have the first draft of a story to submit for an anthology call-out. The characters are wonderful, the premise is great, the setting is perfect, but the plot does not flow. Needless to say this is driving me crazy as the deadline is May 15th. The more I thought about the problem, the more that answer eluded me. I knew I had to let it go, reluctantly I did. Or so I thought.
While in the shower… What you thought ideas comes to you when you’re near a computer or have a pan and pen in hand? Not! While in the shower the answer magically appeared. I had started the story in the wrong place—again. You’d think I’d learn. I also started with the wrong character. That was a first for me.
So now I’m running from the shower to make notes for my rewrite and to type of the blog I had no clue I was going to write today.
How about you? What do you do when a story doesn’t flow? Do you have a list of problem areas to start with or do you just wait? I really need to start on that list myself.
Pat Marinelli 
Comments on: "A Writer’s Dilemma" (6)
I get so many ideas and breakthroughs in the shower, driving, vacuuming … 🙂 This happened to me lately. I had everything except some big picture plot aspects. What I finally did, on the advice of my writing group, was to put the story through the Hero’s Journey (vogler). It’ll ferret out those holes in no time!
I’m convinced those plot points, etc. always come when we’re least expecting them. I equate it to the old adage about finding a husband. One comes along when you aren’t looking. You always think the story problem isn’t going to work itself out, but it does and normally the husband comes along too.
Oh, I can so relate to this post! Honestly, Pat, I take a shower. Or do dishes. Or find a stream. There is something about water….I do find that if I’m horribly stuck I have to stop consciously thinking about it. I dig out another project–maybe a writing project, maybe not– and let my subconscious go to work. If that doesn’t yield the results I want, there are friends to talk it out with.
I really like the way it looks. Which theme? Did you customize any of it?
Evelyn
Evelyn,
Spectrum is the theme I used. It was free. LOL The tulips were from my old computer background. I’m not sure how much else I did since I did it so long ago. Sorry, I can’t help more but if we learn more in Pat’s class, I’ll post what I can.
It is beautiful and eye-catching, it would make me want to come visit and learn more.