Writer's Block

English: A brick wall in Giza, Egypt. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I don’t suffer from writer’s block. I suffer from lack of planning. When I find myself confused, numb, or just not knowing what to write, I do one (or more) of several things.

1) make my outline more in depth
2) brainstorm disasters that could logically follow from what I have just written
3) ask if someone has acted out of character
4) revise what I have written, taking a different angle
5) write something I think is stupid, knowing that I can alter what I’ve written but can never edit a blank page
6) try writing the next scene and then go back and fill in the blank
7) change point of view and choose a new goal that is vital to that new character
8) introduce a new arc, subplot, or character
9) change focus to a different arc, subplot or character
10) have my viewpoint character review what has happened so far, restate his/her goal, and choose a short-term plan of action to reach that goal